Today's Fantasy Rx

On the Seventh Day of Outfielders, my true love gave to me:
Double-digit NL PDV,
AL West "Prospects",
AL Central "Prospects";
AL East "Prospects",
American Leaguers without PDV,
Single-digit AL PDV,
and American Leaguers with Double-digit PDV.

National League Outfielders with Double-digit Positive Draft Value

Quick Key to the tables:
AB = At-bats.  H = Hits.  BA = Batting Average.  HR= Home Runs.
RBI = Runs Batted In.  SB = Stolen Bases.  R = Runs.  B = Bats.  T = Throws.
Pos = Position qualification based on 20 appearances or max. # of games in 2003.
2003 Age = Player's Age as of October 1, 2003.
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 70/30 hitting/pitching split).
AV = Actual Value (The price a player earned under a 50/50 hitting/pitching split).
Rotohelp = 2003 Rotohelp Predicted Draft Value.
LABR/Tout = 2003 Expert League prices; LABR for 4x4. Tout Wars for 5x5.

Average league worst BA, ERA, and WHIP 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.

1.		AB	H	BA	HR	RBI	SB	R	Pos
Juan Pierre		668	204	.305	1	41	65	100	O
FLO Marlins		DV		AV		Rotohelp		LABR/Tout
B:L    T:L	4x4:	49		34		24		22
2003 Age: 26	5x5:	45		31		23		24

Pierre may have led the Marlins and many roto teams to championships in 2003, however his overall value his rather limited aside from his contributions in steals, batting average, and runs. Of course, even without any power, he still earned almost $50, easily outdistancing every other offensive player this season. His career-best 3.44 #P/PA, .08 walk rate, and 2.67 G-F all demonstrate solid growth, and given his relative youth, we can expect him to steal nearly 50 bases in each of the next couple years. Although Pierre' value drops in sim and points games, his speed will sustain a roto value over $30. If you grabbed him at a discount prior to this season, the rarity of consistent burners at least should net you a significant ransom if you decided to deal him, however as I see more reason to expect continued skill improvement than any overt slump, plan to keep him at any price below $40.

The Twelve Days of Outfielders 2003 continue tomorrow.

Today's Fantasy Rx: Spending around $20 on three outfielders appears a much wiser move than spending $30 on two outfielders. Bargains exist to make the latter strategy work, however given the profits enjoyed by FAAB pickups such as Podsednik and Guillen, allocating more money to the infield while spreading your risk in outfielders looks like the strategy with the best combination of value and upside.