Atomic RoadRunners

Minor League Ball founder John Sickels ran a “Controversial Prospect” post on Roadrunner Mat Gamel. Keep in mind, “Controversial Prospect” is basically a term describing a prospect that elicits multiple viewpoints on his talent and future, as well as to whether he’s a “prospect” or not. Not that the player himself is controversial. With that said:

Defense remains the main problem. He’s cut his error rate this year…18 errors thus far for a .906 fielding percentage, very poor but not as bad as last year’s horrific .826 mark. He has the range and arm strength but may simply never have the reliability.  He runs well enough to play an outfield corner, so that’s an option eventually, although it would be more convenient if the Brewers had a DH option of course.

I don’t know where he is going to fit on the playing field, but I have no doubts about the bat. I’m not sure why Gamel doesnt’ get more attention on a national level…he’s young, his performance has improved from good to excellent, and there are no holes in his numbers. If he were played for a team on a coast you would hear more about him I imagine.

Hmm, let’s see if the Brewers can have two third-basemen in the corner outfield in 2009 (with Corey Hart in CF, of course).  Still, where does that leave Matt LaPorta.  Perhaps Gamel can boost his 3B defense – he’d be better than the Bill Hall/Russ Branyan platoon.

Charlie Morton gave up three runs over five innings with three strikeouts and four walks, but got a no-decision in Thursday’s loss to Texas. Morton followed up his good debut with a decent outing in a tough ballpark, but the four walks are a concern. Atlanta took a 2-1 lead into the sixth before Morton, who started the game with four scoreless innings, ran into trouble in his second big-league start. He allowed a bunt single to David Murphy and a walk to Marlon Byrd before Braves manager Bobby Cox brought in Jeff Ridgway from the bullpen. Rangers OF Brandon Boggs, an Atlanta-area resident and Georgia Tech product, then pulled an 0-2 pitch into the left-field seats for his third homer. Texas went up 4-2 and Morton was on the hook for the loss before Atlanta tied the game in the ninth. He walked four and struck out three. Still, he’s someone to grab in NL-only leagues and keeper leagues. Morton has allowed just three earned runs in his first two starts and could be 2-0 with a little more offensive support Thursday. Morton was the talk of spring training and was pitching extremely well for Triple-A Richmond before injuries forced his recall. He is worth starting in all NL-only Fantasy formats and larger mixed leagues at this time. His next scheduled start is for Tuesday against the Brewers. (Rotowire, CBS Sports)

Arizona closer Brandon Lyon pitched the ninth inning in Thursday’s win over the Oakland A’s and picked up his 15th save on the season. Lyon pitched a perfect ninth to lower his season ERA to 2.43. Lyon plays for the first-place Diamondbacks, a team who doesn’t put up monster offense but seemingly gets the job done night in and night out. For that, Lyon remains a dominant Fantasy closer who should be started in all leagues. (CBS Sports)

Braves 1B Mark Teixeira had one hit, his 16th double, and two runs in three at-bats Thursday against the Rangers. He also walked once. Teixeira is just 3-for-21 (.143) in his last six games, but does have five RBI. Teixeira’s hot-and-cold season continues. Still, he is hitting .266 with 10 homers and 50 RBI. Sure, we would like to see an average above .300, but beggers can’t be choosers. Just know that Tex is still motivated by a looming free-agent contract and should heat up as the summer progresses. Keep Teixeira active in all Fantasy formats. (CBS Sports)

Prince Fielder had the second inside-the-park homer of his career as the Brewers beat the Blue Jays 8-7 on Thursday. Fielder added some dramatics in the fifth with his inside-the-park homer. He hit a roller that got stopped by the padding underneath the wall in right field. The ball could clearly be seen, but Alex Rios put his hands up as if he couldn’t find it. “I thought the umpire was going to make a call and he never made a call so I grabbed it and threw it. He took forever,” Rios said. Fielder slowed as he rounded second but then took off again, chugging home well before Rios finally grabbed the ball and threw it back to the infield much too late. It was Fielder’s first inside-the-park homer since a ball hit off a speaker in the Metrodome on June 17, 2007. Fielder finished the game 2-for-3 with one walk and three runs. He has hit safely in seven of eight games (11-for-31). He has three homers in that span. Fielder has been red hot at the plate since mid-May and has made Fantasy owners forget about his slow start. Continue to keep him active in all Fantasy formats. (CBS Sports)

Josh Johnson had another strong start on Thursday as he continues his rehab from Tommy John surgery, allowing three runs on six hits over six innings for High-A Jupiter, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports. 51 of his 85 pitches went for strikes. “I felt like I could have kept going and going and going. It is a good feeling,” said Johnson. His next start is scheduled to be at Double-A, and GM Larry Beinfest said that the team won’t consider bringing him up to the majors until he’s able to throw at least 100 pitches. “You temper [your excitement] with the history of the surgery,” Beinfest said. “Every time he goes out you just cross your fingers he won’t have a setback, which is not uncommon in Tommy John situations… We want him stretched out. He’s got to get up to be able to go 100 pitches and show he can bounce back in the five days, make sure the stamina is there, having been off as much as he has.” In keeper leagues you should prepare to grab Johnson as soon as you can, and while you have to expect short-term bumps in the road he might also have some value in the second half this season. (Rotowire)

Chipper Jones’ average dipped below .400 for the first time since April 12 after a 0-for-4 performance Thursday. Don’t worry, his .394 average still leads the majors by a good 30 points. (Rotowire)

Overall Standings

Rank Team                Batting Pitching Total Dif  Behind
---- ------------------- ------- -------- ----- ---- ------
 1   Atomic Roadrunners  40.0    37.5     77.5  -0.5 0.0
 2   Shoeless Jews       30.5    33.0     63.5  -0.5 14.0
 3   Goodfellas          35.0    23.0     58.0  1.5  19.5
 3   The Pi Train        30.0    28.0     58.0  1.0  19.5
 5   X-Men               17.5    39.0     56.5  -1.0 21.0
 6   Misogynistic Padres 29.0    26.0     55.0  1.0  22.5
 7   Stanimals           37.0    17.0     54.0  -1.5 23.5
 8   Uncle Lester        10.0    38.0     48.0  1.0  29.5
 9   Get Off Kong!       25.0    21.5     46.5  0.0  31.0
 10  Cover Zero          21.0    12.0     33.0  -1.0 44.5

Yesterday's Stats

Atomic Roadrunners Players Yesterday (6/19/08)
Player                       BA HR R RBI   SB
------------------------ ------ -- - --- ----
Blanco, Gregor M. OF ATL 0.0000  0 0   0    1
Bowker, John OF SF       0.0000  0 0   0    0
Coste, Chris C PHI       0.0000  0 0   0    0
Fielder, Prince 1B MIL   0.6667  1 3   1    0
Gerut, Jody RF SD        0.0000  0 0   0    0
Hart, Corey C. RF MIL    0.6667  0 1   2    0
Headley, Chase 3B SD     0.2500  0 0   0    0
Iannetta, Chris C COL    0.0000  0 0   0    0
Jones, Chipper 3B ATL    0.0000  0 0   0    0
Phillips, Brandon 2B CIN 0.4000  0 0   2    1
Reyes, Jose B. SS NYM    0.0000  0 0   0    0
Teixeira, Mark 1B ATL    0.3333  0 2   0    0
Theriot, Ryan SS CHC     0.2500  0 0   1    0
Victorino, Shane CF PHI  0.0000  0 0   0    0

Atomic Roadrunners Players Yesterday (6/19/08)
Player                      ERA  K S   W WHIP
------------------------ ------ -- - --- ----
Lyon, Brandon RP ARI       0.00  0 1   0 0.00
Morton, Charlie RP ATL     5.40  3 0   0 1.80