Today's Fantasy Rx

National League Relief Pitchers with DV of $-3

Quick Key to the tables:
W = Wins.  S = Saves.  ERA = Earned Run Average (ER*9/IP).
WHIP = (Walks + Hits)/IP aka Ratio.  K = Strikeouts.  BB = Bases on Balls aka Walks.
H = Hits.  IP = Innings Pitched.  P = Pitches.  B = Bats.
2002 Age = Player's Age as of October 1, 2002.
4x4 = BA, HR, RBI, and SB in 12-team, $260 leagues with 23-man rosters.
5x5 = BA, HR, RBI, SB, and R in 12-team, $260 leagues with 23-man rosters.
DV = Draft Value (The price a player earned under a 65/35 hitting/pitching split).
AV = Actual Value (The price a player earned under a 50/50 hitting/pitching split).
Rotohelp = 2002 Rotohelp Predicted Draft Value.
LABR/Tout = 2002 Expert League prices; LABR for 4x4. Tout Wars for 5x5.

Average league worst BA, ERA, and WHIP provided for 2002 leagues courtesy of Rototimes, based on data compiled from TQ Stats.

Players are ranked in order from the highest draft value in a 4x4 league to the lowest. As the majority of fantasy leagues allow you to keep anyone traded to the other league, all players are listed in the league where they began the season. Pitchers who started half or more of their major league games in 2002 are listed with starters.

126.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Dennis Springer		0	0	6.75	2.25	1	2	1	1.1
LA Dodgers		DV		AV		Rotohelp		LABR/Tout
P:R    B:R	4x4:	-3		-5
2002 Age: 37	5x5:	-4		-7

Springer's slipped from a decent innings eater to a pitcher barely qualified for AAA. He's spent all of 31.2 IP in the majors over the past three years, and last season at AAA Las Vegas(PCL), Springer compiled a 5.85 ERA on a 38:37 K:BB in 143 IP with 21 HR and a league-high 203 hits. Unfortunately his current skill level indicates he's extremely unlikely to ever again pitch effectively in the majors, robbing fantasy leaguers of the opportunity to draft one of the few knuckleballers in recent years.

127.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Jason Christiansen		0	0	5.40	1.60	1	2	6	5
SF Giants		DV		AV		Rotohelp		LABR/Tout
P:L    B:R	4x4:	-3		-5		2		2
2002 Age: 33	5x5:	-4		-7		1

While I still like Christiansen's upside, the combination of control and injury problems have left him largely unownable for fantasy teams. Pitching in PacBell gives him a major advantage over similar players, but since Christiansen needed Tommy John surgery last June, there's little chance he'll post positive PDV in 2003 if he even recovers in time to pitch this season. Between his recent reverse platoon split, the Giants' willingness to cycle through left-handers until they find a couple of decent arms, and Christiansen's currently questionable skills, I doubt he'll merit any consideration from you until next year.

128.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Dave Pember		0	0	5.19	1.50	5	6	7	8.2
MIL Brewers		DV		AV		Rotohelp		LABR/Tout
P:R    B:R	4x4:	-3		-5
2002 Age: 24	5x5:	-4		-7

Please take a look at our Fantasy Review of Milwaukee Prospects for comments on Pember.

129.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Chad Fox		1	0	5.79	2.36	3	5	6	4.2
MIL Brewers		DV		AV		Rotohelp		LABR/Tout
P:R    B:R	4x4:	-3		-5		0		12
2002 Age: 32	5x5:	-4		-7		-1		14

Most of you have seen me rave about Fox's 2003 fantasy upside this offseason due to my belief that he needs a limited role to remain healthy, making the Boston closer job an extremely attractive position for someone of his talents. Fox owns a career 3.33 ERA on a 187:81 K:BB in 162.1 IP with 141 H and 15 HR over 153 appearances, so as long as he can harness his control, he possesses the dominance to excel in a short relief role. The downside of drafting him is that he's pitched less than 10 innings in three of the last four seasons due to injury, however as he only strained his rotator cuff in 2002, he might manage to stay healthy for a few months this year. Consider him an intriguing buy up to $5, although I'd consider spending a couple bucks more if you're desperate for saves in deeper leagues.

130.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Luke Hudson		0	0	4.50	1.83	7	6	5	6
CIN Reds		DV		AV		Rotohelp		LABR/Tout
P:R    B:R	4x4:	-3		-5
2002 Age: 25	5x5:	-4		-7

Please take a look at our Fantasy Review of Cincinnati Prospects for comments on Hudson.

131.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Dave Coggin		2	0	4.68	1.51	64	51	65	77
PHI Phillies		DV		AV		Rotohelp		LABR/Tout
P:R    B:R	4x4:	-3		-5		2		1
2002 Age: 25	5x5:	-3		-4		2		2

Coggin will return to the minors this season thanks to September surgery to repair a torn labrum that limits his throwing. Of course he doesn't belong in Philadelphia even when healthy. Over 29 starts during the last three years, he's compiled a 5.11 ERA on a 97:67 K:BB in 149.2 IP with 166 H and 13 HR. While Coggin's 2.74 ERA out of the bullpen in 31 games during that span seems better and an 8.4 K/9 indicates his future lies in relief work, a 6.4 BB/9 suggests he needs more development time. Hopefully a few months in the minors will allow him to fix his control problems, since otherwise he won't belong on fantasy rosters or the Phillies for the foreseeable future.

132.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Mike James		0	0	5.56	1.50	10	5	12	11.1
COL Rockies		DV		AV		Rotohelp		LABR/Tout
P:R    B:R	4x4:	-3		-5		-4
2002 Age: 35	5x5:	-4		-7		-4

After spending his six-year career in Anaheim and St. Louis, James picked a bad year to quit forcing groundballs as he allowed a career-worst .73 G-F in Colorado. Not only did James pitch relatively poorly for the Rockies, but he also looked terrible at AAA by compiling an 8.13 ERA on a 25:16 K:BB in 31 IP with 38 H and 5 HR over 24 G at AAA Colorado Springs(PCL). James will receive a long look as part of Tampa's open bullpen auditions this spring, however as he hasn't achieved much success since 1997 with the Angels, I don't expect a worthwhile fantasy contribution from him in 2003.

133.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Matt Duff		0	0	4.76	1.94	4	8	3	5.2
STL Cardinals		DV		AV		Rotohelp		LABR/Tout
P:R    B:R	4x4:	-3		-5
2002 Age: 27	5x5:	-4		-7

Please take a look at our Fantasy Review of St. Louis Prospects for comments on Duff.

134.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Aaron Fultz		2	0	4.79	1.60	31	19	47	41.1
SF Giants		DV		AV		Rotohelp		LABR/Tout
P:L    B:L	4x4:	-3		-5		2		2
2002 Age: 29	5x5:	-4		-6		2		1

San Francisco non-tendered Fultz he flailed badly in the second half and didn't impress in the playoffs, instead preferring the cheaper Scott Eyre and Chad Zerbe. So Fultz signed with Texas, and as I don't see any more experienced candidates on the Rangers, he should spend most of the season in the majors. Unfortunately his skills significantly declined last season as he posted career-worst marks of 6.8 K/9, 1.6 K:BB, and 1.04 G-F. Since moving from PacBell to Arlington also gives Fultz a dramatically worse pitchers' park, I don't believe rostering him is a good idea this season.

135.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Mike Morgan		1	0	5.29	1.47	13	9	41	34
ARI Diamondbacks		DV		AV		Rotohelp		LABR/Tout
P:R    B:R	4x4:	-3		-5		-3
2002 Age: 42	5x5:	-4		-7		-3

We might have seen Morgan's 22-year big league career grind to a halt in 2002 since while he hasn't retired, we've heard nothing regarding any team's interest in adding him. There's no need for him to actively seek out more employment given his general ineffectiveness in recent years and his current positions as holder of the Major League records of playing and pitching for different clubs. His three years in Arizona equals the second most time he spent with any franchise; he spent a little over three years with the Cubs. Now that he turned 43 in October and hasn't been much more than a mop-up man for a few years, there's no reason to expect he'll merit a spot on any fantasy team even if he returns for another season somewhere.

136.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Armando Reynoso		0	0	10.80	2.40	2	1	3	1.2
ARI Diamondbacks		DV		AV		Rotohelp		LABR/Tout
P:R    B:R	4x4:	-3		-5		-5
2002 Age: 36	5x5:	-4		-7		-5

Arizona's fascination with Reynoso baffles me since they've now signed him three different teams even though he hasn't looked like a decent pitcher since before Jerry Colangelo even received his franchise. Reynoso is one of the least dominant pitchers in baseball, possesses no notable skills, and has missed the majority of the past two seasons due to a disc problem in his neck that affected his right shoulder, supposedly corrected by surgery a year ago. So while Reynoso finally appears recovered and theoretically will compete for a spot starter's job, I see no upside to even considering him for your team.

137.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Andy Pratt		0	0	6.75	3.75	1	4	1	1.1
ATL Braves		DV		AV		Rotohelp		LABR/Tout
P:L    B:L	4x4:	-3		-5
2002 Age: 23	5x5:	-4		-7

1 Please take a look at our Fantasy Review of Atlanta Prospects for comments on Pratt.

138.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Will Cunnane		1	0	5.47	1.52	30	13	27	26.1
CH Cubs		DV		AV		Rotohelp		LABR/Tout
P:R    B:R	4x4:	-3		-6
2002 Age: 28	5x5:	-4		-6

We expected the Cubs to recall Cunnane month before his actual promotion, but Chicago instead let him pitch 43 games for AAA Iowa(PCL), compiling a 2.20 ERA on a 69:23 K:BB in 73.2 IP with 67 H and 3 HR. He continued pitching impressively in the majors by posting a 10.2 K/9, but a 4.4 BB/9 and 1.7 HR/9 led to a 5.47 ERA that caused the Cubs to non-tender him. Cunnane re-signed with Chicago for some unknown reason given their questionable treatment of him, and now he holds little chance of reaching the majors this year since the Cubs can't even find space for Farnsworth, Borowski, and Rod Beck due to the irrational pick-ups of Dave Veres and Mark Guthrie. I see little reason not to employ Cunnane when available as he offers intriguing upside, however I also doubt he'll reach PDV in 2003 barring a not completely unexpected spate of injuries to aging veterans.

139.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Pedro Feliciano		0	0	7.50	1.67	4	1	9	6
NY Mets		DV		AV		Rotohelp		LABR/Tout
P:L    B:L	4x4:	-3		-6
2002 Age: 26	5x5:	-4		-7

Please take a look at our Fantasy Review of New York (N) Prospects for comments on Feliciano.

140.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Ron Mahay		2	0	8.59	1.43	14	8	13	14.2
CH Cubs		DV		AV		Rotohelp		LABR/Tout
P:L    B:L	4x4:	-3		-6
2002 Age: 31	5x5:	-4		-7

Mahay might be a better choice than Aaron Fultz for a lefty reliever on the Rangers, so hopefully Texas recognizes the upside suggested by Mahay's combined 2.12 ERA on a 102:25 K:BB in 93.2 IP with 61 H and 8 HR over 75 G at AAA Iowa(PCL) between the last two seasons. Unfortunately he's suffered from both poor control and a career .63 G-F during his time in the majors, and playing in Arlington will accentuate those skill deficits. Unfortunately Mahay would look better in nearly any other park, making him a relatively poor fantasy selection unless you're fairly desperate for a mid-season injury replacement and he's somehow holding both solid skills and qualitative stats.

141.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Robert Ellis		0	0	10.13	2.25	0	0	6	2.2
LA Dodgers		DV		AV		Rotohelp		LABR/Tout
P:R    B:R	4x4:	-3		-6
2002 Age: 31	5x5:	-5		-7

Ellis served as an emergency starter and AAA rotation filler for six different franchises over the last six years, and he'll remain in a similar role now that he's joined Texas for the first time. Unfortunately, though he started 28 games to lead the PCL in 2002, he only managed a 4.17 ERA on a 110:37 K:BB in 172.2 IP with 195 H and 17 HR for AAA Las Vegas. I like his continually improving command and believe he could help some teams out of the bullpen, but his value in providing stability to upper level minor league teams likely outweighs his potential as a reliever, leaving him with little chance of earning any fantasy value in the foreseeable future.

142.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Aaron Small		0	0	27.00	12.00	1	2	2	0.1
ATL Braves		DV		AV		Rotohelp		LABR/Tout
P:R    B:R	4x4:	-3		-6
2002 Age: 30	5x5:	-5		-7

Not only had Small failed to reach the majors since 1998, but this one game return also doesn't signal any pending reemergence. He missed around half of last season to injury, and as he's never displayed much skill, I don't expect he'll see more than one or two additional cups-of-coffee. Small's lack of an NRI is merely one more reason why he's useless to roto owners.

143.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Ed Vosberg		0	0	18.00	4.00	0	1	3	1
MON Expos		DV		AV		Rotohelp		LABR/Tout
P:L    B:L	4x4:	-3		-6
2002 Age: 41	5x5:	-5		-8

While Vosberg seemed finished when the Expos released him last April, he instead headed to the Mexican League, where he compiled a 5.31 ERA on a 50:15 K:BB in 57.2 IP with 73 H and 4 HR for the Mexico City Red Devils. However his failure to ever display much skill for any extended period makes him a poor fantasy option even if he somehow receives one more chance in the majors, and given the current free agent situation, I'll be surprised if he doesn't conclude his career.

144.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Tom Davey		1	0	5.57	1.62	21	11	23	21
SD Padres		DV		AV		Rotohelp		LABR/Tout
P:R    B:R	4x4:	-3		-6		-3
2002 Age: 29	5x5:	-4		-7		-3

Davey is one of a half-dozen Boston NRIs who deserve a Major League roster spot yet will wind up keeping AAA Pawtucket at the top of the International League all year. He looked like the Padres' closer-of-the-future as recently as a year ago even when recovering from arthroscopic shoulder surgery, but his impressive numbers upon his return led San Diego to remove Davey from their 40-man roster. Now his career 8.1 K/9 and 1.50 G-F make him one of Boston's more intriguing offseason additions as only a decrease in his walk rate prevents Davey from emerging as a very promising reliever. Feel free to roster him upon any promotion as long as his walk rate is near 3 BB/9 in the minors, and don't be surprised if he enters the competition for saves in Boston by some time in the second half.

50 Days to Choose Your Pitchers: '03 continues tomorrow with more National League relievers.

Today's Fantasy Rx: I see more immediate upside in the couple of rookies in today's article than in any other group of rookies in an NL reliever column. Luke Hudson's MLEs included an 8.2 K/9, 2.1 K:BB, and .5 HR/9, and his performance in relief leaves him as Scott Sullivan's logical successor as the Reds' top set-up man. Matt Duff simply demolished most of his opposition as he recorded MLE skills of a 9.4 K/9, 2.6 K:BB, and a .7 HR/9, so the Cardinals should be pleasantly surprised if they give him a longer look. Lastly, while Andy Pratt may need more development time in Atlanta, he also managed a 36:9 K:BB in 40.2 IP with 35 H and 2 HR over 6 starts at AAA Richmond(IL), indicating that he'll compete with Trey Hodges and other Braves' prospects to follow Damian Moss' path to the rotation. I see no reason why Hudson doesn't merit a few bucks in most drafts, and Duff and Pratt are certainly worth Dollar Days flyers given their obvious potential.