Today's Fantasy Rx

National League Relief Pitchers with DV of $-5

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.

173.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Jason Shiell		0	0	27.00	7.50	1	3	7	1.1
SD Padres		DV		AV		Rotohelp		LABR/Tout
P:R    B:R	4x4:	-5		-7
2002 Age: 25	5x5:	-6		-9

Please take a look at our Fantasy Review of Boston Prospects for comments on Shiell.

174.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Josias Manzanillo		0	0	7.62	1.92	4	5	20	13
PIT Pirates		DV		AV		Rotohelp		LABR/Tout
P:R    B:R	4x4:	-5		-8				7
2002 Age: 34	5x5:	-6		-9				R

Manzanillo is still recovering from his terrible decision not to accept arbitration from the Pirates a year ago after they essentially insured no other team would offer him a contract due to the additional price of giving up their first round pick to Pittsburgh. He suffered through a disastrous season that included arthroscopic elbow surgery in May and ended with his release in mid-August. Now Manzanillo is trying to break camp with the Reds, and while Cincinnati lacks the veteran relievers that automatically would keep him in the minors, I also don't know if he'll succeed upon his promotion. We liked him a lot a year ago and still believe he can contribute in the majors, however he's not worth a gamble until he demonstrates consistently solid skills over several innings.

175.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Britt Reames		1	0	5.03	1.59	76	38	70	68
MON Expos		DV		AV		Rotohelp		LABR/Tout
P:R    B:R	4x4:	-5		-8		3		R
2002 Age: 29	5x5:	-4		-6		3		R

Over only 28 career AAA starts, all within the last three years, Reames owns a 13-7 record and 2.79 ERA on a 141:47 K:BB in 171 IP with 133 H and 9 HR, yet over the same span in the majors he compiled a 6-12 record and 5.20 ERA on a 101:74 K:BB in 123 IP with 116 H and 21 HR. The good news is that he looks quite ready to succeed if left in relief given his career 92:35 K:BB in 80.2 IP with 85 H and 7 HR allowed over 65 games out of the bullpen, and a 1.65 G-F over the last two years nicely limits his downside. My only concern is Reames' need for a better approach against left-handed batters as they crushed him for a 1.032 OPS in 2002 even though he held right-handed batters to a .670 mark. Fortunately I believe the Expos are ready to leave him in the bullpen, where Reames possesses the skills necessary to challenge Scott Stewart for the closer's job. Bidding a few bucks here could yield a very helpful profit this year.

176.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
David Lundquist		0	0	16.88	4.88	0	5	8	2.2
SD Padres		DV		AV		Rotohelp		LABR/Tout
P:R    B:R	4x4:	-5		-8
2002 Age: 29	5x5:	-6		-9

San Diego released Lundquist in mid-July after a strained shoulder erased his already limited value, and not only did he fail land with another team in 2002, he also isn't in a big league camp this spring. While he's a capable AAAA pitcher, his 5.63 ERA on a 31:15 K:BB in 32 IP with 28 H and 6 HR over 30 G at AAA Portland(IL) last season doesn't indicate significant upside. Don't consider him for your team until he displays decent skills over a dozen or more innings in the majors while settling into a regular role.

177.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Bobby M. Jones		0	0	5.74	1.80	18	18	30	26.2
NYM/SD		DV		AV		Rotohelp		LABR/Tout
P:L    B:R	4x4:	-5		-8
2002 Age: 30	5x5:	-5		-9

Jones couldn't even wheedle an NRI this spring after he failed to stay healthy or demonstrate good command during his time in the majors last year. While he continued establishing his AAAA credentials with a 4.02 ERA on a 35:15 K:BB in 40.2 IP with 42 H and 4 HR allowed over 6 GS(13G) at AAA Norfolk, I see nothing in his performance over the past several years that allows me to conclude he's prepared to succeed in the big leagues. There's no reason to roster him in the foreseeable future barring completely unexpected skill development, particularly of his shoddy control.

178.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Terry Mulholland		3	0	5.70	1.54	38	21	101	79
LA/CLE		DV		AV		Rotohelp		LABR/Tout
P:L    B:R	4x4:	-5		-8		-5
2002 Age: 39	5x5:	-5		-8		-4

Mulholland and Dave Burba will serve as the Indians' veteran mop-up men this year, but as Mulholland requires superb defensive support to maintain any reasonable value, he essentially appears unable to post PDV again. He hasn't even demonstrated the ability to succeed as a specialist in recent years, and while he's displayed better command as a starter, I doubt he'd even manage a 5.00 ERA if needed in Cleveland's rotation. A very inconsistent season left him as the second worst reliever in the game. Although he provides the Indians' rookies with some insurance when they struggle, Mulholland doesn't belong on rotisserie rosters.

179.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Kyle Farnsworth		4	1	7.33	1.65	46	24	53	46.2
CH Cubs		DV		AV		Rotohelp		LABR/Tout
P:R    B:R	4x4:	-5		-8		9		8
2002 Age: 26	5x5:	-5		-8		9		12

I still see no logical reason for Farnsworth's fall from the 12th best reliever in the game to the worst in the majors in only one season. Both his 8.9 K/9 and 1.9 K:BB were the second-best marks of his career, however somehow his homer rate jumped from .9 to 1.7 HR/9 despite improvement in his G-F from .74 to .85. Farnsworth also received terrible defensive support, which allowed his hit rate to bloom from 7.1 to 10.2 H/9. Many reports regarding Farnsworth this off-season mention the accusation that he slept in the clubhouse during a game, a bizarre issue considering relievers sleeping in the clubhouse is at least a two-decade-old tradition at Wrigley. More importantly, Farnsworth lost his shot at closing when the Cubs acquired Alfonseca at the end of Spring Training and then subsequently broke his foot in a fluke bullpen accident. Cubs' management also experienced communication problems with Farnsworth regarding his traveling to see his out-of-state pregnant girlfriend, another forgivable off-field distraction that likely impacted his performance. Nevertheless he fortunately remained a relatively dominant pitcher, and as long as he brings his 1.198 OOPS versus left-handers closer to the .712 mark to which he held righties, I expect he'll re-emerge as a quality set-up man and future closer. Feel free to gamble a few bucks here, especially if you can reserve him at your leisure.

180.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Nate Robertson		0	0	11.88	2.28	3	4	15	8.1
FLO Marlins		DV		AV		Rotohelp		LABR/Tout
P:L    B:R	4x4:	-5		-8
2002 Age: 25	5x5:	-6		-10

Please take a look at our Fantasy Review of Florida Prospects for comments on Robertson.

181.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Kent Mercker		3	0	6.14	1.75	37	22	55	44
COL Rockies		DV		AV		Rotohelp		LABR/Tout
P:L    B:L	4x4:	-5		-8		-8
2002 Age: 34	5x5:	-5		-8		-8

Mercker missed several weeks last summer after a liner up the middle left him with a broken left hand and torn webbing between his fingers. The injury probably should have ended his season, but he instead returned for the last two months of the year to post an 8.55 ERA on a 13:11 K:BB in 20 IP with 31 H and 10 HR allowed over 26 appearances, a stark contrast to the 4.13 ERA on a 24:11 K:BB in 24 IP with 24 H and 2 HR allowed over 32 G he managed early in the year. Now Mercker will see the most success as a specialist, however he also possesses the skills to pitch effectively in any bullpen. He should break camp as Cincinnati's second left-handed reliever though a trade of Gabe White could leave Mercker as the Reds' primary veteran lefty. While you shouldn't bid here until you're certain he's regained his pre-injury form, I expect Mercker to earn a couple bucks by the end of this season once he settles into a comfortable role.

182.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Jose Santiago		1	0	6.70	1.51	30	15	56	47
PHI Phillies		DV		AV		Rotohelp		LABR/Tout
P:R    B:R	4x4:	-5		-9		-1
2002 Age: 27	5x5:	-6		-9		-1

Santiago registered a surprisingly poor performance last season, finishing as the 10th worst reliever in the game, despite decent command and dominance. The only major change in his performance from the previous year was a jump in his homer rate from .5 to 1.3 HR/9, but he should have managed acceptable overall numbers thanks to career-best marks of a 5.8 K/9 and 2.0 K:BB. Instead he finished the year in the minors, where he fortunately dominated opponents while compiling a 1.29 ERA on a 21:7 K:BB in 28 IP with 28 H and 0 HR over 22 games at AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre(IL). Santiago will have an excellent chance to spend much of 2003 in the majors after joining the Indians as one of their only veteran relievers, however he's also a poor fantasy selection as he joins a much worse defensive team in a better hitters' park.

183.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Francis Beltran		0	0	7.50	2.50	11	16	14	12
CH Cubs		DV		AV		Rotohelp		LABR/Tout
P:R    B:R	4x4:	-5		-9
2002 Age: 22	5x5:	-6		-10

Please take a look at our Fantasy Review of Chicago (N) Prospects for comments on Beltran.

184.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Takahito Nomura		0	0	8.56	2.12	9	18	11	13.2
MIL Brewers		DV		AV		Rotohelp		LABR/Tout
P:L    B:L	4x4:	-5		-9		-4
2002 Age: 33	5x5:	-6		-10		-4

Nomura looks unlikely to return to the majors after a debut in which he posted an abhorrent .5 K:BB. Even his performance at AAA Indianapolis(IL), where he managed a 5.73 ERA on a 23:11 K:BB in 33 IP with 38 H and 4 HR over 31 G, indicates little upside. I see no reason to even consider rostering him barring a sudden reversal in his declining skills.

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

Today's Fantasy Rx: If any of our readers had the chance to attend Saturday's First Pitch Forum in Illinois, please drop us a note with any comments on the event if you have a chance. We were unable to attend due to family obligations, however we're quite interested in comparing your experiences with what we observed at last year's event.

Also while we didn't need to see eight Grammy wins last night last night to justify our recommendation, we're glad Norah Jones' "Come Away with Me" is receiving the recognition it deserves.