Today's Fantasy Rx

Welcome our weekly LPR rankings, our primary method to identify highly skilled and/or consistently effective pitchers. While we haven't changed this system since the second half of last season, feel free to refer here for a complete description of the codes. We've included the five most recent 2004 QA scores for each starter, along with the 10 most recent QA scores for each reliever, tabulating all data through June 16th. Pitchers with no QA scores have not pitched this year, so don't roster any of them unless you see someone ready to return to the majors.

1
23ABCYZ - Pedro Martinez(53245)
23ABXYZ - Mark Mulder(34444)
2ABCXYZ - Curt Schilling(34453)
AX - Freddy Garcia(41544)

abcxyz - Tom Gordon(3534345545)
abcxyz - Mike Timlin(3413334445)
axy - Francisco Rodriguez(4453244444)
a - John Halama(2454334154)
x - Kevin Gregg(3534355532)

Seeing Pedro, Mulder, and Garcia return while Gordon, Timlin, and Halama join this ranking and only Walker drops definitely pleases me. These nine pitchers belong near the beginning of any discussion of the American League's best pitchers. Gordon may be the safest setup man in baseball to own even without considering that any further health problems for Mariano Rivera will return Gordon to closing. First try adding these pitchers when looking to improve your staff.

2
3ABCXYZ - Roy Halladay(35254)
3bcyz - Byung-Hyun Kim(400)
ABCXYZ - Tim Hudson(30345)
BCY - Kevin Brown(30330)
BY - Esteban Loaiza(25222)
CY - Sidney Ponson(30142)
Xc - Scott Schoeneweis(33343)
B - Mike Mussina(52250)

3abcxyz - Mariano Rivera(3154345545)
3bcxyz - Alan Embree(2533404253)
3acz - Arthur Rhodes(5444235421)
Baxz - Scot Shields(3444354544)
bcz - Jeremy Affeldt(444324124)
Travis Harper(4322432522)

3
abcxyz - Keith Foulke(4302433544)
abcxyz - Francisco Cordero(5544443441)
acxyz - Buddy Groom(0355341335)
acxz - Ricardo Rincon(4534033402)
bcxy - Damaso Marte(4335344424)
bcyz - Chad Bradford(4422425433)

A
BCX - Javier Vazquez(42354)
BYz - Johan Santana(05344)
Xb - Dennys Reyes(54344)
by - Jake Westbrook(42244)
C - Miguel Batista(04453)
X - Gary Knotts(04433)
Nate Robertson(33444)
Rich Harden(44425)
Mike Maroth(42235)
Jon Lieber(44212)
Bronson Arroyo(10224)
Aaron Sele(34524)

Aside from Arroyo replacing Garcia and Benoit, this ranking stays stable.

B
Y - Joel Pineiro(43524)
Cliff Lee(33210)
Eric DuBose(43230)
Jose Contreras(42045)

C
XYZ - Tim Wakefield(34220)
Z - Mark Buehrle(54534)
Z - Derek Lowe(03153)
Victor Zambrano(43033)
Bartolo Colon(22002)

x - Rodrigo Lopez(02422)
b - Mickey Callaway(5)

X
Zach Greinke(43353)
Ryan Drese(30434)
Justin Miller(53413)

The only way Greinke will leave this ranking this year is if he reaches one of the top levels. Despite his age and questionable support, he never should hurt you qualitatively.

Y
cz - Jose Jimenez(3504342433)

Z
Orlando Hernandez.

a
bcxyz - Eddie Guardado(3445343334)
bcxy - Brian Shouse(4454345430)
bcxz - Ugueth Urbina(3344454334)
bcyz - Jason Grimsley(5234440232)
bcx - Jim Mecir(4304355444)
bxy - Danny Patterson(5445434043)
cxz - Billy Koch(4454541422)
bx - B.J. Ryan(3434543533)
by - David Riske(3244444444)
cz - Cliff Politte(2341253524)
b - John Parrish(2442443444)
x - Shingo Takatsu(3445454345)
x - Juan Rincon(5443455543)
x - Jon Adkins(3343443353)
x - Joe Nathan(3553423444)
x - Carlos Almanzar(3343333423)
x - Matt J. Miller(4135544344)
x - Jason Kershner(5353434515)
Neal Cotts(4424244133)
Rafael Betancourt(4125243335)
Aaron Fultz(5125443541)
J.J. Putz(3201244045)
Kerry Ligtenberg(0444422313)
Mike Nakamura(4543422043)

Matt Miller finally begins to earn the acclaim he deserves. Strongly consider him when looking for roster filler in the near future.

b
c - Kelvim Escobar(41454)

cxyz - Scott Williamson(5335422355)
cyz - Paul Quantrill(4034532032)
xy - Danys Baez(3533352232)
cy - Brendan Donnelly
cz - Troy Percival(2530343322)
c - Jeff Nelson(4405443023)
c - Scott Sauerbeck
y - Derrick Turnbow(3)
y - Rafael Soriano(424332)
y - Mike MacDougal(50522)
Mark Malaska(0421333241)
Jack Cressend(4243121113)
Chris Mears
Kirk Saarloos
Bobby Seay

c
z - Mark Hendrickson(30233)
Carlos Silva(03424)

yz - Terry Adams(2344333535)
x - Ron Villone(2343454433)
z - Rick White(3432333235)
z - Chris Hammond(2431435333)
z - Brian Anderson(4132)
z - J.C. Romero(3543334302)
z - Ben Weber(3244323211)
z - Scott Stewart(3425334510)
z - Steve Karsay
z - Omar Daal
z - Bob Wickman
z - Gary Glover
z - Jayson Durocher
z - Jason Middlebrook
z - Britt Reames
z - Carl Sadler
Julio Mateo(3531324433)
Mike Myers(2344355540)
Justin Speier(1423425424)
Kelly Wunsch(532)
Kane Davis
Hansel Izquierdo
Jose Santiago
Mike Thurman

x
Chad Gaudin(0)

z -Jaime Cerda(3314442335)
Frank Francisco(4243433442)
Jason Frasor(5433245313)
Ramon Ortiz(3431244343)
Trever Miller(4353340523)
Erasmo Ramirez(2333343413)
Jamie Walker(3323034413)

Walker falls here, replacing the promoted Kershner, while Ortiz shockingly qualifies for his consistently effective work in relief. Francisco intrigues me, but I'm not ready to recommend targeting him at this time.

y
Rick Helling

z
Mike DeJean(1224335344)
Mike Jackson(3422532143)
Jorge Julio(4313321134)

AL starters I recommend despite their failure to appear above include Jon Garland(33403), John Lackey(20454), Ted Lilly(43244), Kyle Lohse(22444), Jamie Moyer(34334), Clint Nageotte(44), Brad Radke(43244), and Barry Zito(44423).

Other decent relievers include Vinnie Chulk, Bret Prinz, and Joe Roa.

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 2004.
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 2003.
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 2002.

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. Scores of 5 and 4 qualify as DOMinant outings, a 3 is DULl, and anything below 3 ranks as a skill DISaster.

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. Scores of 5 and 4 qualify as DOMinant outings, a 3 is DULl, and anything below 3 ranks as a skill DISaster.

Note: Starters must pitch in five games before earning any of the following 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 reached both 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 2004 starts
B - QA score of 4 or 5 in at least 50% of 2003 starts
C - QA score of 4 or 5 in at least 50% of 2002 starts

X - QA score below 3 in no more than 20% of 2004 starts
Y - QA score below 3 in no more than 20% of 2003 starts
Z - QA score below 3 in no more than 20% of 2002 starts

a - QA score of 4 or 5 in at least 50% of 2004 relief outings
b - QA score of 4 or 5 in at least 50% of 2003 relief outings
c - QA score of 4 or 5 in at least 50% of 2002 relief outings

x - QA score below 3 in no more than 20% of 2004 relief outings
y - QA score below 3 in no more than 20% of 2003 relief outings
z - QA score below 3 in no more than 20% of 2002 relief outings

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

Today's Fantasy Rx: While the Hidalgo trade led today's headlines, I don't see significant fantasy ramifications since I doubt Jason Lane remained on many waiver wires. Hidalgo's value probably increases slightly due to a theoretically secure starting job, Lane's finally skyrockets, and Shane Spencer and Karim Garcia fall to no more than roster filler. Also, David Weathers' roto value disappears thanks to the change in ballparks and the loss of any likely save opportunities.

The smaller deal that sent Billy Koch to the Florida for Wilson Valdez provides much more upside for astute owners. Koch still owns intriguing skills, and the Marlins provide a much better environment for pitchers to succeed. He also immediately assumes a closer-in-waiting role if Benitez hits the DL or even just struggles for any length of time. Target Koch in any NL league, and strongly consider keeping him if possible in AL leagues since he looks more useful now than as a forgotten reliever for the White Sox.