Atomic RoadRunners

Brewers 3B prospect Mat Gamel was recently featured on RotoProfessor’s Prospect Watch series:

Another week, more big offensive production.  That’s the way it has gone for Mat Gamel, a 3B prospect currently playing for the Brewers’ AA club.  Gamel hit .321 (9-28) with 1 HR, 9 RBI, 3 R and 1 SB.  His biggest game saw him go 3-5 with 1 HR, 4 RBI and 1 SB.  The strikeout to walk ratio wasn’t good (7 K’s vs. 1 BB), but if he continues to get on base, it is something you can live with.

On the season, he’s hitting .376 with 14 HR, 60 RBI, 60 R and 5 SB.  Those are monster numbers for a player who is not considered to be elite defensively, which certainly could cause a problem.  The Brewers went through something similar with Ryan Braun last season, ultimately moving him to the outfield.  Hopefully Gamel can make strides defensively and can fill the position for the Brewers in the not too distant future, as it is one of the few positions that the Brewers can use an upgrade (currently it is Bill Hall and Russell Branyan playing there).

Gamel is certainly hitting to a lot of luck, and obviously the .376 average is a little bit unrealistic.  Still, he hit .300 last season, so he very possibly could be a .300 hitter in the major leagues with some pop.  He’s not a player who is going to make an impact in the near future, though if he continues to rake and the Brewers stop getting production from Branyan, you never know what may happen this season.

Long-term keeper league owners are the only ones who may want to consider adding him at the moment.  Everyone else should just continue to monitor his progress and wait for him to get a chance.

Tim Lincecum shut out the Rockies for seven innings, but didn’t factor into the decision as the Giants lost to the Rockies. Lincecum struck out nine and walked just three while issuing six hits. He hasn’t lost in eight starts (4-0) and has allowed two runs in his last three outings. Lincecum lowered his ERA to 1.99 and has a 0.86 ERA in three June starts. The soon-to-be 24-year-old hurler continues to improve in his second pro season and has emerged as one of the elite Fantasy arms. His record sticks at 8-2, and he’s been able to overcome the Giants’ woeful offense by never allowing more than three earned runs in a start this season. He’ll face Detroit next week. (Rotoworld, CBS Sports)

Brandon Webb was dominating early, but left the game after throwing just 58 pitches and allowing three runs over five innings. Webb was struck by a line drive off the bat of Carlos Delgado in the Mets’ three-run fourth inning, which may have had something to do with his early exit. He was removed for a pinch-hitter leading off the sixth, and Max Scherzer replaced him in the bottom of the inning.

Webb (hip) is expected to make his next scheduled start on Tuesday after being hit by a line drive in Wednesday’s game against the Mets, the Arizona Republic reports. After seeing his velocity drop during his start against the Braves in late May, Webb has seen it return slowly over his last few starts. “Yeah, it doesn’t hurt,” Webb said. “Maybe a dead-arm period or something like that. Like I said, it doesn’t hurt, so it’s tough to tell. Everything feels good.”

Manager Bob Melvin said afterward that he “just wanted to give him a little blow.” Webb’s fastball was clocked at 85-89 mph Wednesday and his next scheduled start will come Tuesday against the A’s.The D-Backs are optimistic that the extra day afforded to Webb with a break in the schedule on Monday should help him get the extra rest needed to rid himself of the limited velocity. It sounds like he’s going be OK, but his next couple of starts are definitely worth watching closely. (Rotowire)

Corey Hart went 3-for-5 with two homers as the Brewers defeated the Astros on Wednesday night. Both of his shots were two-run blasts, giving him four RBI on the night. Hart is hitting in the leadoff spot following Rickie Weeks’ injury, which should boost his run and steal totals. His RBI totals could be negatively affected, but with just 32 entering tonight, that hadn’t really been his bread and butter thus far. His average now stands at .302 on the year. His nine homers and ten steals put him on about a 25-25 pace. (Rotoworld)

Since May 13, Chris Coste has started 14 times behind the plate compared to 12 for Carlos Ruiz.
Coste is batting .313 while Ruiz is at .226, so the depth chart lines have been blurred. “Right now, Coste is swinging the bat better than Chooch,” manager Charlie Manuel said. “I still look at Chooch as our regular catcher, but at the same time, when Coste is playing good, that earns more playing time. Chooch has to improve on lefthanded pitchers. He doesn’t hit lefties.” (Rotoworld)

However, Coste was not available for the Phillies on Wednesday after flying home to be with his wife who was in labor with their second child, the Philadelphia Daily News reports. Coste could miss a few games but will return to his platoon role with Carlos Ruiz upon his return. (Rotowire)

Chris Iannetta fouled a pitch off his left knee on Wednesday and had a noticeable welt after the game, the Rockies’ official site reports. He said he was sore but would be fine on Thursday. Iannetta had one single in one official at-bat Wednesday against the Giants, but walked three times. He is 6-for-15 (.400) with two homers, four RBI and five walks in his last six games. Iannetta has started five of the Rockies’ last six games behind the plate, an indication that he is gaining the upper hand over platoon mate Yorvit Torrealba. With a day game on Thursday, Iannetta probably won’t start, regardless of the bruised knee. (Rotowire, CBS Sports)

Ryan Theriot went 2-for-5 with two RBIs in Wednesday’s 7-2 win over Atlanta. The Riot continues to spray the ball all over the field. He is now batting .359 with three stolen bases in nine June contests. (Rotowire)

Chipper Jones started at third base and went 1-for-3 in Wednesday’s loss to the Cubs. Jones exited after five innings with the Cubs up 7-0 in the contest. He didn’t start the previous two games due to a partially torn quad muscle. It looks like he’ll be able to play through this injury. He could get some relief by being used as the DH during interleague play this weekend. (Rotowire, Rotoworld)

Chase Headley could join the Padres for their upcoming interleague series in Cleveland, the team’s official site reports. Sitting at 15th in the National League in runs, the Padres could certainly use Headley’s hot bat. If he does get the call-up, he has immediate value in NL-only leagues, especially those of the keeper variety. (Rotowire)

Ryan Spilborghs (stiff lower back) was not able to start on Wednesday for the third straight game, but he did pinch-hit, the Rockies’ official site reports. Spilborghs seems close to 100 percent. Manager Clint Hurdle repeated that Spilborghs will soon have a chance to win significant — but not everyday — playing time in center field. (Rotowire)

The Crooked Pitch blog has a feature today called “Ryan Spilborghs Could Be a Fantasy Beast”

It looks like Ryan Spilborghs is going to get the bulk of playing time in center field over Willy Tavares now that Matt Holliday has returned to the Colorado lineup. This will affect fantasy owners in two ways, as Tavares and his 23 steals take a huge hit, and Spilborghs becomes that elusive impact player on the waiver wire.

At 28 years old, Spilborghs is a late-bloomer who only logged 435 AB in the majors prior to this season. A .294/.381/.447 hitter in six minor league seasons, he’s also the rare player who seems to be better in the majors than he was in the minors. He’s a capable but unspectacular center fielder, and should be significantly more valuable in the lineup, and on fantasy teams, than Tavares.

After hitting .287/.337/.431 in ‘06, his rookie year, and .299/.363/.485 last season, the former fourth outfielder is batting .312/.425/.496 with a stellar 25:16 BB:K ratio in ‘08. He’s got the power and speed to be a 20/15 player in a full season, and could easily top that HR total if he can elevate the ball. In fact, the longest homerun this year (according to HitTracker) was hit at Coors by no other than Spilborghs: a 472-foot bomb to dead center field. Assuming he bats in a favorable spot in the order (and remember, he batted third with Holliday out), I wouldn’t be surprised to see a prorated .310/105/25/85/15 out of Ryan the rest of the year.  And it’s not all that unlikely he’ll do it.

If you’re in a deep league, Spilborghs is probably on someone’s roster already (if not, why are you still reading this?). However, I expect him to be an asset in nearly any league, as his terrific plate discipline, strong contact skills, and favorable lineup and home park should ensure that he consistently puts up solid numbers in Colorado. He’s even got a .951 OPS away from home this year, and a wicked playoff beard. What’s not to like? If the Rockies commit to sticking Willy Tavares in the defensive replacement/pinch runner role he was born to occupy, there could be free Bobby-Abreu-upside available to smart fantasy owners. You should be one of them.

Jorge Campillo’s next start will be pushed back one day to Sunday and he may be used in the bullpen between starts, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. The Atlanta rotation is a mess with Tom Glavine on the DL and Jair Jurrjens out at least one start with an ankle injury, so Campillo could be needed in long relief. Campillo has allowed 13 hits and seven runs in his last two starts — both no decisions. He could use the extra day to rest and get back on track. The longtime minor-league journeyman was pitching way over his head earlier in the season and probably doesn’t deserve a look outside of NL-only leagues. (Rotowire, CBS Sports)

Overall Standings

Rank Team                Batting Pitching Total Dif  Behind
---- ------------------- ------- -------- ----- ---- ------
 1   Atomic Roadrunners  41.0    40.0     81.0  -0.5 0.0
 2   Shoeless Jews       32.5    31.0     63.5  0.0  17.5
 3   The Pi Train        31.0    30.0     61.0  0.0  20.0
 4   X-Men               19.0    39.0     58.0  1.0  23.0
 5   Goodfellas          31.0    24.0     55.0  2.5  26.0
 5   Misogynistic Padres 28.0    27.0     55.0  -0.5 26.0
 7   Stanimals           36.0    15.5     51.5  -1.5 29.5
 8   Uncle Lester        10.0    37.0     47.0  1.0  34.0
 9   Get Off Kong!       24.0    20.5     44.5  -1.5 36.5
 10  Cover Zero          22.5    11.0     33.5  -0.5 47.5

Yesterday's Stats

Atomic Roadrunners Players Yesterday (6/11/08)
Player                        BA HR R RBI   SB
------------------------- ------ -- - --- ----
Blanco, Gregor M. OF ATL  0.0000  0 0   0    0
Coste, Chris C PHI        0.0000  0 0   0    0
DeWitt, Blake 3B LA       0.0000  0 0   0    0
Fielder, Prince 1B MIL    0.2000  0 0   1    0
Gerut, Jody RF SD         0.2500  0 0   1    0
Hart, Corey C. RF MIL     0.6000  2 2   4    0
Iannetta, Chris C COL     1.0000  0 0   0    0
Jones, Chipper 3B ATL     0.3333  0 0   0    0
Phillips, Brandon 2B CIN  0.0000  0 0   0    0
Reyes, Jose B. SS NYM     0.1667  0 1   0    0
Spilborghs, Ryan CF COL   0.0000  0 0   0    0
Teixeira, Mark 1B ATL     0.0000  0 0   0    0
Theriot, Ryan SS CHC      0.4000  0 0   2    0
Victorino, Shane CF PHI   0.2500  0 1   0    0

Atomic Roadrunners Players Yesterday (6/11/08)
Player                       ERA  K S   W WHIP
------------------------- ------ -- - --- ----
Lincecum, Tim SP SF         0.00  9 0   0 1.29
Villanueva, Carlos SP MIL   5.40  1 0   0 1.80
Webb, Brandon SP ARI        5.40  4 0   0 1.00