Today's Fantasy Rx

National League Relief Pitchers with DV of $-4

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.

158.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
J.J. Trujillo		0	0	10.13	3.75	3	6	4	2.2
SD Padres		DV		AV		Rotohelp		LABR/Tout
P:R    B:R	4x4:	-4		-7
2002 Age: 26	5x5:	-5		-8

Please take a look at our Fantasy Review of San Diego Prospects for comments on Trujillo.

159.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Kevin Olsen		0	0	4.53	1.58	38	31	57	55.2
FLO Marlins		DV		AV		Rotohelp		LABR/Tout
P:R    B:R	4x4:	-4		-7		6
2002 Age: 26	5x5:	-4		-7		6		R

Olsen looked like a promising starter for Florida a year ago after he went 1-3 with a 2.68 ERA on a 144:21 K:BB in 154.2 IP with 123 H and 11 HR over 26 GS at AA Portland(EL). Unfortunately his command deteriorated this season, and aside from his unimpressive Major League marks, he only managed a 25:14 K:BB in 49 IP over 8 G at AAA Calgary(PCL). Of course he missed the last six weeks of the season due to injury, and doctors then discovered and repaired four of his vertebrae that had rotated to one side of his body. Now that he's healthy and pitching without back problems Olsen should regain his command, however I'd like to see him spend at least a half season in AAA before joining the Marlins' rotation for the second half. I also believe he could succeed if given a chance now, but more development time won't hurt him as he's only started those 8 games at AAA. He's not worth drafting at most auctions, although I'd consider a low Ultra pick for Olsen in deeper leagues since I expect him to contribute in the majors in the near future.

160.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Hipolito Pichardo		0	0	81.00	15.00	0	2	3	0.1
HOU Astros		DV		AV		Rotohelp		LABR/Tout
P:R    B:R	4x4:	-4		-7
2002 Age: 33	5x5:	-5		-8

Pichardo retired in August of 2001, signed with Houston last February a year ago yesterday, and retired again last May. While he's not currently in camp, he's still young enough to eventually wind up holding the Major League record for most retirements. Unfortunately Pichardo's neither dominant nor particularly effective, making him a poor choice for any fantasy team if he returns.

161.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Joey Hamilton		4	1	5.27	1.49	85	50	136	124.2
CIN Reds		DV		AV		Rotohelp		LABR/Tout
P:R    B:R	4x4:	-4		-7		-4		1
2002 Age: 32	5x5:	-3		-5		-2		2

I suspect Hamilton could emerge as a dominant reliever in the near future after pitching quite effectively in his first extended bullpen work in the majors. Last season he struggled to a 5.56 ERA on a 56:40 K:BB in 90.2 IP over 17 GS, however he compiled a 4.50 ERA on a 29:10 K:BB in 34 IP with 30 H and 1 HR over 22 games in relief. Signing with St. Louis gives him an excellent environment to continue his conversion, and I suspect either Hamilton or Dustin Hermanson will receive most excess save opportunities. Hamilton looks like a very nice bargain this year, especially since I can't imagine he'll go before Dollar Days in most leagues. I see little reason not to take a flyer on him given his intriguing upside.

162.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Duaner Sanchez		0	0	9.00	2.17	6	7	6	6
ARI/PIT		DV		AV		Rotohelp		LABR/Tout
P:R    B:R	4x4:	-4		-7
2002 Age: 32	5x5:	-5		-8

Please take a look at our Fantasy Review of Pittsburgh Prospects for comments on Sanchez.

163.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Kane Davis		1	0	7.07	1.86	24	11	15	14
NY Mets		DV		AV		Rotohelp		LABR/Tout
P:R    B:R	4x4:	-4		-7		-2
2002 Age: 27	5x5:	-5		-7		-2

Davis needed season-ending elbow surgery last July and lost his spot on the 40-man roster at the end of the season, when the Mets let him leave in minor league free agency. However he's not in camp this spring, and since he didn't possess a great track record prior to these health problems, I see no reason to gamble on him at this time. If he makes it back to the majors during this season, make sure his command looked solid in the minors before adding him.

164.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Jeremy Fikac		4	0	5.48	1.57	66	34	74	69
SD Padres		DV		AV		Rotohelp		LABR/Tout
P:R    B:R	4x4:	-4		-7		3		R
2002 Age: 27	5x5:	-3		-6		3		R

As Fikac's only pitched one game at AAA, more development time wouldn't be a bad idea, however his big league performance indicates he's prepared to succeed at the highest level. His career 8.0 K/9 demonstrates his potential, especially since his 3.7 BB/9 isn't too high. Fikac struggled last year due to a drop in his G-F from 1.46 to 1.08 G-F, which helped cause his homer rate to rise from .7 to 1.7 HR/9. San Diego dealt him to Oakland thanks to their frustration over his troubles in 2002, but Fikac could emerge as an important part of the Athletics' pen this season. Although he's only worth a dollar gamble if you know he'll break camp in the majors, he's capable of earning several bucks even in middle relief.

165.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Mike Bynum		1	0	5.27	1.76	17	15	33	27.1
SD Padres		DV		AV		Rotohelp		LABR/Tout
P:L    B:L	4x4:	-4		-7
2002 Age: 24	5x5:	-5		-8

Please take a look at our Fantasy Review of San Diego Prospects for comments on Bynum.

166.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Eric Cyr		0	0	10.50	2.00	4	6	6	6
SD Padres		DV		AV		Rotohelp		LABR/Tout
P:L    B:R	4x4:	-4		-7
2002 Age: 23	5x5:	-5		-8

Please take a look at our Fantasy Review of San Diego Prospects for comments on Cyr.

167.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Juan Moreno		0	0	7.50	2.67	3	10	6	6
SD Padres		DV		AV		Rotohelp		LABR/Tout
P:L    B:L	4x4:	-4		-7
2002 Age: 27	5x5:	-5		-8

Though Moreno spent most of 2001 in the majors with Texas, I doubt we'll see much of him in the near future after his rather disastrous 2002 season. He missed the majority of both 2000 and 2002 due to injury, and he pitched rather ineffectively when healthy last year. Moreno's not even in camp this spring, and since his career marks of a 7.2 BB/9 and .45 G-F indicate rather dramatic downside, I see no reason to roster him any time soon.

168.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Rodney Myers		1	0	5.91	1.83	11	10	29	21.1
SD Padres		DV		AV		Rotohelp		LABR/Tout
P:R    B:R	4x4:	-4		-7
2002 Age: 33	5x5:	-5		-8

Surprisingly Myers has another chance to spend much of the year in the majors due to the Dodgers' questionable depth of right-handed relievers. However he's never demonstrated promising command when not in the minors, and there's nothing particularly special about his 3.70 ERA on a 35:13 K:BB in 48.2 IP with 48 H and 2 HR over 42 G at AAA Portland(PCL) last season. Myers is roster filler for Los Angeles and no more than a short-term injury replacement for fantasy teams, though even employing him in that limited capacity is risky thanks to his consistently unimpressive big league numbers.

169.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Donovan Osborne		0	0	6.19	1.81	13	10	19	16
CH Cubs		DV		AV		Rotohelp		LABR/Tout
P:L    B:L	4x4:	-4		-7		-3		1
2002 Age: 33	5x5:	-5		-8		-4		1

Not only has Osborne missed all but 45.1 innings over the last four seasons, but he also only managed a 34:20 K:BB when not injured. I see some potential for him to regain his effectiveness during any brief periods of health, however there's no evidence he's worth a gamble by any fantasy owner. Signing with the Mets yesterday leaves him as roughly sixth on their list of lefty relievers, so the odds of him reaching PDV this year look negligible.

170.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Tim Redding		3	0	5.40	1.54	63	35	78	73.1
HOU Astros		DV		AV		Rotohelp		LABR/Tout
P:R    B:R	4x4:	-4		-7		0		1
2002 Age: 24	5x5:	-4		-6		1		2

I see little question as to whether Redding belongs in the majors even though he only managed a 5.21 ERA on an outstanding 50:13 K:BB in 38 IP with 32 H and 6 HR over 7 GS(11G) at AAA New Orleans(PCL). Nearly all his skills look somewhat raw, but I believe he's quite prepared to follow the development pattern of Houston prospects like Mike Hampton and Roy Oswalt by spending a couple months of 2003 in relief work before shifting to the rotation later in the year. He owns a 19:9 K:BB in 16 IP over 8 G out of the bullpen, however his 5.89 ERA over 23 GS indicates he'll struggle if forced to start now. While you should ignore him if he breaks camp in a rotation, feel free to gamble a couple bucks or a reserve pick if he exits Spring Training in any other role.

171.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Scott Sullivan		6	1	6.06	1.58	78	31	93	78.2
CIN Reds		DV		AV		Rotohelp		LABR/Tout
P:R    B:R	4x4:	-4		-7		7		1
2002 Age: 31	5x5:	-3		-6		7		1

Neither Sullivan's injury troubles nor his relative ineffectiveness surprised many considering he pitched in 79 games and over 103 IP in each of 1999, 2000, and 2001. However he also managed a career-best 8.9 K/9 while holding a mildly decent 3.5 BB/9, and most of his problems apparently began after a Richie Sexson liner bruised Sullivan's elbow in mid-May. The downside of a .92 career G-F and pitching in a likely excellent hitters' park negates some of his prospective value, but I believe Sullivan should rebound strongly in 2003, especially if he moves to a friendlier stadium due to payroll reasons for the Reds. He's worth a Dollar Days gamble at the moment, and his value will continue rising if his skills look solid once the season begins.

172.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Satoru Komiyama		0	0	5.61	1.50	33	12	53	43.1
NY Mets		DV		AV		Rotohelp		LABR/Tout
P:R    B:R	4x4:	-4		-7		-2		1
2002 Age: 37	5x5:	-5		-7		-2		1

Hopefully some MLB team will Komiyama one more shot since I believe he could succeed here if given another opportunity despite his age and an unimpressive debut last season. He compiled a 1.42 ERA on a 43:9 K:BB in 44.1 IP with 27 H and 4 HR over 17 G(6GS) at AAA Norfolk(IL) in 2002, and his combined MLE skills looked fairly decent at a 6.9 K/9, 2.2 BB/9, and 1.1 HR/9. Unfortunately I doubt any team will take a chance on him unless Bobby Valentine finds another managing job in the near future, so Komiyama's Major League career looks over, leaving him with poor qualitative marks thanks primarily to the Mets' shoddy defense.

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

Today's Fantasy Rx: San Diego still possesses an excellent reservoir of pitching prospects, however the loss of rookie status by Jake Peavy, Oliver Perez, Dennis Tankersley, and a couple relievers leave the Padres with no pitching prospects likely to make a big league impact in 2003. Clay Condrey could contribute in a variety of roles, and Ben Howard and Eric Cyr could see time Major League time as injury replacements, but there's no real depth of hurlers prepared to succeed above AA right now. Given the composition of the Padres' spring training roster and their minor league system, I wouldn't spend draft picks on any of their pitching prospects due to the lack of opportunity for their rookies in the immediate future.