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

(From left, Shane Victorino, Brett Myers, Joe Blanton, Chris Coste) The World Series begins today in Tampa Bay with the Phillies facing the Rays. Brett Myers will be starting Game Two, and Joe Blanton may start Game Four, unless the Phillies need Cole Hamels to pitch on short rest. Victorino will start in center field, and bat either second or seventh, depending on who’s pitching. Coste hasn’t seen much action in the playoffs thus far, sitting to former Roadrunner Carlos Ruiz.

Update: Chris Coste will be the Phillies’ DH for Game 1 against the Rays, the Philly Inquirer reports. Coste will probably only get this start. The Phillies are facing lefty Scott Kazmir, but that’s the only lefty slated to start for the Rays at home. (Rotowire)

Phillies C Chris Coste went 1-for-3 on Wednesday against the Marlins. Coste doubled home a run and scored a run for Philadelphia. Coste only plays every other day and notched his first base hit since August on Wednesday. That makes him someone to avoid in Fantasy in all leagues except deeper NL-only formats at this time. (CBS Sports)

Chris Coste collected four hits on Tuesday night, the last of which drove in Shane Victorino with the winning run in an 8-7, 13-inning victory over the Mets that propelled the Phillies into first place in the NL East. Coste didn’t start in the game, but came on as a pinch-hitter in the eighth and delivered in all four of his at-bats. It was an extremely impressive game for the Phillies, who fell behind 7-0 early on but battled their way back and eventually tied the game on a pinch-hit RBI double from Eric Bruntlett with two outs in the bottom of the ninth. Victorino had tripled to lead off the thirteenth inning, at which point the Mets intentionally walked two straight hitters to get to the pitcher’s slot. With the Phillies out of position players, Brett Myers pinch-hit and struck out, but Coste poked a ball over Carlos Beltran’s head in the next at-bat to send the Phillies home victorious. Coste has a great bat and is a solid part-time option for deeper leagues. He might not play everyday, but he will productive enough to be useful as a second catcher in Rotisserie leagues. Unlike many at his thin position, not only will he not hurt you, but he can help you incrementally. (Rotoworld, CBS Sports)

FAAB Acquisitions:

• P Luis Ayala, Mets [$0, add to actives]
• C Pablo Sandoval, Giants [$0, add to actives]

Up:

• OF Shane Victorino (to Utility)
• OF Brandon Moss
• P Jason Marquis

Down:

• 3B Casey Blake (from Utility)
• OF Lastings Milledge
• P John Maine (15-Day DL)
• P Mike Gonzalez
• C Chris Coste

Cut:

• P Charlie Morton
• P Carlos Villanueva

Chris Coste delivered an RBI single and a three-run homer to help the Phillies trounce the Dodgers 8-1 on Friday night. Ryan Howard put things in motion when he blasted a two-run shot in the fourth inning that scored Pat Burrell and grabbed the lead for the Phillies. Coste would add to that in the next frame with his run-scoring single and provided some insurance later with his three-run dinger. He’s hitting .281 with 9 homers and 32 RBI in 224 at-bats this year. (Rotoworld)

C Chris Coste went 2-for-2 on Wednesday against the Nationals. Coste scored two runs after singling twice. Coste is nothing more than a NL-only option because he doesn’t see regular starts at catcher for Philadelphia. He was hot earlier but since has cooled off. (CBS Sports)

Phillies C Chris Coste went 0-for-2 with a walk and a strikeout Thursday at the Dodgers. He’s now batting .138 (4-for-29) since July 27. Coste was hitting as high as .330 when June began, but his average has since dropped to .270. He loses some starts to Carlos Ruiz and is at best a No. 2 Fantasy catcher. (CBS Sports)

Phillies C Chris Coste had one hit, his 15th double, and one run in three at-bats Wednesday against the Marlins. Coste has just two hits in his last 16 at-bats. Coste was hitting as high as .330 when June began, but his average has since dropped to .278. Coste has definitely worn down at the plate. He loses some starts to Carlos Ruiz and is at best a No. 2 Fantasy catcher. (CBS Sports)

Chris Coste hit one of five Phillie homers in a 12-10 win over the Braves on Sunday. Coste connected for his eighth homer of the season, a two-run shot off Jo-Jo Reyes in the fourth inning. He finished 2-for-3. Coste had five RBI during the three-game series against Atlanta. The Phillies still use Carlos Ruiz most of the time against right-handers even though Coste clearly has the better bat, so he continues to lose ABs. (CBS Sports)

Chris Coste finished 3-for-4 with three RBI Saturday as the Phillies rallied for a 10-9 victory over the Braves. Coste got the fun started with a two-run single in the second. Utley then added a run with a sacrifice fly in the third and the Phillies were on top 3-0. The Braves answered in a big way with a nine-run fourth inning but the Phillies immediately answered with seven runs in the fifth. Coste played a big part of that, driving in Ryan Howard with a single to right field. Coste is hitting .285 with 25 RBI in 179 at-bats this season. (Rotoworld)

With left-handed SP Kason Gabbard on the mound, Phillies C Chris Coste started Friday at Texas. He connected for his seventh home run — a solo shot — finishing 1-for-4. The Phillies still use Carlos Ruiz most of the time against right-handers even though Coste clearly has the better bat. Think of Coste as the better play in Fantasy, but he remains a low-end option until he gets full-time at-bats. (CBS Sports)

Chris Coste returned from his personal leave Sunday, going 1-for-4. Coste is one of the best backup catchers in baseball and a solid option in deeper Rotisserie leagues, because he puts up great offensive numbers when he is in the lineup. (CBS Sports)

Phillies catcher Chris Coste wasn’t with the team Thursday against the Marlins. His wife, Marcia, gave birth to the couple’s second child, Camryn Marie, on Wednesday night. Coste has been a solid catcher for Philadelphia in 2008. He is hitting .313 with six homers and 17 RBI. However, Philly is still splitting his ABs with Carlos Ruiz. Coste is best left for NL-only Fantasy leagues when active. (CBS Sports)

Since May 13, Chris Coste has started 14 times behind the plate compared to 12 for Carlos Ruiz.
Coste is batting .313 while Ruiz is at .226, so the depth chart lines have been blurred. “Right now, Coste is swinging the bat better than Chooch,” manager Charlie Manuel said. “I still look at Chooch as our regular catcher, but at the same time, when Coste is playing good, that earns more playing time. Chooch has to improve on lefthanded pitchers. He doesn’t hit lefties.” (Rotoworld)

However, Coste was not available for the Phillies on Wednesday after flying home to be with his wife who was in labor with their second child, the Philadelphia Daily News reports. Coste could miss a few games but will return to his platoon role with Carlos Ruiz upon his return. (Rotowire)

Chris Coste went 4-for-4 Wednesday night against Atlanta, marking his second four-hit game this season. Coste singled in the third, sixth, seventh and ninth innings to raise his average to .339 (20-for-59). He said he’s 8-for-8 with his wife and daughter in town from Fargo, N.D. Coste has a little bit of pop, but what he also has a little bit of is at-bats. He’s had just 59 through this point of the season and continues to split time with Carlos Ruiz. He is nothing more than a NL-only Fantasy reserve despite the .339 average and three home runs. Keep an eye on his at-bats, though. (CBS Sports)