Today's Fantasy Rx

Per popular request, I will provide all of the player information tables for these articles even if I still need to complete comments for some pitchers.

American League Starting Pitchers with DV from $-4 through $-5

Quick Key to the tables:
W = Wins.  S = Saves.  ERA = Earned Run Average (ER*9/IP).
WHIP = (Walks + Hits)/IP aka Ratio.  K = Strikeouts.  BB = Bases on Balls aka Walks.
H = Hits.  IP = Innings Pitched.  P = Pitches.  B = Bats.
Age = Player's Age as of October 1, 2004.
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.
RAR = Runs Above Replacement; Adjusted RAR = RAR modified to
consider whether a pitcher qualified as a starter in Scoresheet fantasy baseball .

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.

83.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Nick Bierbrodt		1	0	5.82	1.94	10	19	14	17
TEX Rangers		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 26	P:L    B:L	-4		-4		0.3		0.3

After demonstrating little command over the past couple years, requiring shoulder surgery after last season, and appearing increasingly ineffective, Bierbrodt wouldn't warrant any fantasy consideration even if he wasn't a free agent right now. Do not roster him until you see him hold a solid WHIP over several outings.

84.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
John Maine		0	0	9.82	2.73	1	3	7	3.2
BAL Orioles		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 23	P:R    B:R	-4		-4		-1.7		-1.7

Please refer to our Post-2004 Prospect Review: Baltimore for my comments on Maine.

85.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Sam Narron		0	0	13.50	3.38	1	4	5	2.2
TEX Rangers		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 23	P:L    B:L	-4		-4		-2.5		-2.5

Please refer to our Post-2004 Prospect Review: Milwaukee for my comments on Narron.

86.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Francisco Cruceta		0	0	9.39	1.83	9	4	10	7.2
CLE Indians		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 23	P:R    B:R	-4		-4		-3.2		-3.2

Please refer to our Post-2004 Prospect Review: Cleveland for my comments on Cruceta.

87.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Abe Alvarez		0	0	9.00	2.6	2	5	8	5
BOS Red Sox		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 21	P:L    B:L	-4		-4		-1.9		-1.9

Please refer to our Post-2004 Prospect Review: Boston for my comments on Alvarez.

88.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Nick Regilio		0	0	6.05	1.81	12	15	20	19.1
TEX Rangers		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 26	P:R    B:R	-4		-4		-0.2		-0.2

Please refer to our Post-2004 Prospect Review: Texas for my comments on Regilio.

89.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Eduardo Villacis		0	0	13.50	3.00	0	4	6	3.1
KC Royals		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 25	P:R    B:R	-4		-4		-3.1		-3.1

Please refer to our Post-2004 Prospect Review: Chicago(A) for my comments on Villacis.

90.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Seth Greisinger		2	0	6.18	1.63	36	15	68	51
MIN Twins		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 29	P:R    B:R	-4		-3		-1.3		-1.3

With a career ERA over 5.56 and limited dominance as a starter, Greisinger probably won't possess any fantasy value until he converts to relief. However, since he posted a respectable 4.96 ERA on a 44:19 K:BB in 74.1 IP over 13 GS for AAA Rochester(IL) last year, his relative effectiveness as a AAA starter may delay a shift to the bullpen until after his peak, rendering him unlikely to contribute to your roster any time soon.

91.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Kevin Appier		0	0	13.50	2.50	2	3	7	4
KC Royals		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 36	P:R    B:R	-4		-4		-3.7		-3.7

92.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Todd Ritchie		0	0	9.00	2.25	4	6	12	8
TB Devil Rays		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 32	P:R    B:R	-4		-4		-3		-3

93.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Brad Halsey		1	0	6.47	1.72	25	14	41	32
NY Yankees		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 23	P:L    B:L	-4		-4		-2		-2

Please refer to our Post-2004 Prospect Review: New York(A) for my comments on Halsey.

94.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Eric DuBose		4	0	6.39	1.61	48	44	76	74.2
BAL Orioles		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 28	P:L    B:L	-4		-3		-3.9		-3.9

Bone chips in his elbow ended DuBose's season in June, although after the awful command he demonstrated over the first two month of the year, he appeared on his way to the minors at the time of injury. While DuBose doesn't need more seasoning, he also seems miscast in Baltimore despite the Orioles' need for pitching. Perhaps a move to the bullpen will increase his effectiveness, but with B.J. Ryan, Steve Kline, and John Parrish already in the Baltimore relief corps, don't be surprised if DuBose heads elsewhere during spring training. Of course, I don't expect DuBose to possess much fantasy value regardless of his team or role until his control rebounds.

95.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Mickey Callaway		0	0	7.94	2.21	9	7	18	11.1
TEX Rangers		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 29	P:R    B:R	-4		-4		-2.8		-2.8

96.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Jeff D'Amico		1	0	7.63	1.66	16	6	45	30.2
CLE Indians		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 28	P:R    B:R	-5		-4		-6.3		-6.3

97.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Jason Grilli		2	0	7.40	1.60	26	20	52	45
CH White Sox		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 27	P:R    B:R	-5		-4		-7.9		-7.9

98.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Dan Wright		0	0	8.15	1.98	6	11	24	17.2
CH White Sox		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 26	P:R    B:R	-5		-5		-4.8		-4.8

99.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Brian Anderson		6	0	5.64	1.63	70	53	217	166
KC Royals		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 32	P:L    B:R	-5		-3		6.8		6.8

100.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Josh Stewart		0	0	15.26	2.48	5	3	16	7.2
CH White Sox		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 25	P:L    B:L	-5		-5		-8.8		-8.8

Please refer to our Post-2004 Prospect Review: Chicago(A) for my comments on Stewart.

101.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
John Wasdin		2	0	6.78	1.63	36	23	83	65
TEX Rangers		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 32	P:R    B:R	-5		-5		-6.5		-6.5

102.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Alex Graman		0	0	19.80	3.20	4	2	14	5
NY Yankees		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 26	P:L    B:L	-5		-5		-8.5		-8.5

Please refer to our Post-2004 Prospect Review: New York(A) for my comments on Graman.

'05 AL Starting Pitcher Week continues tomorrow with more American League starters.

Today's Fantasy Rx: John Maine, Francisco Cruceta, and Abe Alvarez all enter spring training no higher than seventh on their respective team's depth charts, yet based on their minor league development, expect all three to emerge as solid big league starters in the second half, making them strong minor league picks in any league. While I want to recommend Brad Halsey, moving to Arizona drops his downside to a troublesome level, leaving only the trio of Maine, Cruceta, and Alvarez as overly viable picks for spring drafts among the pitchers discussed above.