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

Braves SP James Parr tossed six sharp innings and combined with three relievers for a five-hitter to beat the Nationals in his major-league debut Thursday. Parr surrendered just two hits — both to Ronnie Belliard — walked three and struck out three. The 22-year-old right-hander didn’t allow a runner past second base. “What a night he had,” Atlanta manager Bobby Cox said. “He’s sneaky quick. He doesn’t light up the radar gun, but he’s got a little looping curve and a changeup. I was impressed. It’s a great way to break in.”

Parr, who was promoted on Tuesday, September 2nd, went 5-3 with a 3.23 ERA with Richmond, going 3-0 with a 0.96 ERA in his last three starts. “I didn’t want to change anything,” Parr said. “I just pitched the way I had been.” He threw 60 of his 101 pitches for strikes, and was never clocked at more than 88 mph. “I was a little nervous, just uncomfortable early,” he said. “It was very uncharacteristic of me to walk three guys (all in the first three innings). I struggled early, then turned it around later.” Parr might have impressed the Braves enough to get a second start, but he remains just a low-end NL-only option for now.

Parr pitched six more scoreless innings on September 9th, extending his scoreless streak to 12 innings since coming up from the minors and left with a 4-0 lead. The 22-year-old Parr was denied the win but did become the first Braves pitcher since Kyle Davies in 2005 to pitch 12 scoreless innings at the start of his career, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. And he’s the first Atlanta hurler since Larry McWilliams in July 1978 to go at least six scoreless innings in each of his first two big-league starts. Parr has had some beginner’s luck, but remains just a low-end Fantasy SP. (CBS Sports)

Jaime Garcia has long-term potential as a starting pitcher, but the Cardinals threw him to the wolves in relief this season. He played in two games in July, pitching seven innings and giving up six hits and three earned runs. He made one start, going five innings July 20 against San Diego but did not figure in the decision. Garcia is ranked as the top pitching prospect in the St. Louis organization and the lefty, a 22nd-round pick in 2005, was 7-6 with a 3.73 ERA in 18 starts between Double-A and Triple-A this season. He is unquestionably a solid long-term prospect. On September 5th, the Cardinals announced that rookie SP Jaime Garcia was scheduled for reconstructive elbow surgery on Monday. He will miss the entire 2009 season. Tommy John surgery usually requires at least a year of recovery, but the Cardinals plan to give Garcia plenty of time. He’s a decent prospect, but this surgery obviously takes him off the Fantasy radar for a while. (CBS Sports)

FAAB Acquisition:

• P James Parr, Braves [$0 bid, reserve]

Up:

• OF Chris Dickerson
• SS Ryan Theriot
• P Mike Gonzalez

Down:

• OF Corey Hart
• 2B Brandon Phillips
• P Brandon Lyon

Cut:

• P Jaime Garcia

Notes:

• MI Blake DeWitt moves from MI to 2B, and Theriot is activated at MI
• Stanimals acquired former Roadrunner C Carlos Ruiz in an attempt to bolster his lineup.  Stanimals and Goodfellas are tied for fourth place.

Nationals OF Lastings Milledge collected three hits for the second consecutive game Monday against the Mets, finishing 3-for-4 with a double, a stolen base and two runs scored. Milledge keeps making small bits of progress, but he still doesn’t have the consistency to make him a trustworthy option in mixed leagues. Treat the potential 20-20 man as a No. 5 Fantasy OF. (CBS Sports)

Rockies C Adam Melhuse made his second start Sunday and first since Aug. 31, one day after he rejoined the Rockies. Manager Clint Hurdle said he thought it was time to rest Chris Iannetta, who had started 11 consecutive games. Iannetta has been quiet of late, but this has been a breakthrough season for him overall. Consider him a solid option in deeper formats in Fantasy Week 25 (Sept. 15-21), especially since he will get full-time at-bats with the Rockies. (CBS Sports)

Mets manager Jerry Manuel is sticking with Luis Ayala as his closer, but will keep him on a much shorter leash, the Daily News reports. Manuel went on to say that he would have others warming up in the bullpen and ready to enter, should Ayala get into trouble. Hardly a vote of confidence for the closer. (Rotowire)

General manager Omar Minaya said Monday that John Maine (shoulder) will not replace Billy Wagner as the Mets’ closer next season. “He’s a starter,” Minaya said. “We’re planning on John Maine being a starter next year. We’ll have to find another way.” Maine threw off flat ground Monday and is hoping to appear in at least one game before the season ends, potentially setting him up for an October bullpen role. With Billy Wagner lost for 2009, the New York media has begun to speculate on whom from within the Mets organization could fill that void. In all likelihood, the Mets will pursue a closer through trade / free agency, rather than wait for Wagner’s return. (Rotoworld, Rotowire)

“I felt good. … I didn’t throw more than 60 feet,” said Maine, on the disabled list since Aug. 24 with a bone spur in his throwing shoulder. “I’ll do it again tomorrow, hopefully stretch it out a little bit more.” Maine is 10-8 with a 4.18 ERA in 25 starts this season. But he’s open to relieving, if it gets him back on the field. “I hate sitting down and not doing anything. I hope to be back by the homestand sometime. Whether it’s an inning or two out of the ‘pen, that’s fine,” Maine said. “I just want to get out there and pitch.” The Mets have 27 blown saves, including 11 in the ninth inning, and Maine himself raised the subject of trying the closer’s role. “If it helps the team, I’ll do it,” he said. “If I can’t start a game this year, I’d like to go to the ‘pen and throw the ninth inning.” (CBS Sports)

Casey Blake (back) sat out Monday’s game with a sore back, but manager Joe Torre hopes to have him back in the lineup on Tuesday, the LA Daily News reports. Blake was replaced again by Nomar Garciaparra. Blake is hitting .259/.316/.475 in 170 at-bats with the Dodgers. (Rotowire)

Overall Standings

Rank Team                Batting Pitching Total Dif  Behind
---- ------------------- ------- -------- ----- ---- ------
 1   Atomic Roadrunners  43.0    38.0     81.0  1.5  0.0
 2   X-Men               31.0    38.5     69.5  0.0  11.5
 3   Shoeless Jews       32.0    32.0     64.0  -1.5 17.0
 4   Goodfellas          40.0    22.0     62.0  2.5  19.0
 4   Stanimals           25.0    37.0     62.0  4.0  19.0
 6   The Pi Train        25.0    27.0     52.0  -0.5 29.0
 7   Uncle Lester        12.0    38.0     50.0  -1.0 31.0
 8   Cover Zero          26.0    16.5     42.5  0.5  38.5
 9   Get Off Kong!       23.0    13.0     36.0  -2.0 45.0
 10  Misogynistic Padres 18.0    13.0     31.0  -3.5 50.0

Yesterday's Stats

Atomic Roadrunners Players Yesterday (9/15/08)
Player                        BA HR R RBI   SB
------------------------- ------ -- - --- ----
Blake, Casey 3B LA        0.0000  0 0   0    0
DeWitt, Blake 3B LA       0.0000  0 0   1    0
Fielder, Prince 1B MIL    0.0000  0 0   0    0
Hart, Corey C. RF MIL     0.0000  0 0   0    0
Headley, Chase 3B SD      0.5000  0 1   2    0
Iannetta, Chris C COL     0.5000  1 2   1    0
Jones, Chipper 3B ATL     0.0000  0 0   0    0
Milledge, Lastings LF WAS 0.7500  0 2   0    1
Moss, Brandon OF PIT      0.0000  0 0   0    0
Phillips, Brandon 2B CIN  0.0000  0 0   0    0
Reyes, Jose B. SS NYM     0.2500  0 0   2    0
Sandoval, Pablo C SF      0.5000  0 0   0    0
Teixeira, Mark 1B ANA     0.0000  0 0   0    0
Victorino, Shane CF PHI   0.0000  0 0   0    0

Atomic Roadrunners Players Yesterday (9/15/08)
Player                       ERA  K S   W WHIP
------------------------- ------ -- - --- ----
Ayala, Luis RP NYM           N/A  0 0   0  N/A
Johnson, Josh SP FLA         N/A  0 0   0  N/A
Lincecum, Tim SP SF          N/A  0 0   0  N/A
Lindstrom, Matt RP FLA       N/A  0 0   0  N/A
Lyon, Brandon RP ARI         N/A  0 0   0  N/A
Marquis, Jason SP CHC        N/A  0 0   0  N/A
Myers, Brett SP PHI          N/A  0 0   0  N/A
Webb, Brandon SP ARI         N/A  0 0   0  N/A
Wellemeyer, Todd SP STL      N/A  0 0   0  N/A
Wilson, Brian RP SF          N/A  0 0   0  N/A