Today's Fantasy Rx

On our last day of discussing June trends, today I'm reviewing pitchers who, over the past three years, saw their ERA increase by at least 1.50 from May to June. We only looked at pitchers who compiled at least a total of 30 IP in both months over the past three years.

A few players qualified for today's list strictly due to their similar placement on last month's Mayflowers list. Instead of discussing them in detail again, I'll briefly summarize my current recommendations before continuing with new players.

Todd Jones, RH Reliever, COL: +4.07 ERA. May: acquire.
June: deal or cut.

Jim Mecir, RH Reliever, OAK: +3.20 ERA. May: acquire.
June: acquire.

Jeff Fassero, LH Reliever, STL: +2.40 ERA. May: wait.
June: wait.

Jeff D'Amico, RH Starter, PIT: +6.28 ERA
00-02	GS/G	IP	H/HR	K:BB	W-L/S	ERA
May	10/10	67.1	50/4	45:20	4-6/0	2.54
June	7/7	33.2	46/10	23:13	0-4/0	8.82

03May	4/4	26.2	26/1	21:7	2-2/0	3.04

The Pittsburgh renaissance of Jeffs Suppan and D'Amico ranks as a rather impressive accomplishment for the Pirates as while neither pitcher dominates, they've added welcome depth and stability to a team floundering on offense. Unfortunately D'Amico will face Boston and Toronto in his next two starts, however he at least should finish June against Tampa, Cleveland, and Colorado. Nevertheless historically he self-destructs in June, and while I still like his potential, I see significant downside here, especially given his past health problems. Look to deal D'Amico while his value rests at it's current zenith.

Omar Daal, LH Starter, BAL: +4.72 ERA
00-02	GS/G	IP	H/HR	K:BB	W-L/S	ERA
May	12/17	84	79/1	48:24	5-2/0	3.54
June	13/23	101.2	95/12	62:25	5-6/0	8.79

03May	6/6	39	47/5	26:10	3-2/0	3.92

Daal's done with the only particularly good month he historically experiences and ready for the extended slide in his roto value. A 1.38 G-F does not give me confidence that he'll avoid his normal abrupt rise in homers allowed as the weather warms, and I also don't expect the Orioles to provide the necessary support for him too win many more games. Daal owners should look to deal him now as I can't imagine his value ever will be higher this season.

J.C. Romero, LH Reliever, MIN: +4.29 ERA
00-02	GS/G	IP	H/HR	K:BB	W-L/S	ERA
May	4/18	42	41/0	21:11	1-1/0	2.79
June	4/20	34.1	44/10	31:10	0-3/0	7.08

03May	0/14	12.2	11/1	8:9	1-0/0	3.55

Romero weathered May without giving up more than one homer despite his poor command, and a 1.82 G-F suggests we might see such an abrupt rise in his ERA. Yet he still isn't displaying anywhere near the skills he demonstrated in 2002, and his poor WHIP means he isn't helping many fantasy teams. Unless you're holding him in a keeper league in the expectation he'll replace Guardado next year, look to deal or cut Romero since his immediate fantasy future looks very questionable.

Jason Grimsley, RH Reliever, KC: +3.75 ERA
00-02	GS/G	IP	H/HR	K:BB	W-L/S	ERA 
May	1/35	49.1	38/5	35:15	2-2/0	1.82
June	2/34	43.2	48/4	22:25	3-5/0	5.57

03May	0/13	14.1	20/2	9:5	0-2/0	5.65

Hopefully Grimsley hiccuped a month early this year because his overall skills rank him with the top relievers in the majors. Kansas City's defense has looked weak all month, and we can explain this ERA rise thanks to the combination of an increased hit rate and less strikeouts. Of course he still owns a stunning, career-best 3.69 G-F, and although the Royals face strong opposition in June, you can wait safely since I expect his skills to remain at his currently solid levels indefinitely.

Ruben Quevedo, RH Starter, MIL: +3.60 ERA
00-02	GS/G	IP	H/HR	K:BB	W-L/S	ERA
May	7/8	44.2	37/6	32:16	2-4/0	3.02
June	6/6	35.1	44/7	26:14	0-1/0	6.62

03May	4/4	24.2	25/4	13:13	0-2/0	4.74

Over the last few years Quevedo doesn't average an ERA below 6.05 in any month except May. Although he hasn't spent too much time in the majors, his egregiously poor homer rate normally causes extreme qualitative damage to his fantasy owners. Of course this year his very poor command suggests no one should own under any circumstances, so unless your league only counts wins and strikeouts, look to deal or cut Quevedo immediately.

John Thomson, RH Starter, TEX: +3.42 ERA
00-02	GS/G	IP	H/HR	K:BB	W-L/S	ERA
May	9/9	59.2	55/11	31:15	3-4/0	3.94
June	6/6	34.1	40/10	17:5	0-4/0	7.34

03May	6/6	38.1	35/5	24:10	1-4/0	5.40

While Thomson's ERA looks ready to explode on schedule, his owners also haven't received the normal benefits of owning him thanks to the effects of pitching in Texas. The Rangers' weak outfield defense also wont' help him keep his hit rate down, so although he still owns the basic skills necessary to pitch effectively, he simply isn't a viable fantasy option right now. Look to deal or cut Thomson before the warmer June weather causes you severe qualitative category problems.

John Halama, LH Starter, OAK: +2.82 ERA
00-02	GS/G	IP	H/HR	K:BB	W-L/S	ERA
May	14/18	86.2	82/6	41:29	7-4/0	3.12
June	11/17	66.2	97/10	47:24	4-6/0	5.94

03May	5/5	25.2	33/7	17:8	1-3/0	6.31

He looked like one of the worst free agent signings of the year all spring, and with his rotation spot in jeopardy, Halama offers little obvious roto value. Not only does Oakland probably possesses a half-dozen minor league right-handers more deserving of a starting slot than Halama, they could use a second right-hander to balance their rotation. The Coliseum also doesn't offer any more protection for him than Safeco, and if you still own Halama despite his 2.5 May HR/9, try to deal him to anyone desperate for potential wins before his trade value drops to zero.

Keith Foulke, RH Closer, OAK: +2.63 ERA
00-02	GS/G	IP	H/HR	K:BB	W-L/S	ERA
May	0/32	41	35/4	42:11	0-3/14	2.85
June	0/37	42.2	42/8	35:9	2-3/15	5.48

03May	0/11	14.1	10/2	14:3	3-0/6	2.51

As we expected him to post the best numbers of any AL closer, Foulke's performance only reinforces our belief that the White Sox severely erred in dealing him. He still possesses exceptional overall skills despite an increasing flyball tendency, however now that he no longer pitches half his games in the best park for homers in the AL, I doubt his ERA will rise as normal. Definitely wait with the expectation he only will experience a mild June slump before a superb second half.

Gabe White, LH Reliever, CIN: +2.61 ERA
00-02	GS/G	IP	H/HR	K:BB	W-L/S	ERA
May	0/36	38.2	28/3	33:7	8-2/0	2.79
June	0/38	35	38/6	30:15	1-2/0	5.40

03May	0/13	15.1	15/1	13:4	2-0/0	2.35

The odds of White maintaining a 2.16 ERA during a summer in the GAB appear ridiculously low despite his mostly excellent skills. Unfortunately the Reds' uncertain defense and a .65 G-F on the season suggest White will be lucky if his ERA only rises a couple points this month. Look to deal or cut him in any standard league.

Pitchers whose ERAs normally rise between 1.50 and 2.60 points in June include: Mike Hampton(+2.57 ERA), Darren Dreifort(+2.09), Javier Vazquez(+2.05), Jeff Weaver(+2.01), Byung-Hyun Kim(+1.98), Kazuhisa Ishii(+1.90), Felix Rodriguez(+1.88), Mike Venafro(+1.88), Miguel Bataista(+1.87), Aaron Fultz(+1.86), Ben Sheets(+1.79), Bartolo Colon(+1.76), and Robert Person(+1.73).

Currently injured players who qualified include Pedro Martinez(+2.04) and Roy Oswalt(+1.71).

Internet Challenge

While we should have added him six weeks ago, we're going to rectify one error by adding Kevin Brown now. We're comfortable with Huff, Helton, and Durazo at 1B, so we'll punt Frank Thomas since he's adding nothing except an occasional homer to our team.

SP(6)
Curt Schilling: Fri:@SD(B.Tollberg)
Roy Oswalt: Sat:@CHC(C.Zambrano)
Kerry Wood: Sun:HOU(J.Robertson)
Wade Miller: Fri:@CHC(S.Estes)
Kevin Brown: Sat:MIL(R.Quevedo)
Roy Halladay: Sun:BOS(T.Wakefield)
Kurt Ainsworth: Fri:COL(D.Oliver)<> No starts: Randy, Pedro, Morris, Mussina, Millwood, Schmidt, and Prior.

A central factor in our decision to add Brown now is the ability to run six starts this weekend without worrying about Oswalt's first start back from the DL. That move allows us to run Helton, leaving Orlando Cabrera, Jose Hernandez, Hideki Matsui, and Dave Roberts on our bench.

The Umpire Hunter(8th lg; 287th overall)
Week 9b: May 30-June 1

C	Jorge Posada		1120
C	Toby Hall		460
1B	Todd Helton		1850
1B	Aubrey Huff		610
2B	Alfonso Soriano		1460
2B	Luis Castillo		1210
3B	Aaron Boone		1010
3B	Hank Blalock		500
SS	Alex Rodriguez		2010
SS	Nomar Garciaparra	1330
OF	Vlad Guerrero		2010
OF	Lance Berkman		1640
OF	Manny Ramirez		1610
OF	Preston Wilson		1220
OF	Carl Everett		850
OF	Austin Kearns		650
DH	Aramis Ramirez		820
DH	Erubiel Durazo		520

SP	Curt Schilling		1610
SP	Kerry Wood		990
SP	Wade Miller		990
SP	Kevin Brown		990
SP	Roy Halladay		890
SP	Kurt Ainsworth		430
RP	Scott Williamson	960
RP	Mike MacDougal		750
RP	Tim Worrell		740
RP	Matt Mantei		700

Total Salary for Week 9b: 	29930

Today's Fantasy Rx: Teams with midweek transaction deadlines need to exercise caution in setting their rosters with interleague play beginning on Tuesday. In particular, Cleveland and Kansas City split a week in Colorado, Baltimore and Tampa Bay split a week in Houston, and the Yankees and Jays split the week in Cincinnati. Consider benching your weaker pitchers on all these teams.