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

The Mets outrighted pitcher Nelson Figueroa to the minor leagues. He had been designated for assignment. Figueroa is nothing more than middle reliever or high-risk spot starter if he makes his return to the majors this season. Cut and ignore the journeyman in all Fantasy leagues. (CBS Sports)

The Braves sent left-handed pitcher Chuck James to the minors for the third time Friday and recalled reliever Phil Stockman from Triple-A Richmond. James started the year in the minors while rehabbing from a shoulder injury, and has been sent back twice to Richmond since then. He was an 11-game winner for the Braves each of the last two years. James (2-3) was demoted to Richmond after getting tagged in a 5-0 loss at Philadelphia. He surrendered three homers, walked five without striking out anyone, and gave up all five runs. His ERA rose to 8.22 in five starts. He’ll be up at some point, but his value is limited to larger NL-only leagues. (CBS Sports)

Cubs OF Matt Murton, who was last with the big club in late April, is hitting .368 through 95 at-bats at Triple-A Iowa, including .600 (6-for-10) over his last three games. Murton has a career .295 average in 844 major-league at-bats and is clearly too good for the minors. But the Cubs don’t trust his defense enough to call him up to the big club permanently. He’d need a trade to make any kind of Fantasy impact. (CBS Sports)

FAAB Acquisitions:

• SP Jason Bergmann, Nationals [$2 bid, Add to Actives]
• SP Greg Reynolds, Rockies [$0 bid, Add to Actives]
• 2B Aaron Miles, Cardinals [$0 bid]

Up:

• P Carlos Villanueva
• OF Ryan Spilborghs

Down:

• OF John Bowker
• P Brett Myers
• P Reynel Pinto
• P Manny Acosta

Cut:

• P Nelson Figueroa
• P Chuck James
• OF Matt Murton

Note:

New acquisition Jason Bergmann was released by Misogynistic Padres on May 6th. He had originally been selected in the 4th Round of the 2008 WBRL Minor League draft (with $10 assigned salary).

Nelson Figueroa has cleared waivers and is expected to report to Triple-A New Orleans. Figueroa ended up with a 5.12 ERA in nine appearances for the Mets, allowing 24 walks in 38 2/3 innings. He’ll work on his control while waiting for the next time the Mets need a stopgap. (Rotoworld)

Mets designated RHP Nelson Figueroa for assignment. The Mets can’t have any complaints about the job Figueroa did as a stopgap. He ended up with a 5.12 ERA, but the team won three of his six starts. If he clears waivers, he could be called on to fill a similar role again later this season. (Rotoworld)

The Mets made a flurry of moves Tuesday. Pitchers Matt Wise and Claudio Vargas were added to the Mets roster, while hurlers Jorge Sosa and Nelson Figueroa were designated for assignment. Wise was activated from the DL and Vargas was added to the 40-man roster. Vargas becomes the Mets’ No. 5 starter until Pedro Martinez (hamstring) can return in June. The club also put Angel Pagan on the 15-day DL and recalled infielder Fernando Tatis from the Triple-A New Orleans Zephyrs. Ignore the journeyman in all Fantasy leagues while he is out of a job. (CBS Sports)

Prior to the move, Bugs & Cranks had a bit of a eulogy for his season:

Nelson’s story has been a great one. A former major league journeyman working his way back to the bigs after stopping in every country that manufactures hazardous toys. And after his first few starts, we all started to believe that a little time in Taiwan might have unearthed a gem. But since those games, no one has wanted to admit that Nelson hasn’t been at all effective, and at times, has been pretty damn bad on the mound.

I know I didn’t.

But right now the Mets rotation is Johan, Maine, and anyone who feels like showing up. Pelfrey is only as good as his last inning, and Oliver Perez has more personalities than Herschel Walker. Figueroa has become a liability in a rotation that doesn’t need any more charity workers. The last thing the Mets should do is continue trying to create a Cinderella story out of an increasingly ugly stepsister. Let’s use Nelson how God intended — a few innings at a time — one turn through a lineup.

Who knows, this might turn the story back into a happy one. Because at the rate he’s going, Nelson Figueroa is running out of pages to change the plot.

FAAB Acquisitions:

• RP Reynel Pinto, Marlins [$0 bid, add to actives]
• RP Matt Herges, Rockies [$0 bid]
• OF Jody Gerut, Padres [$0 bid, add to actives]

Up:

• P Jason Marquis

Down:

• OF Ryan Spilborghs
• P Nelson Figueroa
• P Carlos Villanueva

Cut:

• 1B Scott Hatteberg
• OF Brian Barton
• P Duaner Sanchez

Notes:

• $0 bid on OF Luis Gonzalez was out-bid by Cover Zero ($0, last place)
• $0 bid on RP Ryan Franklin was out-bid by Misogynistic Padres ($13 FAAB)

Nelson Figueroa allowed five hits and six runs, four earned, while blowing three separate one-run leads in the Mets’ 10-4 loss to the Nationals Monday. Figueroa’s continued his descent from Cinderella to ugly stepsister as his ERA rose to 5.12 and WHIP to 1.629 following the poor outing. As of now, the Mets plan on keeping him in the rotation, but another bad start might hasten the call up of someone from Triple-A Norfolk and Pedro Martinez might be back in a few weeks. (Rotowire)

FAAB Acquisition:

• C Chris Coste, Phillies [$0 bid]

Up:

• OF John Bowker
• P Nelson Figueroa

Down:

• OF Andruw Jones
• P Duaner Sanchez

Cut:

• Javier Valentin, C, Cincinnati

Notes:

• Was outbid for re-signing Cubs P Jon Lieber. Cover Zero acquired him for $5 - I had bid $0. Lieber was added to the Cubs’ rotation, and promptly gave up 5 HR in his start. Probably for the best.
• Former Roadrunner Zach Duke was acquired by Misogynistic Padres for $4 FAAB.

Nelson Figueroa was needed in relief of Oliver Perez on Wednesday and allowed one run in 3 1/3 innings against the Pirates. Figueroa was available after having his turn skipped following Monday’s rainout. It could be Tuesday before he makes another start. Figueroa allowed five hits and two walks, so although it wasn’t the most inspiring performance, he continued his run of success this season. With Pedro Martinez and Orlando Hernandez still due to miss significant time, Figueroa figures to see at least a couple more starts in May. (Rotoworld, Rotowire)

FAAB Acquisitions:

• RP, Duaner Sanchez, Mets [$0 bid, active]

Up:

• Shane Victorino
• Andruw Jones

Down:

• Nelson Figueroa
• John Bowker
• Matt Murton

Cut:

• Zach Duke

Notes: I had also bid $0 on the Reds’ Jerry Hairston, Jr., and $0 on Cubs SS Ronny Cedeno.  I was outbid by Tom Ross of Get Off Kong! on both.  He won Hairston with a $4 bid, and Cedeno with a $13 bid.  Yikes.

Because of Monday’s rainout, Nelson Figueroa will have his next start skipped. Johan Santana and Oliver Perez will both have their starts pushed back a day, and a Thursday off day will allow Santana to pitch again on Sunday. With Claudio Vargas pitching well in his first minor league appearance, Figueroa can’t be happy he’s getting skipped. (Rotoworld)

Nelson Figueroa limited the Braves to three runs in 5 1/3 innings on Sunday to pick up a victory. Figueroa had gone five innings without allowing a run, but three singles and a double scored two runs and chased him from the game in the sixth. A third run scored after he had departed. He’s yet to give up more than three runs in any of his four big league starts this season. (Rotoworld)

Nelson Figueroa took his first loss on Tuesday after allowing three runs in five innings against the Cubs. It could have been a lot worse. The Cubs loaded the bases with no outs against him in the second, but he struck out Ronny Cedeno and got a double-play ball from Henry Blanco to escape the jam. He ended up allowing seven hits, walking five and striking out just two.Despite the loss Tuesday, Figueroa did keep New York in the game and only had one really bad inning. But for the second straight day, the Mets’ bats were idle. Figueroa has done a decent job through three starts and this is what New York is hoping for — a guy that can be a band-aid until Orlando Hernandez or Pedro Martinez returns from the DL. Figueroa remains just a NL-only Fantasy option at this time. His next scheduled start is for Sunday against the Braves. (Rotoworld, CBS Sports)

Braves RP Manny Acosta, acting as closer with both Rafael Soriano and Peter Moylan disabled, pitched the ninth inning for the fourth time in five games Monday against the Nationals. He has only one save over that stretch, though, because the Braves keep winning by too many runs. He recorded one strikeout and allowed one hit in his one inning of work. Soriano might return within the next week, but Acosta looks like a nice stopgap option until that day arrives, particularly in NL-only leagues.

The Mets stayed close Thursday behind hometown pitcher, Brooklyn-born Nelson Figueroa. The journeyman right-hander struck out seven in seven innings, allowing two runs and three hits. He left with a 2-1 deficit, but it was erased in the eighth inning. Figueroa, who grew up a Mets fan, earned his first major league win since 2003 last Friday when he beat Milwaukee in a home start. Figueroa has now looked sharp in two starts with the Mets and this is what New York is hoping for — a guy that can be a band-aid until Orlando Hernandez or Pedro Martinez returns from the DL. Figueroa remains just a NL-only Fantasy option at this time. His next scheduled start is for Tuesday against the Cubs. He is on track for two starts Fantasy Week 4 (April 21-27) with his second coming against Atlanta.

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.