Today's Fantasy Rx

Schedule recommendations for teams with 8 games

Good for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Tampa Bay: 4 Road at BAL; 4 Road at NYY.

Schedule recommendations for teams with 7 games

Good for hitters / Good for pitchers
Baltimore: 4 Home vs. TB; 3 Home vs. KC.
Milwaukee: 3 Home vs. CHC; 4 Home vs. CIN.
Minnesota: 3 Home vs. KC; 4 Home vs. DET.
New York Yankees: 3 Home vs. DET; 4 Home vs. TB.
Philadelphia: 4 Home vs. NYM; 3 Home vs. ATL.

Good for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Cincinnati: 3 Road at STL; 4 Road at MIL.
Montreal: 3 Home-PR vs. ATL; 4 Home-PR vs. PIT.
Pittsburgh: 3 Road at FLO; 4 Road at MON-PR.
Texas: 4 Road at CLE; 3 Road at BOS.

Bad for hitters / Good for pitchers
Arizona: 3 Road at LA: 4 Road at SF.
Colorado: 3 Road at SF; 4 Road at SD.
Houston: 3 Road at SD; 4 Road at LA.
Los Angeles: 3 Home vs. ARI; 4 Home vs. HOU.
San Diego: 3 Home vs. HOU; 4 Home vs. COL.
San Francisco: 3 Home vs. COL; 4 Home vs. ARI.

Bad for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Cleveland: 4 Home vs. TEX; 3 Home vs. OAK.
Detroit: 3 Road at NYY; 4 Road at MIN.
New York Mets: 4 Road at PHI; 3 Road at FLO.
Tampa Bay: 3 Road at BAL; 4 Road at NYY.

Schedule recommendations for teams with 6 games

Good for hitters / Good for pitchers
Florida: 3 Home vs. PIT; 3 Home vs. NYM.
St. Louis: 3 Home vs. CIN; 3 Home vs. CHC.

Good for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Anaheim: 3 Road at CHW; 3 Road at TOR.
Atlanta: 3 Road at MON-PR; 3 Road at PHI.
Boston: 3 Home vs. OAK; 3 Home vs. TEX.
Chicago White Sox: 3 Home vs. ANA; 3 Home vs. SEA.
Chicago Cubs: 3 Road at MIL; 3 Road at STL.
Oakland: 3 Road at BOS; 3 Road at CLE.
Seattle: 3 Road at TOR; 3 Road at CHW.
Toronto: 3 Home vs. SEA; 3 Home vs. ANA.

Bad for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Kansas City: 3 Road at MIN; 3 Road at BAL.

Pitchers with 2 starts(to deploy everywhere you own them):
Paul Abbott: Mon:NYM(T.Glavine); Sat:ATL(M.Hampton)
Jose Acevedo: Tue:@STL(M.Morris); Sun:@MIL(V.Santos)
Wilson Alvarez: Mon:ARI(B.Webb); Sat:HOU(R.Clemens)
Miguel Batista: Tue:SEA(J.Moyer); Sun:ANA(J.Lackey)
Josh Beckett: Mon:PIT(K.Wells): Sun:NYM(A.Leiter)
Daniel Cabrera: Mon:TB(D.Brazelton); Sun:KC(J.Gobble)
Chris Carpenter: Mon:CIN(C.Lidle); Sun:CHC(K.Wood?)?
Roger Clemens: Mon:@SD(B.Lawrence); Sat:@LA(W.Alvarez)
Matt Clement: Mon:@MIL(B.Sheets); Sat:@STL(J.Suppan?)
Zach Day: Mon:ATL(P.Byrd); Sat:PIT(S.Burnett)
Casey Fossum: Tue:@LA(J.Lima); Sun:@SF(J.Schmidt)
Freddy Garcia: Tue:ANA(J.Lackey); Sun:SEA(J.Moyer)
Tom Glavine: Mon:@PHI(P.Abbott); Sat:@FLO(A.Burnett)
Brad Halsey: Tue:DET(Jas.Johnson); Sun:TB(Je.Gonzalez?)
Brian Lawrence: Mon:HOU(R.Clemens); Sat:COL(A.Cook)
Al Leiter: Tue:@PHI(R.Wolf); Sun:@FLO(J.Beckett)
Cory Lidle: Mon:@STL(C.Carpenter); Sat:@MIL(B.Sheets)
Jon Lieber: Mon:DET(N.Robertson); Sat:TB(D.Brazelton)
Jose Lima: Tue:ARI(C.Fossum); Sun:HOU(P.Munro)
Brad Radke: Mon:KC(J.Gobble); Sat:DET(N.Robertson)
Nate Robertson: Mon:@NYY(J.Lieber); Sat:@MIN(B.Radke)
Kenny Rogers: Mon:@CLE(C.Sabathia); Sat:@BOS(D.Lowe)
C.C. Sabathia: Mon:TEX(K.Rogers); Sat:OAK(T.Hudson?)
Johan Santana: Tue:KC(Z.Greinke); Sun:DET(Jas.Johnson)
Victor Santos: Tue:CHC(M.Prior); Sun:CIN(Jo.Acevedo)
Jason Schmidt: Tue:COL(D.Stark); Sun:ARI(C.Fossum)
Ben Sheets: Mon:CHC(M.Clement); Sat:CIN(C.Lidle)
Brett Tomko: Mon:COL(A.Cook); Sat:ARI(B.Webb)
Ismael Valdez: Tue:HOU(P.Munro); Sun:COL(D.Stark)
Tim Wakefield: Tue:OAK(B.Zito); Sun:TEX(J.Wasdin?)
Brandon Webb: Mon:@LA(W.Alvarez); Sat:@SF(B.Tomko)
Randy Wolf: Tue:NYM(A.Leiter); Sun:ATL(P.Byrd)

Pitchers with 2 starts to deploy only in leagues that don't count qualitative stats:
Dewon Brazelton: Mon:@BAL(D.Cabrera); Sat:@NYY(J.Lieber)?
Paul Byrd: Mon:@MON-PR(Z.Day); Sun:@PHI(R.Wolf)
Aaron Cook: Mon:@SF(B.Tomko); Sat:@SD(B.Lawrence)
Jason Davis: Tue:TEX(J.Wasdin?); Sun:OAK(B.Zito)
Scott Downs: Tue:ATL(Ru.Ortiz); Sun:PIT(S.Burnett)
Jimmy Gobble: Mon:@MIN(B.Radke); Sun:@BAL(D.Cabrera)
Jason Johnson: Tue:@NYY(B.Halsey); Sun:@MIN(J.Santana)
John Lackey: Tue:@CHW(Fr.Garcia); Sun:@TOR(M.Batista)
Jamie Moyer: Tue:@TOR(M.Batista); Sun:@CHW(Fr.Garcia)
Peter Munro: Tue:@SD(I.Valdez); Sun:@LA(J.Lima)
Dennis Stark: Tue:@SF(J.Schmidt); Sun:@SD(I.Valdez)
Kip Wells: Mon:@FLO(J.Beckett); Sun:@MON(S.Downs)
Barry Zito: Tue:@BOS(T.Wakefield); Sun:@CLE(Jas.Davis)

Diamond Challenge

SP(6)
Pedro Martinez: Wed:OAK(M.Redman)
Curt Schilling: Fri:TEX(Ric.Rodriguez?)
Randy Johnson: Fri:@SF(Je.Williams)
Mike Mussina: Wed:DET(J.Bonderman)
Roy Halladay: Fri:ANA(B.Colon)
Tim Hudson: Sat:@CLE(C.Sabathia)???
Javier Vazquez: Fri:TB(J.Halama)
Mark Mulder: Fri:@CLE(J.Westbrook)
Roy Oswalt: Wed:@SD(J.Peavy)
Kerry Wood: Sun:@STL(C.Carpenter?)???
Kevin Brown: No start(DL)
Josh Beckett: Mon:PIT(K.Wells); Sun:NYM(A.Leiter)
Jeremy Affeldt: DL.

Owning only one double irritates us, but Pedro, Schilling, Randy, Mussina, Vazquez, and Mulder all appear solid. We'll sit Mussina since he looks slightly worse than the others.

Running all our stud pitchers creates cap problems offensively, so we'll sit Lowell, along with Cintron, V.Wells, and Mora.

Shadow of the Umpire(13th lg; 128th div; 3262nd overall)
Week 14: July 5-July 11

C	Javy Lopez		940
C	Jason Varitek		680
1B	Mark Teixeira		760
1B	Lyle Overbay		400
2B	Alfonso Soriano		1930
2B	Mark Loretta		820
3B	Hank Blalock		850 
3B	Joe Crede		600
SS	Alex Rodriguez		2010 
SS	Brian Roberts		610 
OF	Carlos Beltran		1760
OF	Carl Crawford		1040
OF	Scott Podsednik		980
OF	Brad Wilkerson		690 
OF	Adam Dunn		690
OF	Miguel Cabrera		570
DH	Brad Fullmer		700  
DH	Orlando Hudson		550

SP	Pedro Martinez		1800 
SP	Curt Schilling		1610  
SP	Randy Johnson		1550 
SP	Javier Vazquez		1280
SP	Mark Mulder		1200 
SP	Josh Beckett		990
RP	Eric Gagne		1890
RP	Octavio Dotel		1250 
RP	Danny Graves		1070
RP	Matt Herges		670

Total Salary for Week 14: 	29890

Diamond Challenge 2nd Season

SP(6)
Pedro Martinez: Wed:OAK(M.Redman)
Curt Schilling: Fri:TEX(Ric.Rodriguez?)
Randy Johnson: Fri:@SF(Je.Williams)
Roy Halladay: Fri:ANA(B.Colon)
Javier Vazquez: Fri:TB(J.Halama)
Jason Schmidt: Tue:COL(D.Stark); Sun:ARI(C.Fossum)
Mark Mulder: Fri:@CLE(J.Westbrook)
Roy Oswalt: Wed:@SD(J.Peavy)
Roger Clemens: Mon:@SD(B.Lawrence); Sat:@LA(W.Alvarez)
Brad Penny: Fri:NYM(J.Seo)
Ben Sheets: Mon:CHC(M.Clement); Sat:CIN(C.Lidle)
Jon Lieber: Mon:DET(N.Robertson); Sat:TB(D.Brazelton)
Jeremy Affeldt: DL.

Taking the four doubles and Pedro leaves us with a multitude of impressive choices for our last starting spot. We'll select Schilling over Randy given their respective opponents.

Although we normally would bench our Rockies' platoon, Castilla remains active for cap reasons while Berkman hits our bench due to his growing slump and Houston's week in pitcher-friendly California stadiums. Wells and Mora also remain seated.

Umpire: The Masquerade
(8th lg; 83rd div; 666th overall)
Week 14: July 5-July 11

C	Jason Varitek		680
C	Victor Martinez		450
1B	David Ortiz		800 
1B	Lyle Overbay		400
2B	Jeff Kent		1450
2B	Mark Loretta		820
3B	Scott Rolen		1460 
3B	Hank Blalock		850 
SS	Alex Rodriguez		2010 
SS	Juan Uribe		600 
OF	Bobby Abreu		1630
OF	Manny Ramirez		1420 
OF	Carl Crawford		1040
OF	Matt Lawton		720
OF	Ken Griffey		700 
OF	Miguel Cabrera		570 
DH	Vinny Castilla		760
DH	Craig Wilson		620

SP	Pedro Martinez		1800 
SP	Curt Schilling		1610 
SP	Jason Schmidt		1240 
SP	Roger Clemens		1130 
SP	Ben Sheets		870
SP	Jon Lieber		840
RP	Danny Graves		1070
RP	Danny Kolb		940 
RP	Joe Nathan		720 
RP	Matt Herges		670

Total Salary for Week 14: 	27870

Internet Challenge

SP(6)
Pedro Martinez: Wed:OAK(M.Redman)
Mike Mussina: Wed:DET(J.Bonderman)
Jason Schmidt: Tue:COL(D.Stark)
Roy Oswalt: Wed:@SD(J.Peavy)
Josh Beckett: Mon:PIT(K.Wells)
No starts: Schilling, Randy, Halladay, Hudson, Vazquez, Wood, K.Brown, Affeldt.

As usual, we'll take these five starts, and then deploy Affeldt for cap reasons if necessary or leave in someone like Halladay.

Fresh off a fantastic weekend that he spent on our bench, Matsui returns to the lineup for Cintron. Crawford and Podsednik remain active over Pierre since Florida only plays three games, and then I can't quite find room for Loretta. Hopefully Vernon Wells will return within two weeks, but he remains seated for now.

The Umpire Hunter(17th lg; 492nd overall)
Week 14a: July 5-July 8

C	Jason Varitek		680 
C	Victor Martinez		450
1B	Lyle Overbay		400
1B	Mark Teixeira		760
2B	Alfonso Soriano		1930
2B	Orlando Hudson		550
3B	Scott Rolen		1460 
3B	Hank Blalock		850
SS	Alex Rodriguez		2010 
SS	Kazuo Matsui		750
OF	Carlos Beltran		1760 
OF	Carl Crawford		1040
OF	Scott Podsednik		980
OF	Brad Wilkerson		690 
OF	Adam Dunn		690
OF	Miguel Cabrera		570 
DH	Mike Piazza		990
DH	Joe Crede		600

SP	Pedro Martinez		1800 
SP	Mike Mussina		1380
SP	Roy Halladay		1350 
SP	Jason Schmidt		1240 
SP	Roy Oswalt		1200
SP	Josh Beckett		990
RP	Eric Gagne		1890
RP	Octavio Dotel		1250
RP	Danny Kolb		940
RP	Matt Herges		670

Total Salary for Week 14a: 	29870

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

SP(6)
Curt Schilling: Fri:TEX(Ric.Rodriguez?)
Randy Johnson: Fri:@SF(Je.Williams)
Javier Vazquez: Fri:TB(J.Halama)
Pedro Martinez: Wed:OAK(M.Redman)
Kerry Wood: Sun:@STL(C.Carpenter?)???
Tim Hudson: Sat:@CLE(C.Sabathia)???
Roy Halladay: Fri:ANA(B.Colon)
Jason Schmidt: Tue:COL(D.Stark); Sun:ARI(C.Fossum)
Josh Beckett: Mon:PIT(K.Wells); Sun:NYM(A.Leiter)
Kevin Brown: No start(DL)

Along with Schmidt and Beckett's doubles, Pedro, Randy, and Vazquez are easy calls. While Schilling might be better than Halladay, we like Halladay's chances to win slightly more, and his contract is far friendlier to our cap.

The only two changes we'll make on offense involve subbing Pujols for Helton and Orlando Cabrera for Cintron. LeCroy, Loretta, M.Giles, Lowell, V.Wells, and Kearns remain benched.

The Umpire Chronicles(15th lg; 1536th overall)
& Umpire with a Soul(18th lg; 3117th overall)
Week 14: July 5-July 11

 
C	Brian Schneider		1100
C	Johnny Estrada		1000 
1B	Mark Teixeira		1550
1B	Lyle Overbay		1000
2B	Alfonso Soriano		3060 
2B	Orlando Hudson		1420
3B	Hank Blalock		2020 
3B	Tony Batista		1640
SS	Brian Roberts		1260 
SS	Orlando Cabrera		2460 
OF	Albert Pujols		3350
OF	Carlos Beltran		3060
OF	Manny Ramirez		2960 
OF	Adam Dunn		1950 
OF	Brad Wilkerson		1870 
OF	Hideki Matsui		1800
OF	Miguel Cabrera		1600 
DH	Derrek Lee		2690 

SP	Randy Johnson		2900 
SP	Javier Vazquez		2890
SP	Pedro Martinez		2890 
SP	Roy Halladay		2800 
SP	Jason Schmidt		2780 
SP	Josh Beckett		2000
RP	Armando Benitez		2490
RP	Octavio Dotel		2400
RP	Matt Herges		1610 
RP	Joe Nathan		1420

Total Salary for Week 14: 	59970

Today's Fantasy Rx: If you are cap crunched this week, opting for offense over questionable doubles isn't a terrible idea since some All-Stars might skip Sunday starts. Watch tonight's All-Star Selection Show at 6 PM(CDT) on ESPN. Don't expect any starting pitcher scheduled to pitch next Sunday to make the team as an injury replacement.

Post-show update: the only All-Star pitcher scheduled to pitch on Sunday is Jason Schmidt, but I see no reason not to run him.