Today's Fantasy Rx

As everyone plays seven or more games this week, I'm only going to briefly discuss team schedules.

Colorado: 7 games: 2 Road at San Diego; 2 Home vs. Arizona; 3 Home vs. Milwaukee.
Houston: 7 games: 2 Home vs. Pittsburgh; 2 Road at Milwaukee; 3 Road at Chicago Cubs.

Kansas City 9(!) Home games: 3 vs. Texas; 2 vs. ChicagoWhite Sox; 4 vs. Cleveland.

Cleveland: 8 games: 2 Home vs. Chicago White Sox; 2 Home vs. Minnesota; 4 Road at Kansas City.

Texas: 8 games: 3 Road at Kansas City; 2 Home vs. Seattle; 3 Road at Oakland.

Teams with seven home games: Los Angeles and Toronto.

Teams with five home games: Baltimore, Chicago Cubs, Detroit, New York Yankees, Oakland, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and St. Louis.

Teams with four home games: Montreal and Tampa Bay.

All other teams play three or less home games.

Pitchers of interest with two starts(whom we'd start if we owned them):
John Lackey: Mon:@MIN(Joh.Santana); Sat:SEA(Franklin)
Jarrod Washburn: Tue:@MIN(Milton); Sun:SEA(Piniero)
Rick Helling: Mon:@SF(R.Jensen); Sat:@SD(Ol.Perez)
Randy Johnson:Tue:@SF(Ru.Ortiz); Sun:@SD(Peavy)
Jason Marquis: Mon:@CHC(C.Zambrano); Sat:@PHI(T.Adams)
Kevin Millwood: Tue:@CHC(Lieber); Sun:@PHI(Wolf)
Sidney Ponson: Mon:SEA(Franklin);Sat:CHW(Glover)
Rolando Arrojo: Mon:@DET(Lima); Sat:@NYY(O.Hernandez)
John Burkett: Tue:@DET(S.Sparks); Sun:@NYY(Weaver)
Carlos Zambrano: Mon:ATL(Marquis); Sat:HOU(N.Cruz)
Jon Lieber: Tue:ATL(Millwood); Sun:HOU(Oswalt)
Chris Reitsma: Mon:@MIL(J.Cabrera); Sat:NYM(Bacsik or Trachsel)
Elmer Dessens: Tue:@MIL(Sheets); Sun:@NYM(A.Leiter)
C.C. Sabathia: Tue:CHW(D.Wright); Sun:@KC(Da.May)
Jason Jennings: Tue:@SD(Peavy); Sun:MIL(Sheets)
Brad Penny: Mon:@NYM(Bacsik); Sat:MON(Yoshii)
Josh Beckett: Tue:@NYM(A.Leiter); Sun:MON(Armas)
Roy Oswalt: Tue:PIT(Fogg); Sun:@CHC(Lieber)
Shawn Sedlacek: Mon:TEX(R.Bell); Sat:CLE(J.Phillips)
Darrell May: Tue:TEX(Park); Sun:CLE(Da.May)
Omar Daal: Mon:STL(T.Smith); Sat:SF(Ry.Jensen)
Hideo Nomo: Tue:STL(An.Benes); Sun:SF(Ru.Ortiz)
Ben Sheets: Tue:CIN(Dessens); Sun:@COL(Jennings)
Johan Santana: Mon:ANA(Lackey); Sat:@DET(Maroth)
Eric Milton:Tue:ANA(Washburn);Sun:@DET(Sparks)
Tony Armas: Tue:PHI(Wolf); Sun:@FLO(Beckett)
Al Leiter: Tue:FLO(Beckett); Sun@CIN(Dessens)
Orlando Hernandez: Mon:@TOR(Parris);Sat:BOS(Arrojo)
Jeff Weaver:Tue:@TOR(P.Walker); Sun:BOS(Burkett)
Ted Lilly: Mon:@TB(Rupe); Sat:TEX(R.Bell)
Mark Mulder: Tue:@TB(J.Sosa); Sun:TEX(Park)
Terry Adams: Mon:@MON(Yoshii); Sat:ATL(Marquis)
Randy Wolf: Tue:@MON(Armas); Sun:ATL(Millwood)
Kris Benson: Mon:@HOU(N.Cruz); Sat:STL(T.Smith)
Josh Fogg: Tue:@HOU(Oswalt); Sun:STL(An.Benes)
Oliver Perez: Mon:COL(D.Stark); Sat:ARI(Helling)
Jake Peavy: Tue:COL(Jennings); Sun:ARI(R.Johnson)
Ryan Franklin: Mon:@BAL(Ponson); Sat:@ANA(Lackey)
Joel Piniero: Tue:@BAL(Erickson); Sun:@ANA(Washburn)
Ryan Jensen: Mon:ARI(Helling); Sat:@LA(Daal)
Russ Ortiz: Tue:ARI(R.Johnson); Sun:@LA(Nomo)
Travis Smith: Mon:@LA(Daal); Sat:@PIT(Benson)
Ryan Rupe: Mon:OAK(Lilly); Sun:@TOR(P.Walker)
Rob Bell: Mon:@KC(Sedlacek); Sat:@OAK(Lilly)
Chan Ho Park: Tue:@KC(Da.May); Sun:@OAK(Mulder)
Pete Walker: Tue:NYY(Weaver); Sun:TB(Rupe)

Diamond Challenge

SP(6)
Randy Johnson: Tue:@SF(Ru.Ortiz); Sun:@SD(Peavy)
Pedro Martinez: Fri:@NYY(Mussina)
Curt Schilling: Wed:@COL(Hampton)
Mike Mussina: Fri:BOS(P.Martinez)
Roger Clemens: DL
Matt Morris: Thu:SF(Schmidt)
Tim Hudson: Wed:ANA(Appier)
Javier Vazquez: Fri:@FLO(M.Tejera)
Barry Zito: Thu:ANA(Sele)
Kerry Wood: Wed:@PHI(Person)
Roy Oswalt: Tue:PIT(Fogg); Sun:@CHC(Lieber)
Eric Gagne: 7 Home games: 2 vs. St Louis; 2 vs. San Diego; 3 vs. San Francisco.
Brian Lawrence: Wed:@LA(Od.Perez)

Randy, Oswalt, and Gagne are automatic here, and we'll trust Hudson and Zito at home against almost anyone. Pedro, Schilling, Mussina, Morris, and Lawrence all scare us, and we're uncertain about Vazquez, leaving us with Kerry as our 6th starter.

We considered adding Lowell or Hunter, but we're not comfortable dropping anyone here at the moment, although we'll likely revisit this next week.

We'd like to deploy our Rockies at home, but that alignment leaves us slightly over the cap, so we'll bench the still-injured Helton and struggling Pierre to deploy Sosa and Rollins. We're not sold on Drew's health, so he'll stay benched with Vlad and Klesko.

Shadow of the Umpire(1st lg; 1st div; 1st(tie) overall; 56th(tie) field)
& Interview with the Umpire(1st lg; 1st div; 1st(tie) overall; 56th(tie) field)
Week 16: July 15-July 21

C 	Jorge Posada		990
C	A.J. Pierzynski		460
1B	Jason Giambi		1640
1B	Paul Konerko		1220
2B	Luis Castillo		1000
2B	Alfonso Soriano		900
3B	Eric Chavez		1070
3B	Shea Hillenbrand	450
SS	Alex Rodriguez		1880
SS	Jimmy Rollins		940
OF	Larry Walker		1530
OF	Ichiro Suzuki		1330
OF	Lance Berkman		1320
OF	Adam Dunn		710
OF	Daryle Ward		620
OF	Jeremy Giambi		500
DH	Sammy Sosa		1900
DH	Juan Uribe		500

SP	Randy Johnson		1990
SP	Tim Hudson		1170
SP	Barry Zito		1080
SP	Kerry Wood		1050
SP	Roy Oswalt		830
SP	Eric Gagne		500
RP	Jason Isringhausen	1290
RP	Byung-Hyun Kim		1200
RP	Mike Williams		900
RP	Eddie Guardado		900

Diamond Challenge 2nd Season

SP(6)
Randy Johnson: Tue:@SF(Ru.Ortiz); Sun:@SD(Peavy)
Pedro Martinez: Fri:@NYY(Mussina)
Curt Schilling: Wed:@COL(Hampton)
Mike Mussina: Fri:BOS(P.Martinez)
Roger Clemens: DL
Matt Morris: Thu:SF(Schmidt)
Freddy Garcia: Fri:@ANA(Ra.Ortiz)
Javier Vazquez: Fri:@FLO(M.Tejera)
Barry Zito: Thu:ANA(Sele)
Kerry Wood: Wed:@PHI(Person)
Derek Lowe: Wed:@TB(P.Wilson)
Roy Oswalt: Tue:PIT(Fogg); Sun:@CHC(Lieber)
Eric Gagne: 7 Home games: 2 vs. St Louis; 2 vs. San Diego; 3 vs. San Francisco.
Roy Halladay: Wed:BAL(Ja.Johnson)

Randy, Oswalt, and Gagne remain automatic, we still like Zito, and we'll deploy Lowe and Halladay against the weakest opposing offenses on our board.

While we think Nunez could rebound, we can't afford to carry him right now, so we'll move over to Stewart for salary reasons (and we should be okay on saves with Gagne). Since we're tired of Piatt contributing little to nothing, we'll also spend a buy on Daryle Ward for Piatt.

Sosa, Drew, Helton, and Pierre will sit for us.

Umpire: The Masquerade(5th lg; 12th div; 266th overall)
Week 16: July 15-July 21

C 	Jorge Posada		990
C	Michael Barrett		590
1B	Jason Giambi		1640
1B	Paul Konerko		1220
2B	Luis Castillo		1000
2B	Alfonso Soriano		900
3B	Mike Lowell		870
3B	Shea Hillenbrand	450
SS	Alex Rodriguez		1880
SS	Nomar Garciaparra	1120
OF	Larry Walker		1530
OF	Ichiro Suzuki		1330
OF	Lance Berkman		1320
OF	Pat Burrell		920
OF	Torii Hunter		830
OF	Adam Dunn		710
DH	Daryle Ward		620
DH	Jeremy Giambi		500

SP	Randy Johnson		1990
SP	Barry Zito		1080
SP	Derek Lowe		870
SP	Roy Oswalt		830
SP	Eric Gagne		500
SP	Roy Halladay		490
RP	Jason Isringhausen	1290
RP	Mike Williams		900
RP	Eddie Guardado		900
RP	Scott Stewart		490

Internet Challenge

After dropping Izzy for Konerko, we're staying with Kim, Guardado, Mike Williams, and Julio indefinitely.

SP(6)
Randy Johnson: Tue:@SF(Ru.Ortiz)
Curt Schilling: Wed:@COL(Hampton)
Matt Morris: Thu:SF(Schmidt)
Barry Zito: Thu:ANA(Sele)
Kerry Wood: Wed:@PHI(Person)
Roy Oswalt: Tue:PIT(Fogg)
Eric Gagne: 4 Home games: 2 vs. St Louis; 2 vs. San Diego.
Brian Lawrence: Wed:@LA(Od.Perez)

No starts:Pedro, Mussina, Clemens, and Vazquez.

We see no reason not to start Zito, Oswalt, or Gagne here, although we want to keep boosting our offense, so we'll likely sit Randy, running out the cheaper Morris, Wood, and Lawrence.

Helton, Drew, and Durazo will sit due to their health problems, Klesko hits the bench since we don't trust San Diego's offense right now even with Nevin back, and we can squeeze in all our power guys with Ichiro and Rollins sitting to try to move up in RBI.

The Umpire Hunter(1st lg; 5th overall)
Week 16a: July 15 - July 18

C 	Jorge Posada		990
C	A.J. Pierzynski		460
1B	Jason Giambi		1640
1B	Paul Konerko		1220
2B	Luis Castillo		1000
2B	Alfonso Soriano		900
3B	Eric Chavez		1070
3B	Shea Hillenbrand	450
SS	Alex Rodriguez		1880
SS	Juan Uribe		500
OF	Barry Bonds		1830
OF	Larry Walker		1530
OF	Lance Berkman		1320
OF	Juan Pierre		1180
OF	Adam Dunn		710
OF	Daryle Ward		620
DH	Sammy Sosa		1900
DH	Vlad Guerrero		1880

SP	Matt Morris		1190
SP	Barry Zito		1080
SP	Kerry Wood		1050
SP	Roy Oswalt		830
SP	Eric Gagne		500
SP	Brian Lawrence		480
RP	Byung-Hyun Kim		1200
RP	Mike Williams		900
RP	Eddie Guardado		900
RP	Jorge Julio		750

Fantasy Baseball & Budget Baseball
(Same game = same rosters and moves for both teams)

We have no relievers on the bench, so we'll stay with Smoltz, Isringhausen, Kim, and Guardado until further notice.

SP(6)
Randy Johnson: Tue:@SF(Ru.Ortiz); Sun:@SD(Peavy)
Curt Schilling: Wed:@COL(Hampton)
Pedro Martinez: Fri:@NYY(Mussina)
Mike Mussina: Fri:BOS(P.Martinez)
Roger Clemens: DL
Matt Morris: Thu:SF(Schmidt)
Javier Vazquez: Fri:@FLO(M.Tejera)
Kerry Wood: Wed:@PHI(Person)
Roy Oswalt: Tue:PIT(Fogg); Sun:@CHC(Lieber)
Eric Gagne: 7 Home games: 2 vs. St Louis; 2 vs. San Diego; 3 vs. San Francisco.

Randy, Oswalt, and Gagne remain good plays, and we'll also deploy Schilling, Vazquez, and Wood since we won't run Pedro against Mussina, Clemens is injured, and Morris has been inconsistent.

We'll cut the demoted D'Angelo Jimenez, and while we don't mind Uribe/ARod at SS, we'd like more flexibility at 2B. So we'll add Junior Spivey to our team.

Drew and Helton will sit since we're unsure of their health, we don't really trust Lowell, Patterson, or Nick Johnson at the moment, Pierre and Boone have given us little, and Jose Ortiz remains in the minors but we're not ready to replace him.

The Umpire Chronicles(1st lg; 172nd overall)
& Umpire with a Soul(6th lg; 438th overall)
Week 16: July 15-July 21

C	Paul Lo Duca		1640
C	A.J. Pierzynski		1000
1B	Jason Giambi		3320
1B	Steve Cox		1160
2B	Alfonso Soriano		1800
2B	Junior Spivey		1500
3B	Eric Chavez		2270
3B	Aramis Ramirez		1590
SS	Alex Rodriguez		3430
SS	Juan Uribe		1300
OF	Larry Walker		2790
OF	Lance Berkman		2540
OF	Torii Hunter		1710
OF	Adam Dunn		1610
OF	Daryle Ward		1590
OF	Jeremy Giambi		1300
DH	Sammy Sosa		3480
DH	Cliff Floyd		2300

SP	Randy Johnson		3580
SP	Curt Schilling		3160
SP	Javier Vazquez		2600
SP	Kerry Wood		2300
SP	Roy Oswalt		1750
SP	Eric Gagne		1230
RP	John Smoltz		2610
RP	Jason Isringhausen	2370
RP	Byung-Hyun Kim		2230
RP	Eddie Guardado		1690

Mid-Season Fantasy Baseball
SP(6)
Randy Johnson: Tue:@SF(Ru.Ortiz); Sun:@SD(Peavy)
Curt Schilling: Wed:@COL(Hampton)
Pedro Martinez: Fri:@NYY(Mussina)
Freddy Garcia: Fri:@ANA(Ra.Ortiz)
Barry Zito: Thu:ANA(Sele)
Roy Oswalt: Tue:PIT(Fogg); Sun:@CHC(Lieber)
A.J. Burnett: Wed:@ATL(Maddux)
Roy Halladay: Wed:BAL(Jas.Johnson)
Eric Gagne: 7 Home games: 2 vs. St Louis; 2 vs. San Diego; 3 vs. San Francisco.
Odalis Perez: Wed:SD(Lawrence)

Our choices are easier here, as besides Randy, Oswalt, and Gagne, Zito, Halladay, and Perez all have solid starts we think they can win.

We have no need to activate Hall, Castillo, or Eckstein, but we'll deploy Larry Walker for Bonds. That move leaves us a little over the cap, so we'll keep Ichiro active while sitting Pujols and deploying Lowell instead of Helton, Floyd, or Derek Lee.

Umpire in Brooklyn(4th lg; 115th overall)
Week 16: July 15-July 21

C	Paul Lo Duca		1640
C	A.J. Pierzynski		1000
1B	Paul Konerko		2410
1B	Steve Cox		1160
2B	Alfonso Soriano		1800
2B	Junior Spivey		1500
3B	Eric Chavez		2270
3B	Eric Hinske		1500
SS	Alex Rodriguez		3430
SS	Nomar Garciaparra	2160
OF	Larry Walker		2790
OF	Lance Berkman		2540
OF	Ichiro Suzuki		2390
OF	Pat Burrell		2050
OF	Torii Hunter		1710
OF	Adam Dunn		1610
DH	Mike Lowell		1920
DH	Jeremy Giambi		1300

SP	Randy Johnson		3580
SP	Barry Zito		2380
SP	Roy Oswalt		1750
SP	Roy Halladay		1230
SP	Eric Gagne		1230
SP	Odalis Perez		1070
RP	John Smoltz		2610
RP	Byung-Hyun Kim		2230
RP	Mike Williams		1790
RP	Eddie Guardado		1690

Today's Fantasy Rx: Now that the break is over and we have a better idea of certain lineups, especially after the Floyd trade, go ahead and burn a move this week if you need to improve a weak roster spot. We're quite comfortable with four or even three moves left on most of our teams, not including the Challenge roster expansion.