Today's Fantasy Rx

Twenty-seven pitchers earned a 1 for their performance this season as of last week. Jorge Julio, Antonio Osuna, Barry Zito, and Jeff Nelson joined the list this week while Kevin Appier(HR/9), Jeff Weaver(K/9), and Joel Pineiro(HR/9) departed, leaving us with twenty-eight pitchers displaying solid skills.

LPR Code Description
1 - K:BB of 2.0+, K/9 of 6.0+, HR/9 of 1.0-, and H/9 of 9.0- thus far in 2002
2 - K:BB of 2.0+, K/9 of 6.0+, HR/9 of 1.0-, and H/9 of 9.0- in the second half of 2001
3 - K:BB of 2.0+, K/9 of 6.0+, HR/9 of 1.0-, and H/9 of 9.0- in the first half of 2001
4 - K:BB of 2.0+, K/9 of 6.0+, HR/9 of 1.0-, and H/9 of 9.0- for all of 2000

a - DOM of 55% or more in 2002
b - DOM of 55% or more in 2001
c - DOM of 55% or more in 2000
x - DIS of 20% or less in 2002
y - DIS of 20% or less in 2001
z - DIS of 20% or less in 2000

(Note: I used the PQS logs from Baseball Forecaster to create these ratings, and I strongly recommend that you purchase a copy if you haven't already.

Here is the nineteenth and final set of 2002 in-season AL LPR ratings, which include all games played through September 18th. We ranked pitchers by the highest LIMA rating and then by the best PQS rating. Starting pitchers, if necessary, are ranked by their performance over their last five starts, which I include after the pitchers name in chronological order, ending with his most recent appearance.

1234
abcxyz - Pedro Martinez(45544)

Keith Foulke
Arthur Rhodes
Mariano Rivera

Foulke should be effective next year in any role, and Arthur Rhodes remains one of the most consistently dominant middle relievers in baseball.

123
abcxyz - Roger Clemens(52552)
abxy - Roy Halladay(32344)

Troy Percival

Appier drops back down the list as Halladay looks to finish strong.

124
Chad Bradford

134
Billy Koch
Cliff Politte

234
Keith Foulke's promotion again leaves this space vacant.

12
abcxyz - Barry Zito(33552)
bxy - Mark Mulder(53525)

Antonio Osuna
Ricardo Rincon
Kaz Sasaki

Zito takes Pineiro's place while Osuna tries to hold his spot until the end of the season.

13
abxy - Tim Wakefield(45554)

Buddy Groom
Steve Karsay
Jeff Nelson

Nelson joins this group, an impressive accomplishment considering his arm problems and somewhat weak skills in past years.

23
abcxyz - Mike Mussina(35354)
abxyz - Tim Hudson(54443)
bcxyz - Chan Ho Park(54333)
bxyz - Kevin Appier(35530)
x - Danys Baez(22335)

Matt Ginter

Eddie Guardado

I read in last week's Sporting News that Park normally runs a lot in Spring Training to improve his flexibility. Deposed Rangers' pitching coach and drill sergeant wannabe Oscar Acosta reportedly frowned on this exercise, and prohibited Park from maintaining his previous routine. Park suffered from hamstring and groin problems for the first couple of months, Texas fired Acosta, and now Park's re-emerging as a potential stud.

24
cx - Paul Wilson(32003)

Dan Miceli
Ugueth Urbina
Todd Van Poppel

34
xy - Joe Kennedy(30223)

Randy Choate
Rich Garces
Bob Howry
David Riske
Mike Stanton

1
xyz - Jarrod Washburn(43344)
a - Johan Santana(54454)

Francisco Cordero
Brendan Donnelly
Alan Embree
LaTroy Hawkins
Jorge Julio.
Damaso Marte
J.C. Romero

Unfortunately Weaver's low strikeout totals in his last start or two prevents him from holding this ranking, but I still hope he can rebound in the next ten days. Hopefully Julio can maintain this ranking since he's really pitched quite well for most of the year.

2
xy - Freddy Garcia(23343)
bx - Joel Pineiro(43554)
b - Rolando Arrojo(50200)
x - C.C. Sabathia(44443)
x - Victor Zambrano(22233)
z - Kelvim Escobar

Matt Anderson
Lorzeno Barcelo
Shigetoshi Hasegawa
Lou Pote
B.J. Ryan
Rudy Seanez

3
bxy - John Burkett(20340)
yz - Rick Reed(55443)
y - Andy Pettitte(43445)

Gary Glover(32003)
Al Levine
Jim Mecir
Jeff Nelson
Travis Phelps
John Rocker
Bob Wickman
Kelly Wunsch

4
ax - Derek Lowe(33445)
y - Luke Prokopec(02542)

Jerrod Riggan

a
xyz - Jamie Moyer(45530)
cx - David Wells(35444)
xy - Jeff Weaver(43444)
xz - Orlando Hernandez(44544)
John Stephens(53144)
Mickey Callaway(45400)

We still like Callaway despite these two disasters, making everyone here a sound choice to deploy. I particularly like seeing Wells, who aside from that recent diner incident, has made a nice, quiet, and surprisingly effective return to New York.

b
xy - Cory Lidle(35413)
Brandon Lyon(20300)
Matt Wise

c
x - Mark Redman(34200)
Sterling Hitchcock(00)

x
yz - Ramon Ortiz(24535)
yz - Aaron Sele(25342)
y - Mark Buehrle(34134)
y - Paul Byrd(42015)
y - Dave Burba(20324)
y - Tanyon Sturtze(23320)
z - Sidney Ponson(44344)
z - Frank Castillo(00444)
Don't be surprised if Castillo signs with a team like Kansas City and produces a year similar to what Paul Byrd managed this season.

Kyle Lohse(52435)
Ismael Valdes(22425)
Casey Fossum(03505)
Ryan Rupe(42500)
Runelvys Hernandez(33343)
Rodrigo Lopez(43333)
John Lackey(23503)

If Kyle Lohse doesn't start in the playoffs for Minnesota, likely in their first home game after Reed pitcher Game One and Radke goes in Game Two, the Twins need to re-examine their priorities. The White Sox looked lifeless against the Mariners two years ago after they left Mark L. Johnson off the playoff roster in favor of Josh Paul, even though Johnson had been on the 25-man the entire year. Lohse is their most consistent starter, deserves a shot in the playoffs, and is also the second hottest pitcher on the team.

y
z - Brad Radke(23443)
z - Kenny Rogers(12442)
z - Todd Ritchie(03302)
z - Pat Hentgen

Jon Garland(54232)
Eric Milton(55000)
Joe Mays(21334)
Esteban Loiaza(42132)
Erik Hiljus(40200)
Jeff Suppan(10323)
Scott Schoeneweis(32030)
Josh Towers(121)
Doug Davis(12120)
Paul Abbott(02300)
Rick Bauer(2)

Now is only the second time all year Garland's managed a streak of five games without a disaster, and he only posted a 33233 in the other time; including two dominant starts in this batch boosts his 2003 upside.

z
Jim Parque(2040)
Steve Parris(40010)
Jason Johnson(33303)
Blake Stein(02)

AL pitchers I recommend despite their failure to appear above include Juan Acevedo, Sean Douglass(32144), Franklyn German, Aaron Harang(03320), Travis Harper(44300), Roberto Hernandez, Colby Lewis(32), Ted Lilly(05200), Ramiro Mendoza, Justin Miller(24550), Francisco Rodriguez, Danny Wright(53425), and Esteban Yan. Please recognize that these are fairly risky or unproven players, but most aren't missing much to at least pick up a 1 rating fairly soon.

Other pitchers who you probably shouldn't deploy right now include Jeremy Affeldt(33050), Miguel Asencio(43242), James Baldwin(41500), Joaquin Benoit(30002), Adam Bernero(30020), Rocky Biddle(00033), Dewon Brazelton(2), Jason Davis(1), Ryan Drese(12401), Travis Driskill(43110), Scott Erickson(30000), Tony Fiore(22), Ryan Franklin(35205), Mark Hendrickson(24), Dustin Hermanson(3), Danny Kolb, Cliff Lee(3), Shane Loux(03), Mike Maroth(32144), Darrell May(02235), Terry Mulholland(435), Aaron Myette(30000), Chuck Nagy(00500), Brian Powell(00323), Jay Powell, Jon Rauch(0020), Dennys Reyes(01030), Juan Rincon(400), Willis Roberts, Ricardo Rodriguez(40330), Shawn Sedlacek(05320), Scot Shields, Mike Smith(00000), Jorge Sosa(43113), Steve Sparks(40203), Jeff Tam, Corey Thurman(0), Andy Van Hekken(33)0, Pete Walker(40314), Ben Weber, Jake Westbrook(5400), Mark Wohlers, and Jaret Wright(00030).

Today's Fantasy Rx: Beginning next Thursday, I plan to run articles on various topics before beginning our formal post-2002 review. Feel free to send me any and all ideas you might have on what you'd like to see me discuss as the season winds down.