Atomic RoadRunners | Andrew Flynn’s High-Energy Fantasy Baseball

Mark Teixeira told the Atlanta Journal Constitution that he believes the Braves won’t deal him. “(Manager) Bobby (Cox) pointed out that there had been rumors about me and (reliever Will Ohman), and he told us not to listen to media reports and to those rumors, because this team is still trying to win the (National League East),” said Teixeira. Cox also had this to say on the matter: “We’re buyers, not sellers. We’re trying anything to improve. We’re not seeking to move anybody. I don’t know where [people] got all of that stuff from. There’s a time to [start trading players], I suppose, but we’re in this thing.” (Rotoworld)

Update: ESPN’s Jayson Stark has additional Teixeira rumors:

In theory, by the end of this weekend — after a week of dueling the Marlins and Phillies — the Braves will know exactly whether they’re in a race or out of one. But it seems as if the Braves have been stuck for weeks in what GM Frank Wren calls “that middle ground” between contention and oblivion.

They’re 19-26 since the end of May. They haven’t even won more than three in a row since Memorial Day. So they look more and more like a team that’s about to shake up Deadline Week by dealing away the best player on the market — Mark Teixeira.

If the Braves decide as soon as this weekend that it’s sell-off time, clubs that have spoken with them got the impression they’ve already done enough groundwork to put together a Teixeira deal quickly. The question is: Who’s buying? Every indication is that the Braves have at least touched base with the Rays, Red Sox, Dodgers, Angels and Yankees on Teixeira. But Arizona appears to be the team to watch. The Diamondbacks quietly made a big run at Teixeira last July, and they’re in just as serious need of some major thump now.

An official of one club that spoke with the Diamondbacks describes them as having “definite interest.” But while the Braves would love to wrest away Conor Jackson, it’s tough to imagine Arizona dealing away a player it likes that much for two months of Teixeira.

Andruw Jones was held out of the lineup Saturday because of stomach problems. Jones had to leave Friday night’s game in the fifth inning because of the same issue. “I’ve had to go to the bathroom quite a few times,” Jones said. He pinch-hit in the ninth inning, drawing a two-out walk, and should be healthy enough to play on Sunday. (Rotoworld)

Blake DeWitt, who has started nine of the last 10 games at third base, went 0-for-4 in Saturday’s one-run loss to the Diamondbacks. Andy LaRoche also isn’t doing much of anything, but he’s barely had a chance. DeWitt has been a sinkhole for seven weeks now. He doesn’t have an extra-base hit in July, and he has no homers and five RBI in 120 at-bats since the beginning of June. It’s time to give the player with the superior track record a real opportunity. (Rotoworld)

Prince Fielder went 2-for-5 with a homer and two RBI Saturday as the Brewers beat the Giants 8-5. Ben Sheets actually got things going in the top of the second with an RBI double, but the Giants rallied to a 4-1 lead in the fourth. The Brewers would answer with four runs in the sixth and two in the seventh. Fielder put the icing on the cake with a run-scoring single in the ninth. Fielder is hitting .275 with 20 home runs this season. (Rotoworld)

Todd Wellemeyer let up five earned runs over the first two frames Saturday, but allowed just one hit over his next 4 1/3 innings and the Cardinals rallied against the Padres. Wellemeyer didn’t look right in the first and second innings. To be fair, one of the runs was scored on a botched play in center field by Rick Ankiel, but the real trouble came in the second inning when Wellemeyer served up a three-run blast to Edgar Gonzalez. He settled down in the third and pitched well until he was pulled in the sixth. Hopefully the success will carry over into his next start versus the Brewers. (Rotoworld)

Reds placed RHP Jared Burton on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right lat muscle. Burton suffered the injury on July 6 and sat out several games leading up to the All-Star break. He claimed on Thursday that he was fully recovered, but apparently felt some discomfort while warming up in the bullpen during Friday’s game. He should be able to return in early August. (Rotoworld)

Overall Standings

Rank Team                Batting Pitching Total Dif  Behind
---- ------------------- ------- -------- ----- ---- ------
 1   Atomic Roadrunners  44.0    39.0     83.0  -1.0 0.0
 2   The Pi Train        29.0    33.0     62.0  1.0  21.0
 3   X-Men               20.5    39.0     59.5  -1.0 23.5
 3   Stanimals           31.5    28.0     59.5  3.5  23.5
 5   Shoeless Jews       25.0    33.5     58.5  0.5  24.5
 6   Goodfellas          35.0    16.0     51.0  -0.5 32.0
 7   Uncle Lester        12.5    38.0     50.5  -1.0 32.5
 8   Misogynistic Padres 26.5    16.0     42.5  -1.0 40.5
 8   Get Off Kong!       26.0    16.5     42.5  -1.0 40.5
 10  Cover Zero          25.0    16.0     41.0  0.5  42.0

Yesterday's Stats

Atomic Roadrunners Players Yesterday (7/19/08)
Player                       BA HR R RBI   SB
------------------------ ------ -- - --- ----
Blanco, Gregor M. OF ATL 0.6000  0 0   0    0
Bowker, John OF SF       0.2500  0 0   0    0
Coste, Chris C PHI       0.2500  0 1   1    0
DeWitt, Blake 3B LA      0.0000  0 0   0    0
Fielder, Prince 1B MIL   0.4000  1 1   2    0
Hart, Corey C. RF MIL    0.5000  0 2   0    1
Headley, Chase 3B SD     0.0000  0 0   0    0
Iannetta, Chris C COL    0.0000  0 0   0    0
Jones, Chipper 3B ATL    0.2500  0 0   1    0
Phillips, Brandon 2B CIN 0.0000  0 1   0    0
Reyes, Jose B. SS NYM    0.2500  0 0   0    0
Teixeira, Mark 1B ATL    0.3333  0 0   0    0
Theriot, Ryan SS CHC     0.7500  0 0   0    0
Victorino, Shane CF PHI  0.2000  0 0   0    0

Atomic Roadrunners Players Yesterday (7/19/08)
Player                      ERA  K S   W WHIP
------------------------ ------ -- - --- ----
Lyon, Brandon RP ARI      18.00  0 1   0 4.00
Wellemeyer, Todd SP STL    7.11  2 0   1 1.26