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

Cubs acquired RHP Kevin Gregg from the Marlins for RHP Jose Ceda. Gregg has 61 saves the last two years, but he’s hardly a dominant reliever and he’s looking at a salary of around $4 million for next season. If the Marlins were only going to move one of their arbitration-eligible players this winter, he should have been the one to go. Of course, he’s actually the fourth. The Marlins figure to replace him with Matt Lindstrom, though if a rehabbing veteran wants to sign cheap (Jason Isringhausen?), some sort of competition could be set up. The Cubs should use Gregg in the seventh or eighth inning, regardless of whether Kerry Wood re-signs. (Rotoworld)

Tim Lincecum was named the Cy Young Award winner in the 17th Annual Internet Baseball Awards. 2006 winner and 2007 runner-up Brandon Webb finished fourth in the voting. Below are the results:

Rnk Name                        1      2      3      4      5       B       P
  1. Tim Lincecum              955    335     56     15      4    1365   12224
  2. Johan Santana             273    619    184     71     22    1169    8218
  3. C.C. Sabathia             122    155    281    159    128     845    4315
  4. Brandon Webb               47    189    318    193    106     853    4068
  5. Cole Hamels                 5     42    212    214    130     603    2176
  6. Brad Lidge                  9     18     94    109     83     313    1096
  7. Ryan Dempster               5     16     86    101    124     332    1019
  8. Dan Haren                   1     10     47     83     98     239     662
  9. Edinson Volquez             0      6     33     42     55     136     388
 10. Jake Peavy                  2     11     23     38     34     108     360

 24. John Maine                  1      0      0      1      0       2      13
 26. Brandon Lyon                1      0      0      0      0       1      10
 34. Brian Wilson                0      0      1      0      1       2       6
 41. Josh Johnson                0      0      0      1      0       1       3
 41. Todd Wellemeyer             0      0      0      1      0       1       3
 50. Matt Lindstrom              0      0      0      0      1       1       1

The Miami Herald reports that Kevin Gregg “won’t return” to the Marlins in 2009 despite being arbitration eligible. Gregg struggled mightily at the end of the season while dealing with a knee injury and the Marlins have Matt Lindstrom set to take over as closer. (Rotoworld)

Marlins closer Matt Lindstrom walked one in a scoreless ninth inning Sunday at the Mets to record his fifth save. He didn’t allow an earned run in his last 8 1/3 innings. Lindstrom overtook Kevin Gregg for ninth-inning duties late in the season, but he hasn’t had many opportunities to strut his stuff. Still, he projected as a possible closer of the future, so treat him as a No. 2 Fantasy option if he enters 2009 with that role.

Marlins RP Matt Lindstrom allowed one hit in a scoreless ninth inning Friday at the Mets, recording one strikeout. Lindstrom, serving as closer right now, hasn’t recorded a save since Sept. 13. Lindstrom overtook Kevin Gregg for ninth-inning duties late in the season, but he hasn’t had many opportunities to strut his stuff. Still, he projected as a possible closer of the future, so treat him as a No. 2 Fantasy option if he enters 2009 with that role. (CBS Sports)

Kevin Gregg says the Marlins have told him they want to look at Matt Lindstrom in the closer role for the rest of the season, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports. Arthur Rhodes may steal an occasional situational save as he did on Sunday, but it appears as though Lindstrom will get the bulk of the chances down the stretch. Gregg, who’ll be due a big raise in arbitration, doesn’t expect to return to Florida in 2009. “They basically indicated to me they’re going to give Lindstrom a tryout and see if he can handle it, see if they can use him next year instead of having to spend some money on me,” Gregg said. “Finances play everything into their decisions around here. I have no problem playing somewhere else. It’s not like this is the only team I’ve ever played for. It’s a business. They try to save every dollar they can and we try to earn every dollar we’re worth…. Next year I’ll have a job. I’m not worried about that. It’s just a matter of where it will be.” (Rotowire)

Marlins closer Matt Lindstrom, who had worked in four of the previous five games, didn’t get a chance to pitch in a save opportunity Sunday against the Nationals. The Marlins had to switch between three relievers, though, before Arthur Rhodes finally recorded the save. The Marlins’ struggles with Lindstrom out only helped solidify his role in the ninth inning. The team could revert back to Kevin Gregg as their closer at moment’s notice, but Lindstrom looks like the Marlins reliever to own for now. (CBS Sports)

Marlins closer Matt Lindstrom needed just 10 pitches to get the final three outs in Saturday’s 4-2 win over Washington — including a walk. It was his fourth save of the year. Lindstrom, who filled in as closer with Kevin Gregg nursing a knee injury, will apparently remain in the role even with Gregg healthy again. Lindstrom long projected as a closer and Gregg has blown nine saves this year. Lindstrom could serve as a nice No. 2 Fantasy option down the stretch since he pitches for an above-.500 team. (CBS Sports)

Matt Lindstrom pitched a perfect ninth for his third save in Friday night’s 2-1 win over Washington. Since being named the closer to replace Kevin Gregg, Lindstrom is 3-for-3 without allowing a hit. Kevin Gregg pitched the seventh inning of Friday’s game. Lindstrom long projected as a closer and Gregg has blown nine saves this year, so perhaps the Marlins are just preempting the inevitable. If Lindstrom remains the closer, he could serve as a nice No. 2 Fantasy option down the stretch since he pitches for an above-.500 team. If you have a desperate need for saves, don’t cut Gregg just yet since this situation still seems a bit unsettled. (Rotowire, CBS Sports)

Florida RP Matt Lindstrom, the Marlins’ eighth pitcher, got the final out for his second save on Tuesday night against the Phillies. This is two saves in the last few days for a possible closer of the future for the Marlins. Lindstrom could see a few more save chances down the stretch, but remains a low-end Fantasy RP at this time. (CBS sports)

Even though Kevin Gregg could return Tuesday, Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez said he intends to leave Matt Lindstrom in the closer’s role. Lindstrom is getting an audition to see if he should be the choice in the role in 2009. If he disappoints, then the team could try to add an inexpensive veteran to close. (Rotoworld)

Matt Lindstrom picked up his first career save in Friday’s 4-1 win over St Louis on Friday night in 11 innings. Lindstrom should be the first option for saves with Kevin Gregg out and should be picked up by owners, who could use a few saves down the stretch. He retired the side on just eight pitches and took the hill as Kevin Gregg missed his fifth straight game with knee trouble. (Rotowire, CBS Sports)

Matt Lindstrom, coming off wins on Saturday and Monday, took the loss to the Braves on Tuesday after giving up two runs in the ninth. Lindstrom was pitching for the fourth time in five days, so fatigue might have been an issue. Still, it was a poor outing on a day in which Joe Nelson threw two more scoreless innings. Nelson could still be a candidate for saves with Kevin Gregg down. (Rotoworld)

Up:

• OF Lastings Milledge
• 3B/U Casey Blake
• P Matt Lindstrom

Down:

• OF Jody Gerut
• OF Chase Headley
• P Mike Gonzalez

Matt Lindstrom notched his second relief victory in three days after John Baker hit a game-winning sac fly in the bottom of the ninth Monday against the Braves. Lindstrom pitched a scoreless top of the ninth in a 3-3 game before the Marlins won it in the bottom of the inning. He’s yet to get a save chance since Kevin Gregg went down, but the wins are more valuable anyway. (Rotoworld)