Today's Fantasy Rx

Schedule recommendations for teams with 7 games

Good for hitters / Good for pitchers
Baltimore: 4 Home vs. SEA; 4 Road at CLE.
San Francisco: 3 Home vs. ATL; 4 Home vs. FLO.
Seattle: 4 Road at BAL; 3 Road at DET.

Good for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Toronto: 3 Road at MIN; 4 Road at CHW.

Bad for hitters / Good for pitchers
Montreal: 4 Road at SD; 3 Road at LA.
San Diego: 4 Home vs. MON; 3 Home vs. NYM.

Bad for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Pittsburgh: 1 Home vs. CIN; 3 Home vs. HOU; 3 Road at MIL.

Schedule recommendations for teams with 6 games

Good for hitters / Good for pitchers
Anaheim: 3 Road at DET; 3 Road at MIN.
New York Yankees: 3 Home vs. OAK; 3 Home vs. KC.

Good for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Atlanta: 3 Road at SF; 3 Road at COL.
Boston: 3 Home vs. TB; 3 Road at TEX.
Chicago White Sox: 2 Home vs. CLE; 4 Home vs. TOR.
Chicago Cubs: 3 Road at ARI; 3 Road at STL.
Cincinnati: 1 Road at PIT; 2 Road at MIL; 3 Road at HOU.
Colorado: 3 Home vs. FLO; 3 Home vs. ATL.
Florida: 3 Road at COL; 4 Road at SF.
Houston: 3 Road at PIT; 3 Home vs. CIN.
Philadelphia: 3 Road at STL; 3 Home vs. ARI.
Texas: 3 Road at KC; 3 Home vs. BOS.

Bad for hitters / Good for pitchers
Los Angeles: 3 Home vs. NYM; 3 Home vs. MON.
New York Mets: 3 Road at LA; 3 Road at SD.
Oakland: 3 Road at NYY; 3 Road at TB.

Bad for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Arizona: 3 Home vs. CHC; 3 Road at PHI.
Detroit: 3 Home vs. ANA; 3 Home vs. SEA.
Kansas City: 3 Home vs. TEX; 3 Road at NYY.
Minnesota: 3 Home vs. TOR; 3 Home vs. ANA.
St. Louis Cardinals: 3 Home vs. PHI; 3 Home vs. CHC.
Tampa Bay: 3 Road at BOS; 3 Home vs. OAK.

Schedule recommendations for teams with 5 games

Good for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Cleveland: 2 Road at CHW; 3 Home vs. BAL.

Bad for hitters / Good for pitchers
Milwaukee: 2 Home vs. CIN; 3 Home vs. PIT.

Pitchers with 2 starts(to deploy everywhere you own them):
Jeremy Affeldt: Tue:TEX(K.Rogers); Sun:@NYY(M.Mussina)
Kurt Ainsworth: Tue:SEA(J.Moyer); Sun:@CLE(J.Stanford)
Jon Garland: Tue:CLE(J.D'Amico); Sun:TOR(M.Batista)
Tom Glavine: Tue:@LA(H.Nomo); Sun:@SD(I.Valdez)
Livan Hernandez: Mon:@SD(J.Peavy); Sat:@LA(J.Lima)
Tim Hudson: Tue:@NYY(M.Mussina); Sun:@TB(P.Abbott)
Randy Johnson: Mon:CHC(C.Zambrano); Sat:@PHI(V.Padilla)
John Lackey: Tue:@DET(N.Cornejo); Sun:@MIN(J.Santana)
Gil Meche: Mon:@BAL(M.Riley); Sat:@DET(J.Johnson)
Eric Milton: Tue:@STL(M.Morris); Sun:ARI(B.Webb?)
Matt Morris: Tue:PHI(E.Milton); Sun:CHC(C.Zambrano)
Jamie Moyer: Tue:@BAL(K.Ainsworth); Sun:@DET(N.Cornejo)
Mike Mussina: Tue:OAK(T.Hudson); Sun:KC(J.Affeldt)
Hideo Nomo: Tue:NYM(T.Glavine); Sun:MON(J.Patterson)
John Patterson: Tue:@SD(I..Valdez); Sun:@LA(H.Nomo)
Jake Peavy: Mon:MON(L.Hernandez); Sat:NYM(T.Yates)
Brad Radke: Mon:TOR(T.Lilly); Sun:ANA(Ra.Ortiz)
Tim Redding: Tue:@PIT(J.Fogg); Sun:CIN(C.Lidle)
Matt Riley: Mon:SEA(G.Meche); Sat:@CLE(C.Sabathia)
Johan Santana: Tue:TOR(M.Batista); Sun:ANA(J.Lackey)
Jason Schmidt: Mon:ATL(H.Ramirez); Sat:FLO(C.Pavano)
Tim Wakefield: Tue:TB(P.Abbott); Sun:@TEX(K.Rogers)
Brandon Webb?: Tue:CHC(S.Mitre); Sun:@PHI(E.Milton)?
Carlos Zambrano: Mon:@ARI(R.Johnson); Sun:@STL(M.Morris)
Pitchers with 2 starts to deploy only in leagues that don't count qualitative stats:
Paul Abbott: Tue:@BOS(T.Wakefield); Sun:OAK(T.Hudson)
Miguel Batista: Tue:@MIN(J.Santana); Sun:@CHW(J.Garland)
Nate Cornejo: Tue:ANA(J.Lackey); Sun:SEA(J.Moyer)
Doug Davis: Tue:CIN(C.Lidle); Sun:PIT(J.Fogg)
Scott Elarton: Mon:FLO(C.Pavano); Sat:ATL(J.Thomson)
Shawn Estes: Tue:FLO(D.Oliver); Sun:ATL(H.Ramirez)
Josh Fogg: Tue:HOU(T.Redding); Sun:@MIL(D.Davis)
Aaron Harang: Mon:@PIT(R.Vogelsong); Sat:@HOU(W.Miller)
Cory Lidle?: Tue:@MIL(D.Davis); Sun:@HOU(T.Redding)?
Ted Lilly: Mon:@MIN(B.Radke); Sat:@CHW(D.Wright)
Darren Oliver: Tue:@COL(S.Estes); Sun:@SF(K.Reuter)
Carl Pavano: Mon:@COL(S.Elarton); Sat:@SF(J.Schmidt)
Horacio Ramirez: Mon:@SF(J.Schmidt); Sun:@COL(S.Estes)
Kenny Rogers: Tue:@KC(J.Affledt); Sun:BOS(T.Wakefield)
Kirk Rueter: Tue:ATL(Jar.Wright); Sun:FLO(D.Oliver)
Ismael Valdez: Tue:MON(J.Patterson); Sun:NYM(T.Glavine)
Ryan Vogelsong: Mon:CIN(A.Harang); Sat:@MIL(M.Kinney)

Diamond Challenge

Both SP free agents this week appeal to us, however Peavy seems rather risky unless you're desperate for cap space. Conversely, Mark Mulder appears as strong as any pitcher in the game, and while he singles in New York this week, he enjoys a respectable double next week against the Yankees and Twins at home. We're adding him and dropping Jose Contreras, who hasn't shown any semblance of skill in three starts.

SP(6)
Pedro Martinez: Fri:@TEX(R.Drese)
Curt Schilling: Wed:TB(V.Zambrano)
Randy Johnson: Mon:CHC(C.Zambrano); Sat:@PHI(V.Padilla)
Mike Mussina: Tue:OAK(T.Hudson); Sun:KC(J.Affeldt)
Roy Halladay: Fri:@CHW(M.Buehrle)
Tim Hudson: Tue:@NYY(M.Mussina); Sun:@TB(P.Abbott)
Javier Vazquez: Fri:KC(Br.Anderson) or Sat:KC(D.Reyes?)
Mark Mulder: Wed:@NYY(J.Contreras)
Roy Oswalt: Wed:@PIT(K.Wells)
Kerry Wood: Fri:@STL(W.Williams)
Kevin Brown: Thu:OAK(B.Zito)
Josh Beckett: Wed:@COL(J.Jennings)
Jose Contreras: Wed:OAK(M.Mulder)
Shawn Chacon: 3 Home vs. FLO; 3 Home vs. ATL.

With the Randy, Mussina, and Hudson doubles and solid home starts for Schilling, Vazquez, and Brown, our pitching finally may rally this week after several poor showings.

Offensively, Teixeira remains on the DL and neither Crede nor Vernon Wells seems ready to break out. We don't have the cap room to run ARod, who isn't contributing much anyway. Our only chance is that we need to deploy Pierre, who heads to Colorado and San Francisco, for Ichiro, who faces IRod this week, to squeeze under the cap.

Shadow of the Umpire(23rd lg; 227th div; 5514th overall)
Week 4: April 26-May 2

C	Javy Lopez		940
C	Jason Varitek		680
1B	Brad Fullmer		700
1B	Josh Phelps		580
2B	Alfonso Soriano		1930
2B	Marcus Giles		990
3B	Eric Hinske		990
3B	Hank Blalock		850
SS	Rafael Furcal		1150
SS	Alex Cintron		450
OF	Carlos Beltran		1760
OF	Juan Pierre		1470
OF	Carl Crawford		1040
OF	Scott Podsednik		980
OF	Adam Dunn		690
OF	Brad Wilkerson		690
DH	Richard Hidalgo	970
DH	Miguel Cabrera		570

SP	Curt Schilling		1610 
SP	Randy Johnson		1550
SP	Mike Mussina		1380 
SP	Tim Hudson		1320
SP	Javier Vazquez		1280 
SP	Kevin Brown		1180
RP	Eric Gagne		1890
RP	David Riske		820
RP	Arthur Rhodes		800
RP	Matt Herges		670

Total Salary for Week 4: 	29940

Internet Challenge

SP(6)
Curt Schilling: Wed:TB(V.Zambrano)
Randy Johnson: Mon:CHC(C.Zambrano))
Mike Mussina: Tue:OAK(T.Hudson))
Tim Hudson: Tue:@NYY(M.Mussina)
Roy Oswalt: Wed:@PIT(K.Wells)
Kevin Brown: Thu:OAK(B.Zito)
Josh Beckett: Wed:@COL(J.Jennings)
Jose Contreras: Wed:OAK(M.Mulder)
Shawn Chacon: 3 Home vs. FLO.

No starts: Pedro, Halladay, Vazquez, and Wood.

Schilling, Randy, Mussina, and Brown are easy calls, and then Oswalt appears safer than the other starts. We then will deploy Chacon even at Coors since he seems fairly strong and the extra saves help.

Teixeira and Kaz Matsui stay benched here, and then we're deploying Pierre over Ichiro for cap reasons. Brad Wilkerson then joins Vernon Wells on the end of our bench while Crede and Crawford hit the lineup, two moves that enable us to sneak under the cap.

The Umpire Hunter(19th lg; 683rd overall)
Week 4a: April 26-April 29

C	Mike Piazza		990
C	Jason Varitek		680
1B	Brad Fullmer		700
1B	Josh Phelps		580
2B	Alfonso Soriano		1930
2B	Marcus Giles		990
3B	Eric Hinske		990
3B	Hank Blalock		850
SS	Alex Rodriguez		2010
SS	Alex Cintron		450
OF	Carlos Beltran		1760
OF	Juan Pierre		1470
OF	Carl Crawford		1040
OF	Scott Podsednik		980
OF	Richard Hidalgo	970
OF	Adam Dunn		690
DH	Joe Crede		600
DH	Miguel Cabrera		570

SP	Curt Schilling		1610
SP	Randy Johnson		1550
SP	Mike Mussina		1380
SP	Roy Oswalt		1200
SP	Kevin Brown		1180
SP	Shawn Chacon		630
RP	Eric Gagne		1890
RP	David Riske		820
RP	Arthur Rhodes		800
RP	Matt Herges		670

Total Salary for Week 4a: 	29990

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

With Contreras showing nothing and only one double, we're adding Tim Hudson for Contreras. Chacon hangs onto his roster spot at least for one more week.

SP(6)
Curt Schilling: Wed:TB(V.Zambrano)
Randy Johnson: Mon:CHC(C.Zambrano); Sat:@PHI(V.Padilla)
Javier Vazquez: Fri:KC(Br.Anderson) or Sat:KC(D.Reyes?)
Pedro Martinez: Fri:@TEX(R.Drese)
Kerry Wood: Fri:@STL(W.Williams)
Tim Hudson: Tue:@NYY(M.Mussina); Sun:@TB(P.Abbott)
Roy Halladay: Fri:@CHW(M.Buehrle)
Kevin Brown: Thu:OAK(B.Zito)
Josh Beckett: Wed:@COL(J.Jennings)
Shawn Chacon: 3 Home vs. FLO; 3 Home vs. ATL.

Schilling, Randy, Vazquez, Hudson, and Brown are easy calls here. While none of the road starts particularly appeals to us, Wood looks incredible right now and at least will contribute innings and strikeouts, as well as hopefully a win.

LeCroy, Teixeira, Tony Batista, Derek Jeter, Vernon Wells, and Carl Everett all stay glued to our bench. To fit under the cap, we'll sit the slumping Pujols and Wilkerson in favor of Hideki Matsui and Orlando Hudson, enabling us to slip under the cap.

The Umpire Chronicles(15th lg; 1754th overall)
& Umpire with a Soul(19th lg; 3227th overall)
Week 4: April 26-April 29

C	Brian Schneider		1100
C	Jason Phillips		1070
1B	Derrek Lee		2690
1B	Josh Phelps		1260
2B	Alfonso Soriano		3060
2B	Marcus Giles		1740
3B	Hank Blalock		2020
3B	Eric Munson		1090
SS	Orlando Cabrera		2460 
SS	Alex Cintron		1100
OF	Carlos Beltran		3060 
OF	Manny Ramirez		2960
OF	Adam Dunn		1950
OF	Hideki Matsui		1800
OF	Miguel Cabrera		1600
OF	Austin Kearns		1630
DH	Todd Helton		3450
DH	Orlando Hudson		1420

SP	Curt Schilling		3090 
SP	Randy Johnson		2900 
SP	Javier Vazquez		2890
SP	Kerry Wood		2880
SP	Tim Hudson		2840
SP	Kevin Brown		2470
RP	Octavio Dotel		2400
RP	David Riske		1870
RP	Matt Herges		1610
RP	Arthur Rhodes		1580

Total Salary for Week 4: 	59990

Today's Fantasy Rx: If you need starting pitching, the first week of free agents in Diamond Challenge is a great time to add someone. Mark Mulder could help every owner, and if you could use a relatively inexpensive, mildly risky pitcher who could give you a wins' boost, add Jake Peavy. Offensively, only Jason Varitek appeals to me at all, and he fits a lot better in FB than DC.