Atomic RoadRunners

Trades:

• Atomic Roadrunners receives: Dodgers 3B Casey Blake
• The Pi Train receives: Rockies OF Brad Hawpe, Marlins 3B Emilio Bonifacio, Marlins RP Matt Lindstrom

FAAB Acquisitions:

• C/1B Jeff Clement, Pirates ($5 bid, reserve)
• 2B Rusty Ryal, Diamondbacks ($5 bid, active at MI)

Up:

• SP Sean West
• 1B Steve Pearce (to DH)
• OF Matt Diaz (replaces Hawpe)
• RP Nick Masset (replaces Lindstrom)

Moves:

• 3B Casey Blake replaces Bonifacio

Down:

• SP Johnny Cueto

Cut:

• SP Brandon Webb
• OF John Bowker
• SS Alex Cora

Notes:

• Mets SS Alex Cora is out for the year to have surgery on both wrists
• Reds SP Johnny Cueto on the 15-Day DL for a hip pointer

Up:

• OF Kyle Blanks
• RP Matt Lindstrom

Down:

• OF Matt Diaz
• RP Nick Masset

Notes:

• On July 31st, 1B Casey Kotchman was traded to the Boston Red Sox for the recently-acquired Adam LaRoche.  Kotchman is no longer protectable due to the trade.
• I bid $27 on new Reds 3B Scott Rolen, but was outbid.  Results: $82 Pirate Smokers, $81 Cover Zero, $45 X-Men, $45 Misogynistic Padres, $27 Atomic RoadRunners, $22 Get Off Kong!, $7 Stanimals
• I bid $27 on new Phillies starter Cliff Lee, but was outbid. Results: $100 Cover Zero, $82 Pirate Smokers, $81 Misogynistic Padres, $68 Shoeless Jews, $49 The Pi Train, $45 X-Men, $44 Get Off Kong!, $27 Atomic Roadrunners
• I bid $21 on new Giants 1B Ryan Garko, but was outbid. Results: $55 Misogynistic Padres, $45 X-Men, $21 Atomic Roadrunners, $20 Get Off Kong!

Trades:

Trade 1:

• Atomic Roadrunners receives:  Reds SP Johnny Cueto
• Cover Zero receives: Nationals OF Adam Dunn

Trade 2:

• Atomic Roadrunners receives:
  • Diamondbacks SP Max Scherzer
  • Dodgers SP Clayton Kershaw
  • Cardinals 3B Prospect Brett Wallace
• Misogynistic Padres receives:
  • Braves 3B Chipper Jones
  • Reds 2B Brandon Phillips
  • Giants Closer Brian Wilson
  • Braves SP Kenshin Kawakami

FAAB Acquisitions:

• Jon Rauch, RP Diamondbacks ($0 bid, reserve)
• Alex Romero, OF Diamondbacks ($0 bid, active)

Up:

• CM Emilio Bonifacio
• RP Nick Masset
• OF Andres Torres (to DH)

Down:

• RP Matt Lindstrom
• SP Shairon Martis

Move:

• 2B Matt Downs (from DH – replaces Brandon Phillips)
• 3B Mat Gamel (from CM – replaces Chipper Jones)

Cut:

• SP Mat Latos (prospect)

Notes:

• RP Matt Lindstrom was placed on the 15-Day DL on June 25th with elbow inflammation.  Will be out at least six weeks
• SP Shairon Martis was optioned to AAA Columbus on June 28th
• SP Antonio Bastardo was placed on the 15-Day DL on June 30th with a left shoulder strain
• Jon Rauch was originally protected by Misogynistic Padres for 2009, and was released on May 12th.  He retains his contract and salary – signed through 2010 for $1.
• Former RoadRunner Chad Gaudin was selected by X-Men for $6.  I had bid $5 to re-acquire Gaudin after two stellar outings.
• Former RoadRunner Jake Fox was selected by X-Men for $11 due to his strong interleague performance.
• The first big AL Free Agent joined the NL.  In this case, Mark DeRosa was traded to the Cardinals on Thursday.  Bidding was as follows:
  • $70 Stanimals
  • $46 X-Men
  • $45 Atomic Roadrunners (max bid)
  • $43 Shoeless Jews
  • $33 Get Off Kong!
  • $25 Cover Zero

Free Agent Acquisitions:

• Kyle Blanks, OF/1B Padres  ($17 bid) reserve
• Ryan Hanigan, C Reds ($5 bid) up to C
• Matt Downs, 2B Giants ($0 bid) 2B, active at UT
• Drew Stubbs, OF Reds ($0 bid) reserve

Up:

• CM Mat Gamel
• SP Kenshin Kawakami
• RP Matt Lindstrom

Down:

• RP Nick Masset
• OF Andres Torres
• CM Emilio Bonifacio
• C John Baker

Cut:

• John Grabow
• Carlos Ruiz
• Fernando Tatis
• Matt Maloney

Notes:

• Missed out on bidding for Kevin Correia.  I bid $2, and X-Men bid $1 and Misogynistic Padres bid $0, but Get Off Kong! bid $7.
• Blanks was originally a 3rd round pick by Misogynistic Padres, but was released last week.
• Blanks’ nickname is apparently the “Pillsbury ‘Fro Boy” – at least online

Matt Lindstrom pitched a scoreless ninth against the Cardinals and got his second win of the season. Lindstrom continues to be used in crucial situations despite his rough season after manager Fredi Gonzalez showed confidence in him on Sunday. (Rotowire)

FAAB Acquisitions:

• C Carlos Ruiz, Phillies ($2 bid, add to actives at DH)
• MI Brendan Ryan, Cardinals ($0 bid, add to actives at MI)
• 1B Fernando Tatis, Mets ($1 bid, add to actives at 1B)
• SP Antonio Bastardo, Phillies ($3 bid, add to actives)
• SP Matt Maloney, Reds ($2 bid, add to actives)
• RP Clay Zavada, Diamondbacks ($0 bid, add to actives)

Up:

• C Chris Iannetta

Down:

• 1B Casey Kotchman (15-Day DL – shin contusion)
• SS Jose Reyes (15-Day DL – hamstring and calf)
• DH Jake Fox
• RP Matt Lindstrom
• RP John Grabow

Cut:

• C Robinzon Diaz
• RP Kyle McClellan
• RP Clay Condrey
• OF Jody Gerut
• 3B Brian Barden
• OF Austin Kearns

Notes:

• Bastardo was also bid on by The Pi Train ($1) and Misogynistic Padres ($0)
• Ruiz was also bid on by Misogynistic Padres ($0)
• Iannetta is scheduled to be activated from the 15-Day DL today
• Both Ruiz and Ryan have been on the Roadrunners previously
• Tatis was originally drafted by The Pi Train in the 6th Round of the 2009 WBRL Minor League draft, thus his salary is $10
• Zavada’s middle name is “Pflibson”

Trade:

• OF Conor Jackson (along with AaRr 12th-Round Minor League Draft) to The Pi Train, for his 4th-Round Minor League Draft in 2010.

FAAB Acquisitions:

• DH Jake Fox, Cubs ($3, add to actives)
• SP Mat Latos, Padres ($0, reserve)

Up:

• P Matt Lindstrom
• P Sean West
• OF Matt Diaz

Down:

• DH Brian Barden
• P Kyle McClellan
• P Kenshin Kawakami
• OF Austin Kearns

Cut:

• OF Jonny Gomes

Notes:

• San Diego RP Edward Mujica was a backup pickup if Fox wasn’t acquired.  He was picked up by Get Off Kong!
• Conor Jackson may not return this season, due to his contraction of Valley Fever.  He’s currently on the 15-Day DL, and based on his $16 price tag and .190 batting average, he probably isn’t a candidate to be protected.

FAAB Acquisitions:

• SP Sean West, Marlins ($3 bid, reserve)
• OF Jonny Gomes ($0 bid, reserve)

Up:

• C Robinzon Diaz
• P Kenshin Kawakami
• P John Grabow
• P Todd Wellemeyer

Down:

• C Chris Iannetta (15-Day DL – hamstring)
• P Shairon Martis
• P Matt Lindstrom

Cut:

• P Jose Ceda
• P Dan Meyer

Notes:

• OF Jody Gerut was traded on May 21st to Milwaukee for OF Tony Gwynn, Jr.
• Stanimals picked up former Roadrunner Tim Hudson for a $0 FAAB bid.  Hudson was our contingent bid if AaRr didn’t get Sean West.

Florida closer Matt Lindstrom made it sort of interesting, but he was able to record his sixth save of the season on Saturday in a 3-1 win over the Rockies. Lindstrom allowed a base hit and a walk in his outing but struck out two to get the save, allowing no runs. Lindstrom doesn’t always get out there and shut down the other team completely and has a propensity to overpitch sometimes. However, he can throw gas and should get a decent amount of save opportunities with the Marlins. Keep him active as a No. 2 Fantasy RP and just hope he avoids the big inning. (CBS Sports)

Marlins closer Matt Lindstrom worked a scoreless ninth inning on Wednesday in an 8-6 loss to the Braves on Wednesday. Lindstrom walked a batter and struck one out, needing 16 pitches to get out of the inning. The Marlins are struggling to get wins at this point in the season and Lindstrom does not have a save since April 29 at the Mets. He had one horrible outing against the Phillies on April 24 but hasn’t allowed a run since in five appearances. He’s not the most dominant of closers but he remains a No. 2 Fantasy option considering the heat he brings. (CBS Sports)

Florida and the Reds played 14 innings on Monday night with the Marlins winning 3-2. Florida closer Matt Lindstrom came on to pitch the 10th inning in the game and was perfect in his inning of work. Lindstrom did not factor into the decision as he struck out one. His ERA is 7.20 on the year. Lindstrom has five saves for the Marlins this season. Outside of allowing seven earned runs in 2/3 of an inning against the Phillies on April 24, he’s been pretty lights out as the Fish’s closer. Pitching for the Marlins, who have been winning thus far this season, Lindstrom is a nice closer option in all Fantasy leagues as No. 2 guy. (CBS Sports)

Matt Lindstrom worked a scoreless, but shaky ninth inning on Wednesday to pick up his fifth save of the season. Lindstrom walked two batters and hit another to load the bases before getting out of the inning. He hasn’t had great control lately, but is striking out enough guys to get by. Lindstrom has a very high ERA for a closer. He’s 1-1 with two blown saves but does have five saves for the Marlins. His ERA is elevated at that level because of one hiccup on April 24 against the Phillies when he allowed seven earned runs on four hits over 2/3 of an inning. He walked three and allowed two homers in that performance but was lights out before and thus far after. Let’s move forward and forget about the awful game against Philadelphia. Pitching for the Marlins, who have been winning thus far this season, Lindstrom is a nice closer option in all Fantasy leagues as No. 2 guy. (Rotowire, CBS Sports)

Matt Lindstrom struck out a batter in a scoreless ninth inning to record his fourth save in Tuesday’s win over the Mets. A strong bounce-back outing for Lindstrom after an ugly blown save on Friday. This outing will only reinforce the vote of confidence from manager Fredi Gonzalez after his last blown save. (Rotowire)

Manager Fredi Gonzalez said the team has no plans to change closers after Matt Lindstrom blew his second save Friday night, turning a 3-0 lead into an eventual 7-3 loss against Philadelphia. “I’m not worried about him,” Gonzalez said. “I think this is one of those situations where you got to keep giving him the ball.” Leo Nunez would likely be next in line to close, but it appears Lindstrom will have to make a few more mistakes before that happens. Gonzalez gave Lindstrom an emphatic vote of confidence after Friday’s disaster, the Miami Herald reports. Normally, votes of confidence mean someone’s going to lose their job very soon, but Gonzalez seemed sincere and appears to be taking the “big picture” view of seeing how mentally tough Lindstrom is, and whether he can handle the closer’s role long-term, so Lindstrom should be safe as the Marlins closer. (Rotoworld, Rotowire)

Matt Lindstrom blew his second save of the season in grand style, allowing seven runs in the ninth in an eventual 7-3 loss to the Phillies. Now that’s what’s called an implosion. Lindstrom threw a ridiculous 38 pitches in the appearance, walking three and allowing four hits, including two home runs. The Marlins took a three-hitter into the ninth and were two outs from a 3-0 victory when pinch hitter Matt Stairs singled home the Phillies’ first run. Lindstrom walked in a run before Victorino hit his second homer of the year on a 2-1 pitch. Five pitches later, Chase Utley hit his fifth homer. Lindstrom failed to even get out of the ninth inning as he was pulled in favor of Renyel Pinto who had to bail him out of the inning. That performance is about as bad as it gets for a closer. Lindstrom had not pitched in five days before Friday’s debacle. He has saved only three of the five chances he has had to save games. He remains a No. 2 Fantasy RP but needs to figure thing out before he can be trusted in anything other than NL-only leagues at this point. Fredi Gonzalez is partially to blame here for not stopping the bleeding earlier. He was finally relieved by Renyel Pinto, who got the final out. The seven-run ninth overshadowed a brilliant performance by Josh Johnson. As a side note, Lindstrom will be unavailable for Saturday’s game due to Friday’s workload / trauma. (Rotoworld, CBS Sports)