Today's Fantasy Rx

Today is the six-month anniversary of our launch of rotohelp.com. This the 182nd Daily Rx column I've written since we began our venture, and I'd like to take this opportunity to thank of all our readers, whether you've been with us since November, joined up in the middle, or are reading Your Daily Fantasy Rx for the first time today. Both Jess and I appreciate your interest in our work and hope you'll continue to visit us here over the coming months and years. We have every intention of maintaining this daily posting schedule indefinitely, so please know that whenever you need a roto fix, we'll be here with new information, ideas, and opinions every day of the year.

We're also celebrating today with three small triumphs in the BBW Challenge games. We found out yesterday that we won $30 for finishing "in second place overall for the week ending 5/12/02"; despite a modicum of success in most leagues this season, this is the first prize money we've won in 2002.

This morning, our two Diamond Challenge teams, Interview with the Umpire and Shadow of the Umpire, finally reached the top of the DC standings for the first time. We don't expect to remain there every day of the season, but we believe we're strong enough to continue battling for the top slots all year.

Finally, our names appear in Baseball Weekly for the first time ever today (on the bottom half of page 13), since after spending most of the last two weeks in the #4 and #5 overall DC slots, we held them through one of the printing deadlines. We thought we might make a move up to #2 and #3 last weekend, but we were pleasantly surprised by our move to the top in today's standings.

I don't really mean to overtly sound like a braggart here; we're aware that the last two DC winners didn't secure their places in the Top 10 until September, but we just want our readers to know that our Challenge advice appears to be grounded in success thus far. Starting on Sunday, we'll include our weekly standings with each of our five BBW contest teams so anyone interested can check our progress.

Today, we continue reviewing potential FAAB-worthy prospects with American League pitchers from the high minors.

Note: For those of you unfamiliar with FAAB, each team normally has $100 to spend throughout the year on all free agent pickups. Most injury replacements or speculative picks go for a buck or two, hot starters go for $5-$10, top prospects go in the $10-$30 range, and we've seen $90+ bids on top players traded into the league.

Anaheim: Mickey Callaway, 27, RHP Starter
7-0 on 40:15 K:BB in 49 IP over 8 GS with 36 H, 4 HR, and a 1.47 ERA at AAA Salt Lake(PCL).

Tampa only gave Callaway 24.1 innings in the majors before sending him to the Angels for Wilmy Caceres. He's demonstrated solid command over his last three years of AAA but seems to be stereotyped as a AAAA pitcher due to his relatively low strikeout rate. Surprisingly, Callaway's moved from Durham and the International League to Salt Lake and the PCL while improving his numbers across the board in the more hitter-friendly PCL. The Angels should certainly consider attempting to move Sele and Schoeneweis to give starters like Callaway, Matt Wise, or John Lackey a chance in the rotation. We've already picked up Wise on some of our AL teams, and we also recommend Callaway for up to a few bucks of FAAB if Anaheim gives him an opportunity.

Baltimore: John Stephens, 22, RHP Starter
4-3 on 48:13 K:BB in 50.2 IP over 8 GS with 43 H, 3 HR, and a 3.20 ERA at AAA Rochester(IL).

In 17 AAA starts, Stephens is 6-8 on 109:32 K:BB in 108.2 IP with 95 H and 8 HR; I see no reason for him to remain in the minors when the Orioles need to trade most of their starters for offensive help. His fastball supposedly only tops out in the high-80's, but he seems to be dominating at AAA right now. We'll definitely look to acquire Stephens whenever someone gives him a chance, and he's easily worth a few dollars of FAAB.

Boston: Chris Haney, 33, LHP Reliever
1-0 on 24:6 K:BB in 20 IP over 17 G with 21 H, 1 HR, and a 3.60 ERA at AAA Pawtucket(IL).

After spending last season in Japan, Haney's again posting excellent command numbers in the minors. Boston doesn't really need another lefty in the bullpen but he seems to have developed into a competent reliever. I'm not sure he's completely trustworthy considering his rather poor major league track record, but I also wouldn't object to FAABing him for a buck if we needed a short-term injury replacement.

Chicago White Sox: Corey Lee, 27, LHP Reliever
2-0 on 26:6 K:BB in 27.1 IP over 14 G with 25 H, 1 HR, and a 2.63 ERA at AAA Charlotte(IL).

The White Sox picked up this former first rounder from Texas for Herb Perry, and their search for another competent left-handed reliever may have ended. Lee's spending his first season in the bullpen after six years of starting almost exclusively. He's never shown acceptable command above AA until this season, and now he appears prepared to return to the majors in the bullpen. FAAB Lee for a buck or two if you need a few fairly low-risk innings when he's called up.

Cleveland: Jason Phillips, 28, RHP Starter
6-1 on 42:8 K:BB in 56.2 IP over 8 GS with 38 H, 1 HR, and a 1.75 ERA at AAA Buffalo(IL).

He hasn't started more than 9 games in a season for the last three years due to injury troubles. However he showed decent promise back in 1998 with an acceptable 135:64 K:BB in 182.1 IP in 28 starts between AA Carolina and AAA Nashville. Phillips now appears recovered and pitching better than ever, and all his skills suggest he's ready if Cleveland needs another starter. I'd be willing to spend a couple bucks of FAAB to roster and occasionally start him, moving him into our lineups full-time after he establishes himself as a decent bottom-of-the-rotation starter.

Detroit: Adam Bernero, 25, RHP Starter
1-2 on 40:11 K:BB in 50 IP over 8 GS with 42 H, 2 HR, and a 1.80 ERA at AAA Toledo(IL).

He posted solid command numbers in 1999 at A West Michigan before jumping to both AA and finally AAA Toledo in 2000. Bernero severely slipped last year, allowing far too many hits as well as losing his excellent command, but he appears recovered from that near-disaster with an excellent start to this season. These numbers appear right in line with his performance prior to 2001, so I see no reason why he can't maintain most of these ratios over the course of the season. Definitely consider a few bucks of FAAB if Detroit gives him another chance in the majors.

Kansas City: Brett Laxton, 28, RHP Starter
1-3 on 29:12 K:BB in 37 IP over 7 GS with 29 H, 1 HR, and a 2.43 ERA at AAA Omaha(PCL).

Laxton's showing decent command in AAA for only the second of his five seasons of AAA; he managed a solid 112:49 K:BB in 151.1 IP in 1999 at Vancouver. I don't expect he'll ever see any great success in the majors, and none of his ratios are particularly outstanding. You should probably ignore Laxton if KC gives him another chance since they have several other pitchers with more upside but more questionable skills.

Minnesota: Johan Santana, 23, LHP Starter
2-2 on 49:15 K:BB in 31.2 IP over 8 G(6 GS) with 29 H, 6 HR, and a 3.69 ERA at AAA Edmonton(PCL).

The Twins grabbed Santana from the Astros with the second pick in the Rule 5 draft, and after a year of pitching mop-up work, he made the team in the same role last year, pitching adequately for half a season before partially tearing the flexor muscle in his left elbow. He's now recovered and starting again at AAA, and I find these numbers rather astounding considering he basically lost two years of development time. Santana appears ready right now to give the Twins a solid second left-handed starts, and we'll be involved in the FAAB bidding whenever they decide to recall him.

New York Yankees: Domingo Jean, 33, RHP Reliever
0-1 on 23:9 K:BB in 20.2 IP over 13 G with 14 H, 2 HR, and a 3.48 ERA at AAA Columbus(IL).

Injuries derailed Jean's once extremely promising career back in the mid-90's, but he's slowly redeveloped into a decent pitcher since rejoining the Yankees for the 2000 season. He's steadily improved his command to his current levels and his H/9 have also been falling. While I don't know if the Yankees will consider giving him another shot in the majors, he's certainly earned at least a second extended cup-of-coffee, especially with the number of teams appearing to need a decent veteran right-handed reliever. However given the uncertainty surrounding his career, you should probably ignore him for at least a few weeks if he's ever promoted.

Oakland: Chad Harville, 25, RHP Reliever
5 Saves on 21:8 K:BB in 18.1 IP over 14 G with 12 H, 2 HR, and a 2.45 ERA at AAA Sacramento(PCL).

Harville's spending a bizarre fourth straight season at Sacramento as Billy Beane refuses to deal Jeff Tam, an illogical move considering Tam's million-dollar salary and poor dominance. A truly great GM would have found a way to keep Harville in his bullpen by now, but fantasy owners are left to again wait until later in the season before spending a few bucks of FAAB on a high-strikeout, potential future closer like Harville.

Seattle: Ken Cloude, 26, RHP Starter
6-1 on 28:13 K:BB in 51 IP over 8 GS with 31 H, 2 HR, and a 1.24 ERA at AAA Tacoma(PCL).

Cloude's spent his entire nine-year career in the Mariners' system despite only making the majors in 1997, 1998, and 1999. After missing last season due to a ruptured Achilles tendon, he's started off great this season with a sparking ERA that's forcing Seattle to pay attention to him again. He's still only 26 and could have a long career as a starter, but the weak strikeout rate worries me; he at least demonstrated fairly good dominance in the minors before his injury, and I have doubt as to whether he'll succeed this year in the majors. You should likely ignore his potential upcoming promotion due to the risks involved with his situation.

Tampa Bay: Jason Jimenez, 26, LHP Reliever
1-1 on 17:6 K:BB in 22.1 IP over 16 G with 15 H, 1 HR, and a 2.01 ERA at AAA Durham(IL).

After two seasons in the high minors Jimenez finally seems prepared for a major league bullpen job. His strikeout rate is still a little low but his other skill ratios all look fine. Tampa Bay can begin exploring potential trades for Doug Creek since the combination of Jimenez and Rule 5 pick Steve Kent give them two very solid left-handed relief options. You'll likely ignore Jimenez since he'll be pitching in a high-risk, low-upside role when promoted, but he could develop into a decent endgame play in a year or two.

Texas: Colby Lewis, 22, RHP Starter
1-2 on 28:6 K:BB in 29.2 IP over 6 GS with 29 H, 2 HR, and a 3.94 ERA at AAA Oklahoma(PCL).

Texas abandoned their plan to break him in with bullpen work after only a couple of weeks in April, although Lewis appears more comfortable with continuing his march through the system as a starter. His skill ratios have even improved over last year's great AA season, and I expect him to join the Rangers' rotation for good no later than sometime in the second half. Lewis is a potential ace with significant potential, so you should definitely make a spirited attempt to FAAB him when recalled.

Toronto: Chad Ricketts, 27, RHP Reliever
2 Saves on 17:5 K:BB in 15.1 IP over 14 G with 15 H, 3 HR, and a 3.52 ERA at AAA Syracuse(IL).

When J.P. Ricciardi acquired Ricketts with Prokopec for Izturis and Quantrill, we expected that Ricketts would automatically replace Quantrill in a bullpen suddenly void of experienced right-handers. As his 2000 MLEs were almost identical to Quantrill's actual performance, we didn't even expect much of a drop in the pen effectiveness. Ricketts somehow lost his position in Spring Training, although he's bounced back nicely with only an elevated homer rate blemishing his record. We still expect him up to stay at some point this season and he might even be the most logical alternate closer if Escobar encounters injury trouble. FAAB Ricketts if you need a solid reliever whenever the Blue Jays choose to promote him.

Our May roto prospect series will conclude tomorrow with NL pitchers.

Today's Fantasy Rx: While I have little doubt that Attack of the Clones will impress me to an even lesser degree than the horrendous Spider-Man, we enjoy taking advantage of our flexible schedule to see the opening of certain event movies. We'll be heading to a midnight showing of Star Wars: Episode II tonight, and we recommend seeing it this weekend if only to stay aware of these so-called cultural touchstones.