Atomic RoadRunners

Okay, so it’s tough to actually draw a line and say, “from now on, we’re talking about 2009″ during the offseason, since we have free agents, WBRL free agents, arb-eligibles, and protected lists all happening at various times.  For the purposes of atomicroadrunners.com, we’ll use December 1st.

While I’ll be posting individual wrap ups for each player later this offseason, as of December first, the Current Roster has been updated, and the following players are no longer active Atomic Roadrunners:

WBRL Contracts Expired:

• P Brandon Webb
• P John Maine
• 1B Prince Fielder
• SS Jose Reyes
• OF Shane Victorino
• OF Corey Hart
• OF Lastings Milledge

Traded to an AL Team in 2008:

• 1B Mark Teixeira

Traded from an AL Team in 2008:

• 3B Casey Blake
• OF Brandon Moss
• P Joe Blanton

Signed after the August 19, 2008 protection deadline:

• C Pablo Sandoval
• P Luis Ayala
• P Jason Motte

Here’s a rundown of Roadrunner rumors during this week’s General Manager Meetings in Dana Point, CA.:

• Brandon Lyon is open to pitching in Colorado.

• According to Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic, the Diamondbacks haven’t talked contract with Brandon Webb‘s agent, Jonathan Maurer, since the team pulled out of a June near-agreement for three years and $54MM. Maurer expects to hear from the D’Backs this winter, but the price has gone up. Webb isn’t looking to set any records, but he’s well under-compensated on his current deal (which runs through 2010). ESPN’s Buster Olney heard a four-year, $80MM extension would probably suffice, but it’s not known whether the D’Backs will do that. Maurer wonders if they’ll look to trade Webb if contract talks break down.

• According to ESPN’s Buster Olney, the Nationals are preparing to make a significant offer to Mark Teixeira. Olney believes the Angels will make an offer in the $100-120MM range, but that offer will expire soon. If and when Scott Boras passes on that proposal, it might be the Yankees, Red Sox, Nationals, and Orioles competing for Tex.

• GM Ruben Amaro Jr. had an informal five-minute talk with Casey Close, who represents Ryan Howard and Joe Blanton.
• Larry LaRue says the Angels are hinting they can afford both Mark Teixeira and C.C. Sabathia.  The Yankees could afford it, too.
• The Angels have not yet made an offer to Mark Teixeira, but they’ll deal with that situation before moving on to other needs.  Boras is suggesting Teixeira pays for himself.
• Ken Rosenthal has an Angels update: If they are to sign Mark Teixeira, the Angels would like to do it quickly.  However, it’s Scott Boras’ custom to let the market develop until late December or so.  It’s possible the Angels change gears on November 14th.  There are other big names to pursue, though none fit as perfectly as Tex.

• MLB.com’s Steve Gilbert talked to Brandon Lyon‘s agent Barry Meister, who said his client would be open to closing or an eighth inning role.  Lyon would be thrilled to return to the D’Backs, but they don’t figure to match a multiyear offer.  More likely, they offer arbitration but let him leave. Lyon, 29, posted a 4.70 ERA in 59.1 innings this year.  His command was strong, possibly indicating better times ahead.

• In the Cubs’ scramble to land Jake Peavy via trade and to re-sign Ryan Dempster, Ken Rosenthal reports that several players may have to be traded to reduce payroll, including Jason Marquis.
• The Rangers may look at outside options for third base, and they’ve been in touch with Casey Blake‘s agent.

Joe Blanton pitched two-run ball for six-plus innings and homered Sunday to earn a win in Game 4 of the World Series. Blanton lined one to left off Edwin Jackson to become the first pitcher to homer in a World Series game since Ken Holtzman in 1974. He issued two walks, recorded seven strikeouts and, at the plate, even contributed a home run. “I just close my eyes and swing hard in case I make contact,” said Blanton, who thought he hadn’t homered since high school. “Better to be lucky than good, I guess.” The Phillies have won all three of his postseason starts, with Blanton compiling a 3.18 ERA in the process. He hasn’t lost in 16 regular and postseason starts for Philadelphia. (Rotoworld, CBS Sports)

(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)

Joe Blanton was not too sharp in his Game 4 start against Los Angeles, yielding three runs off seven hits and four walks while striking out four. While the Phillies were still able to muster a win once Blanton exited, you have to wonder whether they’d throw him out for a start if they make the World Series or if they’d opt to go to a three-man rotation. (Rotowire)

Joe Blanton will start Game 4 for the Phillies on Monday, the Times of Trenton reports. This is not a surprise, as his start would have only been skipped in favor of Cole Hamels on short rest had the Phillies been down in the series. With a 2-0 lead entering Sunday, they’ll remain in command of the series regardless of the Game 3 outcome. (Rotowire)

Joe Blanton allowed one run in six-plus innings to beat the Brewers on Sunday. Blanton took a shutout into the seventh before giving up a homer to Prince Fielder and a single to Ryan Braun. He was removed then, but Ryan Madson got out of the inning unscathed. Blanton’s strong performance should have the Phillies considering moving him ahead of Jamie Moyer in the rotation for the NLCS. The Dodgers have hit lefties quite a bit better than righties this season. (Rotoworld)

Joe Blanton struck out two and gave up four runs — one earned — in six innings of work as the Phillies handed the Nationals their 100th loss of the year. The Phillies spotted Blanton a 7-1 lead entering the third, and the team went on to win 8-4, ensuring that it’d remain at least one game ahead of the Mets in the NL East. Though this was just Blanton’s fourth win in his 13 starts, he has been a great midseason acquisition for the Phillies, who went 9-4 when he was on the mound. He finished the season just short of 200 innings (197 2/3) with a 111/66 K/BB ratio in his 33 starts split between Oakland and Philadelphia. He’s under control for two more years, so he’ll be back in the middle of the rotation next season. (Rotoworld)

Joe Blanton pitched five innings of two-run ball and struck out nine in the Phillies’ 3-2 win over the Marlins on Saturday. The Phillies need to send C.B. Bucknor a gift basket after the home-plate umpire found himself in awful position and botched a call when Jorge Cantu slid into home with what should have been the game-tying run in the eighth. It was hardly the only call that went the Phillies’ way during the final innings, and the Marlins may have even added another run or two with one more out to work with. Blanton moved to 3-0 in his 12 starts for Philadelphia. Phillies pitchers struck out 16 batters in all tonight, with Cameron Maybin going down four times. (Rotoworld)

Joe Blanton revealed Friday that he pitched through biceps tendinitis during the month of August. Blanton is 2-0 with a 4.53 ERA in 11 starts as a member of the Phillies, but he had a stretch of rough starts beginnng on August 13 that can probably be blamed on the tendinitis. “Any time you’re not comfortable, you try to do different stuff,” pitching coach Rich Dubee said. “You try to correct it and you compound the problem.” (Rotoworld)

Joe Blanton held the Brewers to three runs in seven innings on Sunday but was not involved in the decision of a 7-3 Phillies’ win. Blanton watched as the Phillies scored four runs in the bottom of the eighth. He has a 4.53 ERA in 11 starts since coming to the National League. However, he’s been credited with nine no-decisions in those 11 starts, leaving him with a 2-0 record. The club is 7-4 in his starts, so they’ve surely been happy with the acquistion. However, pitching coach Rich Dubee said Blanton had pitched through a mild bout of biceps tendinitis for at least two starts. To cope with the discomfort, he unknowingly altered his mechanics, changing his arm slot and affecting his control. Blanton, who had a 5.58 ERA in six starts from Aug. 13 through Sept. 8, said he corrected his flaws during a bullpen session last week. He held the Brewers to five hits and two walks, throwing 64 strikes in 99 pitches. “I put in a lot of work in between my last start and this start to get mechanically sound and get right,” Blanton said. “I felt like I had a good base built, and I just tried to stick with it the whole game and attack the (strike) zone.” (Rotoworld, CBS Sports)

Joe Blanton and Brett Myers will start against the Brewers in Sunday’s doubleheader. Blanton will start the first game and Myers, throwing on three days rest, will take the second. (Rotoworld)

Steady rain forced the postponement of a key matchup between the NL wild card-leading Milwaukee Brewers and Philadelphia Phillies on Friday night. The game will be made up as part of a day-night doubleheader on Sunday. The first game starts at 1:35 p.m. and the nightcap at 7:35 p.m. Scheduled starters Cole Hamels (12-9) and Manny Parra (10-7) are expected to start Saturday. Dave Bush and Joe Blanton were scheduled to start Saturday, but will now likely pitch in one of the two games on Sunday. Blanton has pitched as many as six innings only once in his last six starts, allowing four earned runs in four. He’s a mediocre pitcher at best, but pitching for the Phillies allows him to win a few games here and there. (CBS Sports)

Phillies SP Joe Blanton allowed four runs on five hits in five innings Monday against the Marlins, walking three and striking out one. He managed to win, though, for the first time in eight starts. Blanton has pitched as many as six innings only once in his last six starts, allowing four earned runs in four. He’s a mediocre pitcher at best, but pitching for the Phillies allows him to win a few games here and there. His next start is scheduled for Sunday against the Brewers. (CBS Sports)

Joe Blanton lasted four innings Wednesday against the Nationals, allowing four runs on six hits and three walks. Blanton was pulled from Wednesday’s start against the Nationals after loading the bases with no outs in the fifth. The Nationals scored twice to take a 4-3 lead and Blanton left as the losing pitcher. He walked away with a no decision after Philadelphia went up 5-4 in the sixth. Blanton allowed four runs and six hits while walking three and struck out two. Blanton has been decent, if underwhelming, since coming to the Phillies, and has lately been unable to pitch deep into games. He’s only reached six innings pitched once in his last five starts. The wins haven’t been there as expected since he is pitching for a contender. (Rotowire, CBS Sports)