Today's Fantasy Rx

Colorado: 6 Road games: 3 at Minnesota; 3 at Detroit.
Houston: 6 Road games: 3 at New York Yankees; 3 at Boston.
Cincinnati: 6 games: 3 Road at Tampa; 3 Home vs. Philadelphia.

Other teams with six home games: Anaheim, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago White Sox, Cleveland, Detroit, Kansas City, Minnesota, New York Yankees, Oakland, Seattle, Tampa Bay, Texas, and Toronto.

All other teams play six games with at least three on the road.

Pitchers of interest with two starts(whom we'd start if we owned them):
Jarrod Washburn: Mon:PHI(V.Padilla); Sun:NYM(S.Trachsel)
Elmer Dessens: Tue:@KC(K.Snyder); Sun:@MIN(B.Radke)
Greg Maddux: Tue:@OAK(T.Hudson); Sun:@SEA(G.Meche)
Byung-Hyun Kim: Tue:STL(W.Williams); Sun:HOU(W.Miller)
Jon Garland: Tue:SF(Jer.Williams); Sun:SD(B.Tollberg)
Jason Jennings: Tue:@MIN(B.Radke); Sun:@DET(G.Knotts)
Gary Knotts: Tue:LA(H.Nomo); Sun:COL(J.Jennings)
Hideo Nomo: Tue:@DET(G.Knotts); Sun:@CLE(B.Traber)
Ben Sheets: Tue:FLO(M.Redman); Sun:@BAL(P.Hentgen)
Brad Radke: Tue:COL(J.Jennings); Sun:ARI(E.Dessens)
Javier Vazquez: Tue:@SEA(G.Meche); Sun:@OAK(T.Hudson)
Mike Mussina: Tue:HOU(W.Miller); Sun:STL(W.Williams)
Tim Hudson: Tue:ATL(G.Maddux); Sun:MON(J.Vazquez)
Vicente Padilla: Mon:@ANA(J.Washburn); Sun:@CIN(Pa.Wilson)
Kris Benson: Tue:@TOR(C.Lidle); Sun:@TB(D.Brazelton)
Brian Tollberg: Tue:@CLE(B.Traber); Sun:@CHW(J.Garland)
Gil Meche: Tue:MON(J.Vazquez); Sun:ATL(G.Maddux)
Woody Williams: Tue:@BOS(B-H.Kim); Sun:@NYY(M.Mussina)
Dewon Brazelton: Tue:CIN(Pa.Wilson); Sun:PIT(K.Benson)
John Thomson: Tue:NYM(S.Trachsel); Sun:FLO(M.Redman)
Cory Lidle: Tue:PIT(K.Benson); Sun:CHC(S.Estes)

Only deploy in Fantasy Baseball and other leagues that don't count qualitative stats:
Pat Hentgen: Tue:CHC(S.Estes); Sun:MIL(B.Sheets)
Shawn Estes: Tue:@BAL(P.Hentgen); Sun:@TOR(C.Lidle)
Paul Wilson: Tue:@TB(D.Brazelton): Sun:PHI(V.Padilla)
Billy Traber: Tue:SD(B.Tollberg); Sun:LA(H.Nomo)
Mark Redman: Tue:@MIL(B.Sheets); Sun:@TEX(J.Thomson)
Wade Miller: Tue:@NYY(M.Mussina); Sun:@BOS(B-H.Kim)
Kyle Snyder: Tue:ARI(E.Dessens); Sun:SF(Jer.Williams or K.Ainsworth)
Steve Trachsel: Tue:@TEX(J.Thomson): Sun:@ANA(J.Washburn)
Jerome Williams(?): Tue:@CHW(J.Garland); Sun:@KC(K.Snyder)?

Diamond Challenge

SP(6)
Randy Johnson: DL(No start)
Pedro Martinez: Wed:STL(B.Tomko)
Curt Schilling: DL(No start)
Tim Hudson: Tue:ATL(G.Maddux); Sun:MON(J.Vazquez)
Matt Morris: Fri:@NYY(R.Clemens)
Roy Oswalt: Wed:@NYY(Jos.Contreras)
Mike Mussina: Tue:HOU(W.Miller); Sun:STL(W.Williams)
Kevin Millwood: Fri:@CIN(J.Haynes)
Kerry Wood: Fri:@TOR(K.Escobar)
Kevin Brown: Wed:@DET(A.Bernero)
Roy Halladay: Wed:PIT(J.D'Amico)
Jason Schmidt: Fri:@KC(J.Affeldt)
Mark Prior: Sat:@TOR(M.Hendrickson, D.Davis, or C.Lidle)

Hudson and Mussina are solid starts, and we also like Brown and Halladay, however the rest of these all look rather questionable. Prior and Schmidt both appear the best bets and the most cost-effective options, so we'll deploy them to round out our staff.

We'll reluctantly sit Durazo due to a lack of roster spots, and he'll join Jose Hernandez, Vlad, and Matsui on our bench.

Interview with the Umpire(9th lg; 88th div; 1734th overall),
Shadow of the Umpire(8th lg; 90th div; 1733th overall), &
Dance of the Umpires(11th lg; 79th div; 1903rd overall)
Week 11: June 9-June 15

C	Ivan Rodriguez		1070
C	Toby Hall		460
1B	Aubrey Huff		610
1B	Frank Thomas		920
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	Lance Berkman		1640
OF	Manny Ramirez		1610
OF	Ichiro Suzuki		1480
OF	Preston Wilson		1220
OF	Austin Kearns		650
OF	Dave Roberts		620
DH	Carl Everett		850
DH	Aramis Ramirez		820

SP	Tim Hudson		1340
SP	Mike Mussina		1210
SP	Kevin Brown		990
SP	Roy Halladay		890
SP	Jason Schmidt		790
SP	Mark Prior		750
RP	Eric Gagne		1430
RP	Scott Williamson	960
RP	Mike MacDougal		750
RP	Tim Worrell		740

Total Salary for Week 11: 	29320

Diamond Challenge 2nd Season

SP(6)
Pedro Martinez: Wed:STL(B.Tomko)
Curt Schilling: DL(No start)
Tim Hudson: Tue:ATL(G.Maddux); Sun:MON(J.Vazquez)
Matt Morris: Fri:@NYY(R.Clemens)
Roy Oswalt: Wed:@NYY(Jos.Contreras)
Mike Mussina: Tue:HOU(W.Miller); Sun:STL(W.Williams)
Mark Mulder: Fri:MON(T.Ohka)
Kevin Millwood: Fri:@CIN(J.Haynes)
Kerry Wood: Fri:@TOR(K.Escobar)
Kevin Brown: Wed:@DET(A.Bernero)
Roy Halladay: Wed:PIT(J.D'Amico)
Jason Schmidt: Fri:@KC(J.Affeldt)
Mark Prior: Sat:@TOR(M.Hendrickson, D.Davis, or C.Lidle)

As in DC, our strongest rotation here is Hudson, Mussina, Brown, Halladay, Schmidt, and Prior.

We don't have sufficient room for Durazo, nor cap room for Helton. Roberts and Vernon Wells have the least upside of our outfielders this week, and then Orlando Cabrera looks stronger right now than Furcal, so Furcal will sit.

Umpire The Masquerade(13th lg; 169th div; 1480th overall)
Week 11: June 9-June 15

C	Mike Lieberthal		650
C	Toby Hall		460
1B	Carlos Deglado		1420
1B	Aubrey Huff		610
2B	Alfonso Soriano		1460
2B	Bret Boone		1360
3B	Aramis Ramirez		820
3B	Hank Blalock		500
SS	Nomar Garciaparra	1330
SS	Orlando Cabrera		1030
OF	Albert Pujols		1750
OF	Preston Wilson		1220
OF	Juan Pierre		1080
OF	Ken Griffey		820
OF	Austin Kearns		650
OF	Corey Patterson		500
DH	Gary Sheffield		1380
DH	Mike Lowell		1190

SP	Tim Hudson		1340
SP	Mike Mussina		1210
SP	Kevin Brown		990
SP	Roy Halladay		890
SP	Jason Schmidt		790
SP	Mark Prior		750
RP	Eric Gagne		1430
RP	Joe Borowski		750
RP	Rocky Biddle		750
RP	Tim Worrell		740

Total Salary for Week 11: 	27870

Internet Challenge

SP(6)
Pedro Martinez: Wed:STL(B.Tomko)
Roy Oswalt: Wed:@NYY(Jos.Contreras)
Mike Mussina: Tue:HOU(W.Miller)
Kevin Brown: Wed:@DET(A.Bernero)
Roy Halladay: Wed:PIT(J.D'Amico)

No starts: Randy, Schilling, Morris, Millwood, Wood, Schmidt, Prior, and Ainsworth.

We're down to only a couple moves, however we don't overly mind running Ainsworth since he's so cheap. He'll join our five actual starts.

Our desire to play Helton and Aramis Ramirez requires sitting Orlando Cabrera and Jose Hernandez, both joined on the bench by Vlad and Hideki Matsui.

The Umpire Hunter(7th lg; 248th overall)
Week 11a: June 9-June 12

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	Lance Berkman		1640
OF	Manny Ramirez		1610
OF	Preston Wilson		1220
OF	Carl Everett		850
OF	Austin Kearns		650
OF	Dave Roberts		620 
DH	Aramis Ramirez		820
DH	Erubiel Durazo		520

SP	Pedro Martinez		1700
SP	Roy Oswalt		1280
SP	Mike Mussina		1210
SP	Kevin Brown		990
SP	Roy Halladay		890
SP	Kurt Ainsworth		430
RP	Eric Gagne		1430
RP	Scott Williamson	960
RP	Mike MacDougal		750
RP	Tim Worrell		740

Total Salary for Week 11a: 	29870

Fantasy Baseball & Budget Baseball
(Same rules = same rosters and moves for both teams)

We're dropping Mantei here outright, and while we like Biddle, Lance Carter, and even Williamson as replacements, Tim Worrell(1370) offers the best combination of point upside and salary.

SP(6)
Curt Schilling: DL(No start)
Mike Mussina: Tue:HOU(W.Miller); Sun:STL(W.Williams)
Pedro Martinez: Wed:STL(B.Tomko)
Roy Oswalt: Wed:@NYY(Jos.Contreras)
Kerry Wood: Fri:@TOR(K.Escobar)
Kevin Millwood: Fri:@CIN(J.Haynes)
Roy Halladay: Wed:PIT(J.D'Amico)
Jason Schmidt: Fri:@KC(J.Affeldt)
Kevin Brown: Wed:@DET(A.Bernero)
Mark Prior: Sat:@TOR(M.Hendrickson, D.Davis, or C.Lidle)

Mussina, Halladay, and Brown all look like obvious picks, and we like the odds of Schmidt beating Affleck. Wood and Prior match-up much better against Toronto's starters than Millwood against Cincy's offense, so we'll finish this staff with the Cubs.

Offensively, sitting Vlad means we leave 1000 of salary on the table, but since there's a good chance he'll be back in two weeks, we're not inclined to make a short-term move here. Larry Walker and Matsui join Vlad among our benched outfielders, and Marrero, Ellis, and Hinske are obvious reserves. Our only two real choices are Thomas over Josh Phelps and Jose Hernandez over Orlando Cabrera, but Thomas is hot and Hernandez's schedule is very solid.

The Umpire Chronicles(6th lg; 518th overall)
& Umpire with a Soul(8th lg; 1223rd overall)
Week 11: June 9-June 15

C	Jason Varitek		1400
C	Toby Hall		1070
1B	Todd Helton		3320
1B	Frank Thomas		2030
2B	Alfonso Soriano		2570
2B	Orlando Hudson		1000
3B	Scott Rolen		2660
3B	Joe Crede		1150	
SS	Nomar Garciaparra	2300
SS	Jose Hernandez		1780
OF	Albert Pujols		3150
OF	Lance Berkman		2850
OF	Manny Ramirez		2690
OF	Juan Gonzalez		1980
OF	Vernon Wells		1780
OF	Austin Kearns		1600
DH	Pat Burrell		2420
DH	Preston Wilson		2410

SP	Mike Mussina		2920
SP	Kerry Wood		2470
SP	Roy Halladay		2010
SP	Jason Schmidt		1990
SP	Kevin Brown		1910
SP	Mark Prior		1800
RP	Eric Gagne		2560
RP	Keith Foulke		2330
RP	Mike MacDougal		1500
RP	Tim Worrell		1370

Total Salary for Week 11: 	59020

Today's Fantasy Rx: Several solid players appear on this week's free agent list. While we're not particularly enamored of Javy Lopez(750), he certainly provides a power boost. Luis Castillo(1210) and Orlando Cabrera(1030) rank among players upon which we've counted for much of the year, and Tim Worrell(700) is an excellent value for his price. If you're looking to replace an expensive player like Vlad, I can't think of many better choices than Albert Pujols(1750). So while we spent our last FA moves last week to roster Gagne, anyone with moves remaining can upgrade their team this week at any one of several positions.