Today's Fantasy Rx

We modified these ratings slightly since posting our team-by-team LPR scores in January. By reworking the A-Z and a-z ratings, we wanted to be able to easily identify effective starters rather than looking for truly dominant performers, of which we only found a few pitchers in any of the previous few seasons.

1 - K/9 of 6.0+, BB/9 of 3.0-, H/9 of 9.0-, HR/9 of 1.0-,
     and G-F of 1.0+ in 25+ IP in 2003.
2 - K/9 of 6.0+, BB/9 of 3.0-, H/9 of 9.0-, HR/9 of 1.0-,
     and G-F of 1.0+ in 25+ IP in 2002.
3 - K/9 of 6.0+, BB/9 of 3.0-, H/9 of 9.0-, HR/9 of 1.0-,
     and G-F of 1.0+ in 25+ IP in 2001.

QA score for starts: up to 5 total points, one for each statistical goal, to any starter who pitches at least 5 innings and fulfills any of the following skill qualifications: K>=IP-2, BB<=IP/3, H<=IP, HR<=1, and G-F>=1.00. Any starter who doesn't reach any of the required statistical goals or fails to pitch 5 innings earns a 0 QA score.

QA score for relief outings: up to 5 total points, one for each statistical goal, to any reliever who retires at least one batter and fulfills any of the following skill qualifications: K>=IP, BB=0, H<=IP, HR=0, and G-F>=1.00. Any reliever who doesn't reach any of the required statistical goals or fails to retire a batter earns a 0 QA score.

Note: Starters must pitch in five games before scoring DOM or DIS ratings; relievers must appear in no less than 10 games before earning DOM/DIS consideration. All pitchers are evaluated as relievers aside from those who both reached 5 starts in a given season and qualified for DOM or DIS ratings.

A - QA score of 4 or 5 in at least 50% of 2003 starts
B - QA score of 4 or 5 in at least 50% of 2002 starts
C - QA score of 4 or 5 in at least 50% of 2001 starts

X - QA score below 3 in no more than 20% of 2003 starts
Y - QA score below 3 in no more than 20% of 2002 starts
Z - QA score below 3 in no more than 20% of 2001 starts

a - QA score of 4 or 5 in at least 50% of 2003 relief outings
b - QA score of 4 or 5 in at least 50% of 2002 relief outings
c - QA score of 4 or 5 in at least 50% of 2001 relief outings

x - QA score below 3 in no more than 20% of 2003 relief outings
y - QA score below 3 in no more than 20% of 2002 relief outings
z - QA score below 3 in no more than 20% of 2001 relief outings

We've included the five most recent 2003 QA scores for each starter, along with the 10 most recent QA scores for each reliever, tabulating all data through May 15th.

123
ABCYZ - Pedro Martinez(33445)

Two starts with an 18-12 G-F pushed Pedro to the level we expected, and while his somewhat slight stature always will leave him at higher risk for injury than a Clemens or Mussina, I see no reason not to continue ranking Pedro with the elite starters in the game.

12
None.

13
ABCXZ - Roger Clemens(44344)
AX - Mike Mussina(44550)

23
ABCXYZ - Roy Halladay(43435)
ACY - Mark Mulder(44445)

bcxyz - Buddy Groom(5355454330)
bcxyz - Arthur Rhodes(3342534233)
bcyz - Mariano Rivera(355544)

1
ABX - Sir Sidney Ponson(43453)
AX - Esteban Loiaza(45235)

abcxyz - Jason Grimsley(4353534342)
a - Travis Harper(244254433)

Lidle and Shields drop down the list as we our first two full-time relievers reach 25+ innings with superb skills.

2
abcxyz - Keith Foulke(3455433044)
abxy - LaTroy Hawkins(5544055334)
abxy - Francisco Cordero(2435434453)
bcxy - Chad Bradford(4354433533)
bcyz - Ricardo Rincon(3335305353)
abx - Damaso Marte(4043545345)
bcy - Alan Embree(2333302544)

3
ABCXYZ - Tim Hudson(44444)
C - Kevin Appier(42024)
C - John Burkett(02141)
Joel Pineiro(44342)
Freddy Garcia(24304)

bcyz - Steve Karsay
bcyz - Bob Wickman
by - Cliff Politte(0333543234)
cz - Ramiro Mendoza(3423304424)

A
X - Gil Meche(44443)
X - Jason Johnson(43344)
Kyle Lohse(00244)

Lohse joins the list this week as he's rebounding after a late April slump.

B
XYZ - Tim Wakefield(33323)
Ycz - Derek Lowe(40300)
Y - Mark Buehrle(04332)
Y - Jeff Weaver(30222)
Z - Andy Pettitte(52502)
Bartolo Colon(23224)
Casey Fossum(24024)
Rodrigo Lopez(03130)

Mickey Callaway(2445 in relief)

I remain surprised at the lack of consistency from most of these nominal aces, but we expect most of these guys to improve their performances in the near future.

C
Z - Chan Ho Park(03330)
Z - Jon Lieber
Cory Lidle(44323)
Jake Westbrook(22230)
John Thomson(32302)

ab - Kelvim Escobar(5425432445)
Zx - Brandon Lyon(3252553542)
Rick Bauer(1333435323)

Lidle slips down here, however unlike the this largely struggling or injured group of guys, Lidle possesses significant upside to both the Jays and all fantasy owners.

X
Y - David Wells(33432)

The struggles of Jamie Moyer, Runelvys Hernandez, and Darrell May leave Wells alone here, but since he's only walked exactly two batters thus far, only New York's defensive struggles limit Wells' value.

Y
None, thanks to Victor Zambrano's demotion.

Z
Barry Zito(32334)
Jon Garland(50323)
Ryan Drese(02030)

a
bcxyz - Tom Gordon(3355550455)
bcxyz - Troy Percival(3234343453)
bcxz - Jeff Nelson(0555333243)
bcyz - Billy Koch(4224412434)
bcyz - Mike Timlin(5224433335)
bcyz - Kazuhiro Sasaki(4542231344)

Gordon and Sasaki jump up here on the strength of a couple dominant performances from each player, and Gordon in particularly looks ready to resume closing if the Sox fall out of the race and deal him.

byz - Ben Weber(3235452443)
bc - Kelly Wunsch(4545323544)
bx - Brendan Donnelly(4344434425)
cx - David Riske(4344342445)
xy - Jorge Julio(4543443442)
xz - Mike Venafro(3424055332)

Guardado and Acevedo fall as Riske and Venafro continue impressing me. Riske in particularly looks like an excellent acquisition if he's available in your league.

b - Juan Acevedo(4403144330)
c - Aaron Fultz(5543024234)
x - B.J. Ryan(5444504300)
x - Danys Baez(5202344534)
x - Mike MacDougal(3444325333)
Steve Sparks(1534424443)
Franklyn German(3442344523)
Juan Rincon(5533522144)
Aquilino Lopez(5033254341)

We see a couple of changes here such as the inconsistency of German, Lopez, and KRod, the latter dropping down the list due to his problems, but we also like the performances from Fultz, Baez, and Juan Rincon.

b
y - Mark Hendrickson(23044)
y - Omar Daal(42204)
y - Jeremy Affeldt(33003)
y - Brian Anderson(22220)

cyz - Ugueth Urbina(2433324414)
cyz - Rick White(3334234122)
cz - Jim Mecir(2345)
cz - John Rocker(02)
xy - Eddie Guardado(3353443335)
yz - Mike Fetters(43344)
yz - Gary Glover(413245213)

Guardado settles here before his inevitable ascent in a week or two, however the biggest surprise is the return of John Rocker based on his past dominance. Of course he's still not someone you want to add your team until he reproves his skills over several outings.

y - Carl Sadler(4334240404)
y - J.C. Romero(4230354343)
y - Albie Lopez(5442202121)
y - Chris Hammond(4232323233)
y - Al Reyes(35322)
y - Brian Bowles(02)
Brian Shouse(4304340442)
Scott Schoeneweis(2325253550)
Julio Mateo(3333442143)
Travis Driskill(22)

The only changes here involved the promotion of Bowles and demotion of Randy Choate.

c
Tanyon Sturtze(03002)

yz - Jeff Tam(5422243335)
z - Chad Fox(2413455332)
z - Kris Wilson(4234233243)
z - Al Levine(4224253353)
z - Esteban Yan(2232534042)
z - Willis Roberts(3224033050)
z - Danny Patterson
z - Jeff Zimmerman
Bobby Seay(544442023)
Giovanni Carrara(1233430342)
Todd Van Poppel(243 in relief)
Jerrod Riggan(13)

Matt Anderson's surprising demotion was the only notable change here, but Jerrod Riggan returns even if Cleveland won't give him many more outings to prove he belongs.

x
y - Scot Shields(4343323542 in relief)
z - Shigetoshi Hasegawa(2345234555)
Francisco Rodriguez(3433452431)
Antonio Osuna(3244333043)
R.A. Dickey(3353323423)

We see more movement here than that any other ranking today as Santana drops down, Shields falls to here, Hasegawa improves two slots, and two former top prospects join the group. I see enough encouraging signs from all five of these relievers to recommend adding them if your need roster filler in deeper leagues, although Hasegawa and Shields merit ownership nearly everywhere.

y
Johan Santana(5443231332)
Dave Elder(4401)

Santana slipped slightly thanks to his walk rate, although I wonder how much of his problems we can trace to his overriding desire to start.

z
Jay Powell(3232422422)
Sean Lowe(314)
Mark Wohlers

AL starters I recommend despite their failure to appear above include Jeremy Bonderman(34243), Nate Cornejo(42333), Ryan Franklin(32320), Runelvys Hernandez(33322), Mike Maroth(30442), Jamie Moyer(44332), Brad Radke(24351), Rick Reed(40404), Kenny Rogers(13333), C.C. Sabathia(33422), and Jarrod Washburn(12434).

Other decent relievers include D.J. Carrasco, Lance Carter, and, Jesus Colome.

We'll continue tomorrow with this week's NL LPR article.

Today's Fantasy Rx: We've discussed Jason Grimsley here a couple times since the season started, but Travis Harper belongs in that same discussion of the best middle relievers in the league. While he's not an overly dominant pitcher, his 3.10 ERA and 1.07 WHIP certainly could help teams in almost any league, and if Lance Carter falters, Harper looks like the best candidate to pick up any available Rays' save opportunities.