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

Noah Lowry is confident he can be a key member of the Giants’ rotation next season, even though the left-hander didn’t throw a pitch in 2008. Lowry underwent arthroscopic surgery after the season on the back of his pitching elbow to remove bone spurs. That came after the 28-year-old spent the entire season rehabilitating from a March 7 operation to repair a rare nerve problem in his forearm called exertional compartment syndrome. He has been rehabbing his elbow five days a week in Arizona and is optimistic he will finally be healthy soon — and ready to pick up where he left off in 2007. “As far as my arm and what’s been going on, I am doing great,” Lowry said. “I am on schedule to start my normal offseason throwing routine sometime around the first week of December, so everything has been going well. I think that with a normal recovery time and normal rehab work I should be right on pace to be ready for the year and back to my old self.”

Before the latest procedure, performed by Dr. Lewis Yocum, Lowry had been on a throwing program and was close to pitching in the Arizona instructional league. He also had been scheduled to pitch in winter ball. Lowry had hoped to return in mid-April from his forearm procedure, but was still experiencing tingling in his pitching arm. He led the Giants with 14 wins in 2007 and has a 40-31 record with a 4.03 ERA in 106 career games. Lowry was a first-round draft pick by the Giants (30th overall) in 2001. He is signed through next year with a club option for 2010. “We’re being optimistic that we can count on him and that the surgery will clear up everything and give him peace of mind,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “Hopefully, it’s the last step to getting him recovered so we can count on him in the rotation.” Even with a clean bill of healthy — a risky proposition — Lowry is nothing more than a lower-end Fantasy option on the non-contender Giants at this point. (CBS Sports)

The Giants have taken starting pitcher Noah Lowry (elbow) and reliever Merkin Valdez (elbow) off the 60-day DL. Lowry missed the entire 2008 season with elbow woes and finally had a scope in late September to remove bone spurs. He should be ready for spring training, but his history of elbow woes make him nothing more than a deep sleeper in Fantasy. (CBS Sports)

Noah Lowry will undergo surgery Tuesday to remove a bone spur from his left elbow. It sounds like Lowry will avoid Tommy John surgery. The recovery time expected to be about six weeks. Looking forward, manager Bruce Bochy is hopeful that “”this surgery will clear up everything and give him peace of mind. … Hopefully, it’s the last step to getting him fully recovered and being at the point where we can count on him being in the rotation” next season. (Rotoworld, Rotowire)

Noah Lowry has been shut down again because of elbow pain. Lowry hasn’t pitched this season after undergoing surgery to relieve pressure on the nerves in his left forearm and had been hoping to participate in winter ball. “You’re concerned, when he’s had the setbacks he’s had,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “We do have all winter to get it right and get him on track. It’s got to be hard for him. He’s got to be discouraged and frustrated.” (Rotoworld)

The Roadrunners are dealing with quite a few injuries as the season winds down, and these are affecting my stats over the final week:

Catcher: Both Chris Iannetta and Pablo Sandoval are day-to-day after weekend injuries.  Sandoval had a strained quad, while Iannetta was pulled from Sunday’s game with severe leg cramping, which isn’t good for a catcher.  Both are day-to-day over the final week.

Infield: Brandon Phillips is on the 60-Day DL due to a broken finger from two weeks ago.  Ryan Theriot’s Cubs have already clinched, and he and other regulars are being rested over the final week in preparation for the post-season.  Chipper Jones‘ latest injury is shoulder inflammation, which has limited him to pinch-hitting appearances since last Friday.  Depending on the pitching matchup, he may sit occasionally.  Even September call-up Mat Gamel admitted he was injured, and he was shut down with a sore elbow, though this is likely what caused his poor second half.

Outfield: Remember when the Roadrunners had ridiculous depth of somewhat-decent outfielders?  Well, no more.  Corey Hart is slumping badly, though at least the Brewers are striving for the wild card - they’ll trot him out there each day.  Brandon Moss just learned that he has some bad knee cartilage, and he has been shut down, and may require surgery that’ll have him miss part of Spring Training.  Ten days ago Chris Dickerson hurt his foot, and he had been hobbled.  Finally an MRI detected a hairline fracture in his heel, so he’s shut down as well.  Jody Gerut has only one start since August 27th due to a strained finger tendon, making it impossible for him to hold a bat - though he has been a pinch runner.  Gregor Blanco has been sitting of late as the Braves try to figure out which of their young outfielders will be in their plans for next season.  Blanco should be safe, but he’ll be no more than a No. 4 OF.

Pitching: The pitching isn’t in bad shape in this final week.  In addition to the Noah Lowry pickup (he was rehabbing while on the 60-Day DL when picked up), John Maine has basically been shut down for the season. Well, but no one told him that - there’s a chance he’ll be on the playoff roster (if the Mets win the wild card), but he has a bone spur that requires surgery.  Idiotic Giants manager Bruce Bochy has been driving Tim Lincecum into the ground, and yesterday’s start showed that he might not have anything left in the tank.  Lincecum of course leads the majors in pitcher abuse points, and I’d like to personally thank Bochy for ruining Lincecum’s career for a fourth-place 70-87 squad that’s 12 games out of first.

Noah Lowry (forearm) will throw two bullpen sessions and face live hitters before heading off to the Giants’ instructional league in Arizona. “The No. 1 thing is going down there and getting back to being me,” said Lowry, who has been ruled out for the rest of the season. He is also planning to play winter ball for Mazatlan in the Mexican Pacific League. (Rotoworld)

Giants SP Noah Lowry, out all year following forearm nerve surgery, threw another bullpen session and will soon face live hitters and report to instructional league in Arizona. He also plans to play winter ball to get back to his top form. “I’m happy to be back on the mound,” Lowry said. “It’s encouraging to be doing baseball work.” Lowry won’t be able to help in Fantasy leagues until spring 2009 at this point. Consider him a candidate to be a nice comeback player, but drop him in annual formats right now. (CBS Sports)

Manager Bruce Bochy said Tuesday that Noah Lowry’s (forearm) chances of pitching this season are “remote.” Lowry continues to say that he hopes to return this season, but he’s only progressed to throwing off a mound Tuesday for the second time and Friday marks the one-year anniversary of his last MLB appearance. If Lowry can’t make it back to the Giants before season’s end, he’s expected to pitch in winter ball. (Rotoworld)

Noah Lowry took a significant step in his comeback from left forearm surgery by throwing approximately 20 pitches off a bullpen mound Saturday, the Giants’ official site reports. Manager Bruce Bochy wouldn’t rule out Lowry returning this season, but he did call it a long shot. This marked the first time that Lowry had thrown off a mound since March 3, when he walked nine of 12 hitters in an exhibition game against Texas. (Rotowire)

MLB.com reports that Noah Lowry’s (forearm) chances of pitching this season are “bleak.” Lowry has yet to begin throwing off a mound after complications following forearm surgery, but said Thursday that he expects to play winter ball. “My arm is back to, I don’t want to say ‘normal,’ but with all the time [off], my arm’s had a chance to fully recover,” Lowry said. (Rotoworld)

Noah Lowry (forearm) could throw off a mound in the next week. He hasn’t experienced any pain while throwing off flat ground, and is anxious to throw off a mound, but the Giants are wisely taking things slow with him. He’ll be examined by a doctor in the next day or two, at which point the team will decide when he’ll be ready to throw off a mound and if he might make an appearance this season. (Rotoworld)

Reds rookie OF Chris Dickerson singled in the first inning Sunday, ending his extra-base streak. His first six hits in the majors were for extra bases — four doubles, a triple and a homer. Since the trade of Adam Dunn, Dickerson has taken over as the Reds’ leadoff man and a starter in center and/or left. Consider him a nice sleeper in Rotisserie leagues down the stretch, especially NL-only and long-term keeper formats. (CBS Sports)

Giants SP Noah Lowry is a protected-list gambit who is out for the season. Formerly a 14-game winner (though never that great a pitcher), he’ll have 2 years remaning on his $1 contract. He was acquired in the 2008 auction by Misogynistic Padres. Lowry (left arm surgery on March 7) opened the season on the 15-day disabled list, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on May 30. He was told April 30 to stop rehabbing. He resumed throwing in late July, and trainer Dave Groeschner said he could begin throwing off a mound in mid-August. Lowry is likely to miss the remainder of the season. Lowry won’t be able to help in Fantasy leagues until spring 2009 at this point. Consider him a candidate to be a nice comeback player, but drop him in annual formats right now. (CBS Sports)

Trade:

• Trade OF Steve Pearce ($1, 3 years) to Cover Zero.
• Acquire Nationals’ OF Lastings Milledge ($9, 1 year), added to actives

FAAB Acquisitions:

• OF Chris Dickerson, Reds [$0 bid, add to actives]
• P Noah Lowry, Giants [$0 bid]

Down:

• OF Shane Victorino

Cut:

• P Jason Bergmann
• OF John Bowker