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

Hatteberg is beginning to grow restless on the bench as Joey Votto gets the starts at first base. “It’s tough for me, very tough,” he said. “Not anywhere in my career have I been any good coming off the bench or being a pinch-hitter. I’ve avoided taking one of these jobs my entire career.” Joey Votto is hitting .318, while Hatteberg is 0-for-7 as a pinch-hitter. “I’m trying to get good at this role and I feel bad that I’m not doing it well,” Hatteberg said. First base is in good hands. Joey is going to be a big-time player.” Hatteberg is usually a solid contact hitter with everyday at-bats, but since that is no longer the case, he is nothing more than a NL-only Fantasy reserve. (CBS Sports)

Cardinals reserve outfielder Brian Barton hasn’t gotten a start since April 24. Barton is a decent reserve outfielder for the Cardinals and the deepest of NL-only leagues, but the fact he rarely gets a start is real discouraging. The Cardinals just have more powerful options ahead of him at the position right now. As a Rule-5 pick, though, Barton figures to at least stick around as a reserve for a full season. (CBS Sports)

The Pirates pulled to 4-3 in the eighth Tuesday when Duaner Sanchez walked in a run — his first in 6 2/3 innings this season. Sanchez has assumed the setup role from struggling Aaron Heilman and will be nothing more than a middle reliever for deeper NL-only formats that use true middle men. (CBS Sports)

FAAB Acquisitions:

• RP Reynel Pinto, Marlins [$0 bid, add to actives]
• RP Matt Herges, Rockies [$0 bid]
• OF Jody Gerut, Padres [$0 bid, add to actives]

Up:

• P Jason Marquis

Down:

• OF Ryan Spilborghs
• P Nelson Figueroa
• P Carlos Villanueva

Cut:

• 1B Scott Hatteberg
• OF Brian Barton
• P Duaner Sanchez

Notes:

• $0 bid on OF Luis Gonzalez was out-bid by Cover Zero ($0, last place)
• $0 bid on RP Ryan Franklin was out-bid by Misogynistic Padres ($13 FAAB)

Brian Barton’s two-run single in the fifth inning gave St. Louis the lead on its first hit off the erratic Tom Gorzelanny, and the Cardinals beat the Pirates 6-2 on Thursday night behind Joel Pineiro’s seven effective innings. Gorzelanny (1-3) took a no-hitter and a 1-0 lead into the fifth despite allowing baserunners in all but one inning, only to walk the bases full ahead of Barton’s single. Barton finished 2-for-4 with one walk. Barton has made just 35 plate appearances this season, but he is producing at a .343 clip. He has been a good Rule-5 steal from Cleveland, but right now, St. Louis doesn’t have everyday at-bats for Barton, who remains just a NL-only Fantasy reserve. (CBS Sports)

FAAB Acquisitions:

• P Nelson Figueroa, Mets ($2 bid) [active]
• P Manny Acosta, Braves ($1 bid) [active]
• OF Gregor Blanco, Braves ($0 bid) [active]

Up:

• OF Matt Murton, Cubs
• C Chris Iannetta, Rockies

Down:

• OF Brian Barton, Cardinals
• OF Andruw Jones, Dodgers
• C Javier Valentin, Reds

Cut:

• P Peter Moylan, Braves
• P Jon Lieber, Cubs
• OF Rajai Davis, Giants

Note: Gregor Blanco becomes the first Atomic Roadrunner this season to re-join the team following his release. Blanco has worked his way into a LF platoon with Matt Diaz, something that hadn’t happened when he was released last week.

FAAB Acquisitions:

• OF John Bowker, Giants ($2 bid) [active]
• P Mike Gonzalez, Braves ($0 bid)

Up:

• P Jon Lieber, Cubs
• P Peter Moylan, Braves
• OF Brian Barton, Cardinals

Down:

• OF Shane Victorino, Phillies (15-Day DL)
• OF Rajai Davis, Giants
• P Chuck James, Atlanta
• P Zach Duke, Pirates

Cut:

• OF Gregor Blanco, Braves
• 3B Greg Dobbs, Phillies

Albert Pujols already has made quite an impression on new teammates like Brian Barton. “There’s only a few hitters like him in the game,” Barton said, after watching Pujols hit a three-run homer in the St. Louis Cardinals’ 8-2 victory over the San Francisco Giants on Friday night. “His approach to the game is remarkable. I love watching him prepare, and I try to emulate some of what he does.” Barton, a rule 5 pick, doubled home two runs and threw out his first major league runner. “I love to run,” Barton said. “It’s my job to get on base and let him drive me in.” Barton will have to stay on the Cardinals’ roster all season or be offered back to Cleveland. If he keeps performing, they might just need to find him an everyday spot. For now, he is just an NL-only Fantasy option. (CBS Sports)

Brian Barton is expected to get the start both on Friday and Sunday, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. For a fifth outfielder, Barton should get plenty of at-bats. If Skip Schumaker continues to struggle, Barton could receive even more opportunities. (Rotowire)

MLB.com reports the Cardinals are opting to keep Brian Barton in the leadoff spot for the third straight game Sunday against the Nationals. “It’s just great having the opportunity to play, whether I’m leading off, whether I’m starting, whether I’m pinch-hitting, just for the coach to have confidence in me to contribute — it says a lot and I’m thankful for it,” Barton said. “But at the same time, I have a job to do, and hopefully I continue to do that job so I can stay here.” Manager Tony La Russa said before Sunday’s game that Skip Schumaker is going to be the primary leadoff hitter. “I just see a bunch of right-handers coming up on our road trip, so I’m not worried about him missing a start here or there,” La Russa said. Barton, a Rule-5 pick from Cleveland, got his first MLB start Friday and had two hits. On Saturday, he had a triple. Barton entered Sunday hitting .444. “He’s hit a couple shots and he’s helped us win, so we’ll stay with it,” La Russa said. Barton will have to stay on the Cardinals’ roster all season or be offered back to Cleveland. If he keeps performing, they might just need to find him an everyday spot. For now, he is nothing more than a NL-only Fantasy option.  (CBS Sports)

Brian Barton went 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored against the Nationals in his first career start.  Skip Schumaker was supposed to play against lefties as well as righties, but his 0-for-11 start got him the day off versus Odalis Perez tonight. Barton and Ryan Ludwick should be the Cardinals’ corner outfielders versus southpaws anyway. (Rotoworld)

Cardinals OF Brian Barton, hit on the nose by a breaking pitch late in spring training, was able to play in the team’s season opener Tuesday against the Rockies. He singled in a pinch-hit appearance and stayed in the game to play the outfield. Barton, a Rule-5 pick from the Indians, hit .351 with a .596 slugging percentage this spring. He was a good hitter in the minors for the Indians, but for some reason was left on the market for the Cardinals this winter. He has to stay on the Cardinals’ roster all season if the team doesn’t want to send him back to Cleveland, and he might be a sleeper to start at some point. Right now, he’s an option only for NL-only leagues.