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

The Rockies built the five-run lead Monday on a three-run double by Chris Iannetta in the first and a three-run homer by Brad Hawpe in the third. Iannetta is one of the up-and-coming catchers in Fantasy. There is real pop in his bat and he is earning more regular starts for the Rockies lately. Consider him a nice add in Rotisserie formats and we wouldn’t be surprised if he is a must-start in all Fantasy leagues by midsummer. (Rotoworld)

Chris Iannetta’s platoon mate, Yorvit Torrealba, wants to be traded, he told the Tigers’ radio network before Sunday’s game at Detroit. Torrealba’s desire to be traded isn’t surprising, because he is a veteran locked in a roughly even timeshare with the younger Iannetta. It’s questionable whether another team will want the 1.5 years and $5.25 million remaining on Torrealba’s contract. Obviously, Iannetta’s playing time could be boosted significantly if the Rockies find a taker for Torrealba.

Chris Iannetta has started nine of the Rockies’ last 11 games, including both games since platoon mate Yorvit Torrealba returned from a two-game suspension. Iannetta is clearly the Rockies’ top catcher right now. He is hitting .303 in June with three homers and five RBI. The youngster could be Colorado’s starting catcher for years to come, so the team will likely give him ample opportunities to prove himself. (Rotowire)

Chris Iannetta’s platoon mate Yorvit Torrealba (suspension) will sit out on Sunday and Monday, the Rockies’ official web site reports. Iannetta should pick up both starts; Triple-A catcher Edwin Bellorin has been recalled to serve as his backup. If Iannetta stays hot, he will continue to receive the bulk of the playing time over Torrealba. He has started five of Colorado’s last seven games. (Rotowire)

Chris Iannetta (left knee) felt fine on Thursday but received a routine day off, the Rockies’ official site reports. He had started four straight games, including a night game on Wednesday. Iannetta, who has taken the lead in a platoon with Yorvit Torrealba, should be back in the starting lineup soon. (Rotowire)

Chris Iannetta fouled a pitch off his left knee on Wednesday and had a noticeable welt after the game, the Rockies’ official site reports. He said he was sore but would be fine on Thursday. Iannetta had one single in one official at-bat Wednesday against the Giants, but walked three times. He is 6-for-15 (.400) with two homers, four RBI and five walks in his last six games. Iannetta has started five of the Rockies’ last six games behind the plate, an indication that he is gaining the upper hand over platoon mate Yorvit Torrealba. With a day game on Thursday, Iannetta probably won’t start, regardless of the bruised knee. (Rotowire, CBS Sports)

Chris Iannetta started on Tuesday for the fourth time in the Rockies’ last five games. He went 0-for-3, however, Iannetta is still 5-for-14 with four RBI in June. The balance of power is starting to shift towards Iannetta in the Rockies’ catching platoon, although Yorvit Torrealba should still receive significant playing time for the foreseeable future. (Rotowire)

Rockies C Chris Iannetta followed Brad Hawpe’s grand slam with a solo shot on the next pitch in Saturday’s win over the Milwaukee Brewers. It marks the first time this season the Rockies have hit back-to-back homers. Iannetta also had an RBI single and raised his average to .289 on the season. With home runs in three of his last five games, Iannetta is starting to settle in again at the plate after struggling for most of May. Iannetta continues to split time behind the plate with Yorvit Torrealba, and until that changes, he is nothing more than a NL-only Fantasy option. Iannetta still remains a solid long-term keeper. (CBS Sports)

Chris Iannetta started on Thursday for the eighth time in Colorado’s last 11 games. He went 1-for-3 with a double, RBI and run scored. He is only 3-for-his-last-18, but platoon mate Yorvit Torrealba is 3-for-his-last-21. The two have split Colorado’s last six starts. Despite manager Clint Hurdle’s recent statement that Torrealba is still the starter, this looks like a 50-50 time share and one player could grab the upper hand if he gets hot. Ianetta has been the more productive of the two from a Fantasy standpoint. He’s hitting over .300 with 15 RBI and three homers while Torrealba is hitting just .228. (Rotowire, CBS Sports)

Rockies manager Clint Hurdle replaced Yorvit Torrealba with Chris Iannetta in the Rockies lineup on Thursday. Torrealba had been told he’d start, but Hurdle decided he’d stick with the hot hand, even though it’s a day game following a contest at night. Iannetta is hitting .450 over his last six games, and is now hitting .353 on the season. Torrealba is one for his last eleven, and his average sits at .235. Iannetta has earned himself significant playing time going forward. (Rotoworld)

Chris Iannetta went 1-for-4 with a two-run triple as the Rockies came from behind to beat the Cardinals on Wednesday night. Iannetta’s triple came in the bottom of the eighth and proved to be the game winner for the Rockies. He’s now started over Yorvit Torrealba for four consecutive games, and has knocked in six runs in that span. Expect him to keep starting for as long as he stays hot. (Rotoworld)

Chris Iannetta homered and doubled to drive in three runs Tuesday against the Cardinals. The Rockies have been starved for offense, so they gave Iannetta a third straight start for the first time this season. Prior to the current stretch, Yorvit Torrealba started 21 of the first 30 games. It’s not likely to be a permanent change, but the Rockies have to go with the hot hand for now and that obviously belongs to Iannetta. (Rotoworld)

After entering the game at third base following Troy Tulowitzki’s injury, Chris Iannetta homered, doubled and walked to help the Rockies beat the Giants on Tuesday. Iannetta scored the only run in the game’s final seven innings on a controversial balk that resulted in Giants manager Bruce Bochy’s ejection. Iannetta played a position other than catcher for the first time in his career after Tulo was hurt. He’s already seeing more time at catcher lately, and he could earn a crack at the starting job if he keeps producing. He’s hitting .324 with two homers and four doubles in 34 at-bats. Iannetta is an outstanding sleeper in deeper leagues. He is a nice offensive talent at the catcher position and should be considered in NL-only leagues at this point. If he ever takes over full time behind the plate, he will be useful in all formats. Don’t count on him ever getting a game at third again, though. (Rotoworld, CBS Sports)

Rockies C Chris Iannetta lead off the seventh inning of Thursday’s game against the Cubs with a solo home run. It ended up being his only hit in four at-bats. Iannetta has hit safely in five of his last six games (7-for-16) with one homer and four RBI in that span. Iannetta is hitting .333 through 27 at-bats and is showing the offensive potential we all expected from him heading into the 2007 season. There is no denying that Iannetta is still the future behind the plate in Colorado, but Yorvit Torrealba continues to see the majority of starts, rendering Iannetta useful as a No. 2 Fantasy catcher in NL-only leagues. (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.