Today's Fantasy Rx

Schedule recommendations for teams with 8 games

Good for hitters / Good for pitchers
Atlanta: 5 Road at NYM; 3 Road at FLO.

Good for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Florida: 5 Home vs. MON; 3 Home vs. ATL.
Montreal: 5 Road at FLO; 3 Road at PHI.
(Chicago's U.S. Cellular Field will host at least two MON@FLO games.)

Bad for hitters / Good for pitchers
New York Mets: 5 Home vs. ATL; 3 Road at PIT.

Schedule recommendations for teams with 7 games

Good for hitters / Good for pitchers
Anaheim: 4 Road at SEA; 3 Home vs. TEX.
Minnesota: 1 Road at DET; 3 Home vs. CHW; 3 Home vs. BAL.
Oakland: 3 Home vs. TEX: 3 Road at SEA.

Good for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Arizona: 4 Home vs. COL; 3 Road at STL.
Chicago Cubs: 3 Home vs. PIT; 4 Road at CIN.
Cincinnati: 3 Home vs. PHI; 4 Home vs. CHC.
Colorado: 4 Road at ARI; 3 Home vs. LA.
Detroit: 1 Home vs. MIN; 3 Road at CLE: 3 Road at CHW.
Los Angeles: 4 Home vs. SD: 3 Road at COL.

Bad for hitters / Good for pitchers
San Diego: 4 Road at LA: 3 Road at SF.

Bad for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Seattle: 4 Home vs. ANA; 3 Home vs. OAK.
Texas: 4 Road at OAK; 3 Road at ANA.

Schedule recommendations for teams with 6 games

Good for hitters / Good for pitchers
Boston: 3 Home vs. TB: 3 Road at NYY.
Cleveland: 3 Home vs. DET; 3 Home vs. KC.

Good for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Baltimore: 3 Road at TOR; 3 Road at MIN.
Chicago White Sox: 3 Road at MIN; 3 Home vs. DET.
Houston: 3 Road at STL; 3 Home vs. MIL.
Kansas City: 3 Home vs. NYY; 3 Road at CLE.
Milwaukee: 3 Home vs. SF; 3 Road at HOU.
Philadelphia: 3 Road at CIN; 3 Home vs. MON.
Pittsburgh: 3 Road at CHC; 3 Home vs. NYM.
San Francisco: 3 Road at MIL; 3 Home vs. SD.
St. Louis: 3 Home vs. HOU; 3 Home vs. ARI.
Toronto: 3 Home vs. BAL; 3 Home vs. TB.
New York Yankees: 3 Road at KC: 3 Home vs. BOS.

Bad for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Tampa Bay: 3 Road at BOS; 3 Road at TOR.

Pitchers with 2 starts(to deploy everywhere you own them):
Cha Baek: Mon:ANA(K.Escobar); Sat:OAK(T.Hudson)
Josh Beckett: Mon:MON(S.Kim); Sat:ATL(Jar.Wright)
Kris Benson: Tue:ATL(Ru.Ortiz); Sun:@PIT(Ol.Perez)
Jeremy Bonderman: Tue:@CLE(K.Denney); Sun:@CHW(Fr.Garcia)
Roger Clemens: Tue:@STL(J.Suppan); Sun:MIL(Do.Davis)
Matt Clement: Tue:PIT(Ol.Perez); Sun:@CIN(P.Wilson)
Doug Davis: Tue:SF(K.Rueter); Sun:@HOU(R.Clemens)
Kelvim Escobar: Mon:@SEA(C.Baek); Sat:TEX(Ju.Dominguez)
Gavin Floyd: Mon:CIN(Pa.Wilson); Sun:MON(S.Downs)
Freddy Garcia: Tue:@MIN(Joh.Santana); Sun:DET(J.Bonderman)
Justin Germano: Tue:@LA(J.Lima); Sun:@SF(K.Rueter)
Tim Hudson: Mon:TEX(Ju.Dominguez): Sat:@SEA(C.Baek)
Jason Johnson: Mon:MIN(B.Radke): Sat:@CHW(J.Contreras)
Greg Maddux: Mon:PIT(Fr.Brooks); Sat:@CIN(A.Harang)
Bobby Madritsch: Tue:ANA(J.Washburn); Sun:OAK(M.Redman)
Pedro Martinez: Tue:TB(S.Kazmir); Sun:@NYY(M.Mussina)
Justin Miller: Mon:BAL(B.Chen); Sun:TB(S.Kazmir)
Mike Mussina: Tue:@KC(Z.Greinke); Sun:BOS(P.Martinez)
Russ Ortiz: Tue:@NYM(K.Benson); Sun:@FLO(I.Valdez)
Oliver Perez: Tue:@CHC(M.Clement); Sun:NYM(K.Benson)
Brad Radke: Mon:@DET(J.Johnson); Sat:BAL(D.Cabrera)
Mark Redman: Tue:TEX(J.Wasdin): Sun:@SEA(B.Madritsch)
Johan Santana: Tue:CHW(Fr.Garcia); Sun:BAL(B.Chen)
Jeff Suppan: Tue:HOU(R.Clemens); Sun:ARI(M.Gosling)
Jarrod Washburn: Tue:@SEA(B.Madritsch); Sun:TEX(J.Wasdin)
David Wells: Mon:@LA(Od.Perez); Sat:@SF(N.Lowry)
Jaret Wright: Mon:@NYM(J.Seo); Sat:@FLO(J.Beckett)

Pitchers with 2 starts to deploy only in leagues that don't count qualitative stats:
Bruce Chen: Mon:@TOR(J.Miller): Sun:@MIN(Joh.Santana)
Kyle Denney: Tue:DET(J.Bonderman); Sun:KC(De.Bautista)
Juan Dominguez: Mon:@OAK(T.Hudson); Sat:@ANA(K.Escobar)
Scott Downs: Tue:@FLO(I.Valdez); Sun:@PHI(G.Floyd)
Casey Fossum: Mon:COL(J.Kennedy); Sat:@STL(C.Carpenter)
Mike Gosling: Tue:COL(J.Jennings); Sun:@STL(J.Suppan)
Jason Jennings: Tue:@ARI(M.Gosling); Sun:LA(J.Lima)
Scott Kazmir: Tue:@BOS(P.Martinez); Sun:@TOR(J.Miller)
Joe Kennedy: Mon:@ARI(C.Fossum); Sat:LA(Od.Perez)
Sun-Woo Kim: Mon:@FLO(J.Beckett); Sat:@PHI(V.Padilla)
Jose Lima: Tue:SD(J.Germano); Sun:@COL(J.Jennings)
Odalis Perez: Mon:SD(D.Wells); Sat:@COL(J.Kennedy)
Kirk Rueter: Tue:@MIL(Do.Davis); Sun:SD(J.Germano)
Jae Seo: Mon:ATL(Jar.Wright); Sat:@PIT(Da.Williams)?
Ismael Valdez: Tue:@MON(S.Downs); Sun:ATL(Ru.Ortiz)
John Wasdin: Tue:@OAK(M.Redman); Sun:@ANA(J.Washburn)
Paul Wilson: Mon:PHI(G.Floyd); Sun:CHC(M.Clement)

Diamond Challenge

SP(6)
Pedro Martinez: Tue:TB(S.Kazmir); Sun:@NYY(M.Mussina)
Curt Schilling: Thu:TB(M.Hendrickson?)
Randy Johnson: Wed:COL(S.Estes)
Mike Mussina: Tue:@KC(Z.Greinke); Sun:BOS(P.Martinez)
Roy Halladay: No start(DL)
Tim Hudson: Mon:TEX(Ju.Dominguez): Sat:@SEA(C.Baek)
Javier Vazquez: Wed:@KC(D.May)
Mark Mulder: Wed:TEX(R.Drese)
Roy Oswalt: Fri:MIL(B.Sheets)
Kerry Wood: Wed:PIT(J.Fogg)?
Kevin Brown: No start(DL)
Josh Beckett: Mon:MON(S.Kim); Sat:ATL(Jar.Wright)
Jeremy Affeldt: 6 Games: 3 Home vs. NYY; 3 Road at CLE.

We'll take Schilling over Randy due to Boston's superior offense; he'll join our four doubles and Affeldt.

Given the poor weeks of Overbay, Crede, Cintron, Crawford, Podsednik, and Vernon Wells, we see no reason to change our position players.

Shadow of the Umpire(11th lg; 104th div; 2658th overall)
Week 24: September 13-September 19

C	Javy Lopez		940
C	Jason Varitek		680 
1B	David Ortiz		800 
1B	Mark Teixeira		760
2B	Alfonso Soriano		1930 
2B	Mark Loretta		820 
3B	Mike Lowell		1230
3B	Hank Blalock		850 
SS	Alex Rodriguez		2010 
SS	Brian Roberts		610 
OF	Carlos Beltran		1760 
OF	Jeromy Burnitz		810
OF	Melvin Mora		740 
OF	Brad Wilkerson		690
OF	Adam Dunn		690
OF	Miguel Cabrera		570 
DH	Orlando Hudson		550 
DH	Victor Martinez		450 

SP	Pedro Martinez		1800 
SP	Curt Schilling		1610  
SP	Mike Mussina		1380 
SP	Tim Hudson		1320
SP	Josh Beckett		990
SP	Jeremy Affeldt		650
RP	Eric Gagne		1890
RP	Octavio Dotel		1250
RP	Brad Lidge		830
RP	Joe Nathan		720 

Total Salary for Week 24: 	29330

Diamond Challenge 2nd Season

After a week of debates, we're spending our last move on a low-percentage power-speed guy, Corey Patterson, and dumping Brad Penny, since we'd rather keep the extra flexibility among our position players.

SP(6)
Pedro Martinez: Tue:TB(S.Kazmir); Sun:@NYY(M.Mussina)
Curt Schilling: Thu:TB(M.Hendrickson?)
Randy Johnson: Wed:COL(S.Estes)
Javier Vazquez: Wed:@KC(D.May)
Jason Schmidt: Fri:SD(J.Peavy)
Mark Mulder: Wed:TEX(R.Drese)
Roy Oswalt: Fri:MIL(B.Sheets)
Roger Clemens: Tue:@STL(J.Suppan); Sun:MIL(Do.Davis)
Johan Santana: Tue:CHW(Fr.Garcia); Sun:BAL(D.Cabrera)
Brad Penny: No start(DL).
Ben Sheets: Fri:@HOU(R.Oswalt)
Jon Lieber: Sat:BOS(D.Lowe)
Dustin Hermanson: 6 games: 3 Road at MIL; 3 Home vs. SD.

We see no tough decisions here with three doubles, Schilling, Randy, and Hermanson.

Corey will replace the ineffective Blalock and Hafner swaps for Craig Wilson, who joins Clayton, Vernon Wells, Crawford, and Lawton on our bench.

Umpire: The Masquerade(6th lg; 55th div; 426th overall)
Week 24: September 13-September 19

C	Jason Varitek		680
C	Victor Martinez		450
1B	David Ortiz		800 
1B	Lyle Overbay		400 
2B	Mark Loretta		820 
2B	Orlando Hudson		550
3B	Scott Rolen		1460 
3B	Vinny Castilla		760
SS	Alex Rodriguez		2010 
SS	Juan Uribe		600
OF	Bobby Abreu		1630 
OF	Manny Ramirez		1420
OF	Lance Berkman		1390 
OF	Jeromy Burnitz		810
OF	Melvin Mora		740 
OF	Miguel Cabrera		570
DH	Corey Patterson	870
DH	Travis Hafner		500

SP	Pedro Martinez		1800
SP	Curt Schilling		1610
SP	Randy Johnson		1550 
SP	Roger Clemens		1130
SP	Johan Santana		1000 
SP	Dustin Hermanson	540
RP	Jason Isringhausen	1290
RP	Danny Kolb		940 
RP	Brad Lidge		830
RP	Joe Nathan		720 

Total Salary for Week 24:	27870

Internet Challenge

SP(6)
Pedro Martinez: Tue:TB(S.Kazmir)
Curt Schilling: Thu:TB(M.Hendrickson?)
Randy Johnson: Wed:COL(S.Estes)
Mike Mussina: Tue:@KC(Z.Greinke)
Tim Hudson: Mon:TEX(Ju.Dominguez)
Javier Vazquez: Wed:@KC(D.May)
Kerry Wood: Wed:PIT(J.Fogg)?
Josh Beckett: Mon:MON(S.Kim)
Jeremy Affeldt: 3 Home Games vs. NYY.
Dustin Hermanson: 3 Road Games at MIL.

No starts: Schmidt, Oswalt, K.Brown.

Pedro, Schilling, Randy, and Hudston join Affeldt and Hermanson.

Rolen sits for three days due to his injury questions, moving Crede into our lineup to get us under the cap. Fullmer, Kaz Matsui, Vernon Wells, Crawford, and Podsednik stay benched.

The Umpire Hunter(17th lg; 406th overall)
Week 24a: September 13-September 16

 
C	Mike Piazza		990
C	Jason Varitek		680 
1B	Lyle Overbay		400
1B	Mark Teixeira		760
2B	Alfonso Soriano		1930
2B	Mark Loretta		820 
3B	Hank Blalock		850
3B	Joe Crede		600
SS	Alex Rodriguez		2010 
SS	Alex Cintron		450 
OF	Albert Pujols		1840
OF	Carlos Beltran		1760 
OF	Juan Pierre		1470
OF	Brad Wilkerson		690
OF	Adam Dunn		690
OF	Miguel Cabrera		570 
DH	Orlando Hudson		550 
DH	Victor Martinez		450

SP	Pedro Martinez		1800
SP	Curt Schilling		1610 
SP	Randy Johnson		1550 
SP	Tim Hudson		1320
SP	Jeremy Affeldt		650
SP	Dustin Hermanson	540
RP	Eric Gagne		1890
RP	Octavio Dotel		1250
RP	Danny Kolb		940 
RP	Joe Nathan		720 

Total Salary for Week 24a: 	29780

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

SP(6)
Curt Schilling: Thu:TB(M.Hendrickson?)
Randy Johnson: Wed:COL(S.Estes)
Javier Vazquez: Wed:@KC(D.May)
Pedro Martinez: Tue:TB(S.Kazmir); Sun:@NYY(M.Mussina)
Kerry Wood: Wed:PIT(J.Fogg)?
Tim Hudson: Mon:TEX(Ju.Dominguez): Sat:@SEA(C.Baek)
Jason Schmidt: Fri:SD(J.Peavy)
Mark Mulder: Wed:TEX(R.Drese)
Kevin Brown: No start(DL)
Josh Beckett: Mon:MON(S.Kim); Sat:ATL(Jar.Wright)
Johan Santana: Tue:CHW(Fr.Garcia); Sun:BAL(D.Cabrera)
Dustin Hermanson: 6 games: 3 Road at MIL; 3 Home vs. SD.

Schilling joins Pedro, Hudson, Beckett, Santana, and Hermanson.

We don't see any logical moves on offense since Helton likely won't outperform Pujols, and LeCroy, Overbay, Marcus Giles, Tony Batista, Cintron, Vernon Wells, and Kearns just don't impress us right now.

The Umpire Chronicles(9th lg; 785th overall)
& Umpire with a Soul(11th lg; 1709th overall)
Week 24: September 13-September 19

 
C	Brian Schneider		1100 
C	Johnny Estrada		1000 
1B	Derrek Lee		2690 
1B	Mark Teixeira		1550
2B	Mark Loretta		1650 
2B	Orlando Hudson		1420
3B	Mike Lowell		2380
3B	Hank Blalock		2020 
SS	Orlando Cabrera		2460 
SS	Brian Roberts		1260 
OF	Albert Pujols		3350 
OF	Carlos Beltran		3060
OF	Manny Ramirez		2960
OF	Adam Dunn		1950 
OF	Brad Wilkerson		1870
OF	Hideki Matsui		1800 
DH	Alfonso Soriano		3060 
DH	Miguel Cabrera		1600

SP	Curt Schilling		3090 
SP	Pedro Martinez		2890 
SP	Tim Hudson		2840
SP	Josh Beckett		2000 
SP	Johan Santana		2170 
SP	Dustin Hermanson	1280
RP	John Smoltz		2800
RP	Octavio Dotel		2400 
RP	Brad Lidge		1730
RP	Joe Nathan		1420

Total Salary for Week 24: 	59800

Mid-Season Fantasy Baseball

After considering our options for our last three moves, we've decided that the injuries to our entire shortstop corps of Nomar, Carlos Guillen, and Kaz Matsui require a drastic step. We're cutting Guillen and Matsui, picking up Jeter and Juan Uribe, and benching Nomar in the hope that maximizing our at-bats will boost our points, especially considering Jeter and Uribe qualify as solid low-percentage plays.

The key to this plan is that we don't see a likely favorable double next week not already on our roster, and since we should own at least three doubles and Hermanson for each of the next three weeks, saving two moves just to get an extra two starts from lesser pitchers makes no sense. We don't expect to purchase anyone next week, and then if we don't need our last move to replace another injury player, we'll pick up somebody like Peavy or Carlos Zambrano for the double in two weeks.

SP(6)
Curt Schilling: Thu:TB(M.Hendrickson?)
Randy Johnson: Wed:COL(S.Estes)
Tim Hudson: Mon:TEX(Ju.Dominguez): Sat:@SEA(C.Baek)
Roger Clemens: Tue:@STL(J.Suppan); Sun:MIL(Do.Davis)
Roy Oswalt: Fri:MIL(B.Sheets)
Matt Clement: Tue:PIT(Ol.Perez); Sun:@CIN(P.Wilson)
Ben Sheets: Fri:@HOU(R.Oswalt)
Johan Santana: Tue:CHW(Fr.Garcia); Sun:BAL(D.Cabrera)
Carl Pavano: Wed:MON(J.Patterson)
Dustin Hermanson: 6 games: 3 Road at MIL; 3 Home vs. SD.
Orlando Hernandez: Fri:BOS(B.Arroyo)

We'll opt for Pavano over Schilling and Randy for cap reasons, in addition to our four doubles and Hermanson.

Mike Young flips for Marcus Giles, Hafner for Blalock, Jeter for Nomar, and Bay for Hideki Matsui. Victor Martinez, Lyle Overbay, Bobby Abreu, and Jose Guillen stay benched.

Umpire in Brooklyn(2nd lg; 56th overall)
Week 24: September 13-September 19

 
C	Jason Varitek		1710 
C	Johnny Estrada		1000
1B	David Ortiz		1980 
1B	Mark Teixeira		1550
2B	Mike Young		2120
2B	Mark Loretta		1650
3B	Adrian Beltre		2090 
3B	Vinny Castilla		1610
SS	Derek Jeter		2430
SS	Juan Uribe		1300
OF	Manny Ramirez		2960
OF	Jeromy Burnitz		2100
OF	Adam Dunn		1950 
OF	J.D. Drew		1690 
OF	Miguel Cabrera		1600 
OF	Jason Bay		1050
DH	Barry Bonds		3520
DH	Travis Hafner		1140

SP	Tim Hudson		2840 
SP	Roger Clemens		2670 
SP	Matt Clement		2460
SP	Johan Santana		2170 
SP	Carl Pavano		1620
SP	Dustin Hermanson	1280 
RP	John Smoltz		2800
RP	Francisco Cordero	2080
RP	Brad Lidge		1730
RP	Joe Nathan		1420

Total Salary for Week 24: 	54520

Today's Fantasy Rx: If you plan to spend any remaining moves on position players, make your moves this week. You lose 33% of playing time by waiting another week, so even if you run out of moves, the upside from adding players now appears worth the risk.