Atomic RoadRunners

Is it time to panic?  Sure the Atomic RoadRunners are in first place, but yesterday . . .

• NL Pitcher-of-the-Month for April, Brandon Webb, turns into a pumpkin, complaining of stiffness, a sore hip, and a “dead” arm.  He of course was rocked last night with an 18.90 ERA and a WHIP of 4.20 . . .
• NL Pitcher-of-the-Month for May,Todd Wellemeyer, is going to miss his next start due to elbow problems.  This after getting shelled following a skipped start to rest last week.  A former reliever, Wellemeyer has now pitched more innings this season than any previous season . . .
• “Speedster” Jose Reyes complained of stiff hamstrings . . .
• Ryan Theriot’s slump stretches to an eighth game . . .
• Former Roadrunner Matt Murton gets called up (finally) to be showcased for a possible trade . . .
• Just-released Greg Reynolds pitches six strong innings, allowing 1 run on five hits with four K’s (and he goes 2-for-3 at the plate) . . .
• A 24.5 point lead (on June 7th) is now down to 9 points . . .
• We lost 3 points in WHIP . . .
• Our ERA has gone from 4.05 last week to 4.35 . . .

Is it now time to panic?

In Tuesday’s 15-1 rout by the A’s, Brandon Lyon got some work in, and like other Atomic RoadRunner closers pitching in non-save situations, coughed up some runs. Lyon struck out two in two-thirds of an inning, but he gave up two homers. The first was to Bobby Crosby, followed by walks to both Kurt Suzuki and Daric Barton. The second was then to Mark Ellis, who plated three. Final line: 2/3 inning, 2 hits, 4 runs, 4 earned, 2 walks, 2 K’s and 2 HR. ERA: 54.000. WHIP: 6.000. Nice.

CBS Sports updated Lyon’s profile and notes that Lyon had his 26-inning scoreless streak broken in the appearance. The D-Backs closer was only pitching because the bullpen was depleted after pitching 34 1/3 innings in its previous 10 games.

Brandon Webb was roughed up by the A’s on Tuesday, allowing seven runs in 3 1/3 innings in a loss. Mark Ellis hit two home runs to lead a six-homer barrage as the Oakland Athletics routed Brandon Webb and the Arizona Diamondbacks 15-1. It was Webb’s (11-3) shortest outing since Sept. 17, 2004, when he went 2 innings at St. Louis. He allowed a season-high seven earned runs and nine hits. He struck out three and walked five.

Webb had won his previous two decisions before Tuesday’s lambasting at the hands of the A’s. While it is obvious that this won’t be a recurring them for the ace, Webb has failed to go longer than five innings in his previous two starts. In his two starts prior to that, however, he went a combined 16 innings giving up just one earned run. That sounds more like the Webb you can expect to see on a regular basis and the one that should be starting in all Fantasy formats. (CBS Sports)

Webb can pitch with diminished velocity, but he also didn’t have any command tonight. He walked five (one intentional) and allowed two homers for the first time this season. A performance this bad can be taken as an indication that he’s dealing with something more than a dead arm. (Rotoworld)

Jose Reyes said after Tuesday’s game that he expects to play Wednesday against the Angels. Reyes was upset to be taken out of the game what was called left hamstring stiffness. He may have strained a hamstring after rounding first on his first-inning single. “I wanted to play, but (interim manager Jerry Manual) was just watching out for me,” Reyes said. “I understand what I did wrong and I apologized. My leg is good, and I’ll play (Wednesday).” Consider him day-to-day with what’s being called stiffness in his left hamstring. It’s the same hammy that kept Reyes out of two games back in April. Damion Easley will play shortstop if Reyes can’t on Wednesday. Reyes came into the game hitting .289, with eight homers and 29 RBI. First, the Mets fire manager Willie Randolph on Tuesday. Then, they watch one of their star players hobble off the field. It’s been a rough day for New York. Reyes can’t afford to have leg issues since he does a lot of damage stealing bases. Reyes has been red hot at the plate since mid-May and remains a must-start Fantasy option when healthy. (Rotoworld, CBS Sports)

Chase Headley was 2-for-4 with two singles in his MLB debut on Tuesday. He started in left field and hit sixth. That he collected a pair of hits should come as no surprise — he’s a .301 career hitter in the minors — nor should it be surprising that he struck out in his other two at-bats — he fanned 327 times in 376 minor-league games. Headley probably won’t be available much longer in most leagues. He probably doesn’t offer the upside that Jay Bruce or Evan Longoria does because of the ballpark he plays in and the lineup he is a part of. Headley may start at third Wednesday after Kevin Kouzmanoff injured his back during batting practice on Tuesday, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports. If Kouzmanoff’s injury only costs him a few days, this would probably be a short-term move. If it’s more serious (the Padres don’t have a timeline yet), Headley will probably be at third for as long as Kouzmanoff is out. Third is Headley’s natural position anyway; he was converted to left field in Triple-A because Kouzmanoff was locked in at third for San Diego. (Rotowire, Rotoworld)

Todd Wellemeyer won’t pitch this week because of continued elbow troubles. The Cards aren’t planning to place him on the disabled list, though they might have to unless they want to keep using Aaron Miles as a mopup man. Anthony Reyes is expected to get a start Thursday in Wellemeyer’s place. Wellemeyer is expected to go back into the rotation early next week. (Rotoworld)

According to The Sports Xchange notes: LHP Mike Gonzalez (Tommy John surgery rehab) is scheduled to join the team in Arlington on Tuesday and be activated Wednesday during the three-game series with the Rangers. Gonzalez won’t return as the closer initially, but the door is clearly open to prove capable of the job. Consider him an outstanding sleeper in any Fantasy league you need a candidate for save chances in the near future. (CBS Sports)

Cubs SS Ryan Theriot had a RBI single in three at-bats Tuesday against the Rays. He also walked once. Theriot is just 6-for-34 (.176) with three RBI in his last eight games. Theriot’s average has dropped from .330 to .310 during his recent slide. The good news is that he has managed to keep his average above .300 since late April and that directly has to do with pitchers rather facing him than Derrek Lee, who usually hits behind Theriot. The shortstop’s on-base percentage is obviously what makes him a viable starting option in Rotisserie formats. (CBS Sports)

Dodgers 3B Blake DeWitt stroked a single and scored once in four at-bats Tuesday against the Reds. Dewitt has just six hits and no multi-hit games in his last nine games. His average has gone from .298 to .278 in that span. DeWitt has been awful in June and is hitting under .200 for the month. His struggles have prompted the team to recall Andy LaRoche from the minors. It might be only a matter of time before DeWitt is one the bench or back in the minors, if he doesn’t improve at the plate. Right now, DeWitt is primarily a NL-only Fantasy option. (CBS Sports)

Overall Standings

Rank Team                Batting Pitching Total Dif  Behind
---- ------------------- ------- -------- ----- ---- ------
 1   Atomic Roadrunners  38.0    36.0     74.0  -4.0 0.0
 2   Shoeless Jews       32.0    33.0     65.0  1.0  9.0
 3   X-Men               20.0    39.0     59.0  1.5  15.0
 3   The Pi Train        29.0    30.0     59.0  2.0  15.0
 5   Misogynistic Padres 29.0    27.5     56.5  2.5  17.5
 6   Goodfellas          33.0    23.0     56.0  -0.5 18.0
 7   Stanimals           37.0    17.0     54.0  -1.5 20.0
 8   Uncle Lester        10.0    37.0     47.0  0.0  27.0
 9   Get Off Kong!       25.0    21.5     46.5  0.0  27.5
 10  Cover Zero          22.0    11.0     33.0  -1.0 41.0

Yesterday's Stats

Atomic Roadrunners Players Yesterday (6/17/08)
Player                       BA HR R RBI   SB
------------------------ ------ -- - --- ----
Blanco, Gregor M. OF ATL 0.0000  0 1   0    0
Bowker, John OF SF       0.0000  0 0   0    0
Coste, Chris C PHI       0.0000  0 0   0    0
Fielder, Prince 1B MIL   0.2500  1 1   1    0
Gerut, Jody RF SD        0.0000  0 0   0    0
Hart, Corey C. RF MIL    0.0000  0 0   0    0
Headley, Chase 3B SD     0.5000  0 0   0    0
Iannetta, Chris C COL    0.2000  0 1   0    0
Jones, Chipper 3B ATL    0.0000  0 1   0    0
Phillips, Brandon 2B CIN 0.0000  0 0   0    0
Reyes, Jose B. SS NYM    1.0000  0 0   0    0
Teixeira, Mark 1B ATL    0.0000  0 1   1    0
Theriot, Ryan SS CHC     0.3333  0 0   1    0
Victorino, Shane CF PHI  0.2500  0 0   0    1

Atomic Roadrunners Players Yesterday (6/17/08)
Player                      ERA  K S   W WHIP
------------------------ ------ -- - --- ----
Lyon, Brandon RP ARI      54.00  2 0   0 6.00
Webb, Brandon SP ARI      18.90  3 0   0 4.20