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.

National League Starting Pitchers with DV from $0 through $-2

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.

60.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Ismael Valdez		14	0	5.19	1.48	67	49	202	170
SD/FLO		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 31	P:R    B:R	0		1		4.7		4.7

The journeyman starter at least regained some of his lost dominance upon joining the Marlins, and remaining in Florida similarly provides Valdez a comfortable environment and little immediate competition. Of course, weak strikeout and homer rates give him significant downside, so while you can spot start him at home, keep him benched during every road trip as Valdez posted an 8.56 road ERA. You simply can't risk that level of qualitative damaged, so avoid Valdez unless your league employs very liberal reserve rules.

61.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Victor Santos		11	0	4.97	1.47	115	57	169	154
MIL Brewers		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 27	P:R    B:R	0		2		8.4		8.4

A surprisingly balanced skill set should make Santos an intriguing sleeper. However he lacks the upside of Ben Hendrickson, Chris Capuano, Jorge de la Rosa, and Jose Capellan, and after his 5.97 second-half ERA due to a homer spike, Santos barely merits serious consideration for a bullpen job. Despite the mildly intriguing upside suggested by his skills, don't gamble on Santos in any save the deepest leagues due to his qualitative downside.

62.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Kevin Millwood		9	0	4.85	1.46	125	51	155	141
PHI Phillies		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 29	P:R    B:R	0		2		9.7		9.7

Ending the year relatively healthy and shifting from the worst pitchers' parks to Jacobs Field combine to make Millwood an excellent sleeper. Only mild hit and walk problems worry me at all here as Millwood still possesses the skills to cruise past $20 as he leads Cleveland into pennant contention. You'll regret letting him slide for much less than $15.

63.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Dave Williams		2	0	4.42	1.14	33	13	31	38.2
PIT Pirates		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 25	P:L    B:L	0		0		4.7		4.7

Two years after his shoulder surgery Williams returned to the majors and now ranks as a monster sleeper. He compiled a 3.47 ERA on a 103:33 K:BB in 21 GS(22G) with 113 H and 10 HR for AAA Nashville(PCL) last summer before registering a 3.94 ERA on a 30:10 K:BB in 32 IP with 25 H and 3 HR over six fall starts. When you add a 1.94 G-F and the incredible promise Williams demonstrated prior to Pittsburgh rushing him to the majors, he suddenly appears capable of easily posting double-digit value as soon as this summer. The season-ending injuries sustained by Sean Burnett and John Van Benschoten also leave Williams virtually alone as the Pirates' 5th starter, so make every effort to nab him for a few bucks in the latter rounds of your draft.

64.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Aaron Cook		6	0	4.28	1.56	40	39	112	96.2
COL Rockies		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 25	P:R    B:R	-1		-1		13.4		13.4

Taken to the hospital with blood clots in his lungs in August, Cook eventually required the removal of a rib and still may require several more months to recover. Of course, even if he returns to the Rockies' rotation, he merits no fantasy consideration due to his awful command. While his excellent 2.32 G-F partially limits his downside, he doesn't even deserve a long look in leagues that don't count qualitative stats.

65.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Chris Capuano		6	0	4.99	1.45	80	37	91	88.1
MIL Brewers		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 26	P:L    B:L	-1		0		4.5		4.5

A quad strain, biceps problem, forearm soreness, and elbow tendonitis limited Capuano's effectiveness all season. However, he still managed an 8.2 K/9, so only a drop from a 1.42 G-F to a .92 mark created any serious problems with his stats. I still see significant upside in these skills if Capuano ever cuts his homer rate, so consider him a solid sleeper for a few bucks in any league as long as he appears healthy in the spring.

66.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Kirk Rueter		9	0	4.73	1.53	56	66	225	190.1
SF Giants		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 33	P:L    B:L	-1		0		16		16

67.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Gavin Floyd		2	0	3.49	1.45	24	16	25	28.1
PHI Phillies		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 21	P:R    B:R	-1		-1		6.7		6.7

Please refer to our Post-2004 Prospect Review: Philadelphia for my comments on Floyd.

68.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Chris Saenz		1	0	0.00	0.83	7	3	2	6
MIL Brewers		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 23	P:R    B:R	-1		-2		4		4

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

69.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Kip Wells		5	0	4.55	1.53	116	66	145	138.1
PIT Pirates		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 27	P:R    B:R	-1		0		14.6		14.6

70.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Gary Glover		2	0	3.50	1.44	8	8	18	18
MIL Brewers		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 27	P:R    B:R	-1		-2		4.2		4.2

71.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Brett Myers		11	0	5.52	1.47	116	62	196	176
PHI Phillies		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 24	P:R    B:R	-2		0		-2.4		-2.4

72.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
John Patterson		4	0	5.03	1.48	99	46	100	98.1
MON Expos		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 26	P:R    B:R	-2		0		4.6		4.6

73.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Pete Munro		4	0	5.15	1.46	63	26	120	99.2
HOU Astros		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 29	P:R    B:R	-2		-1		3.2		3.2

74.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Jeff Francis		3	0	5.15	1.50	32	13	42	36.2
COL Rockies		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 23	P:L    B:L	-2		-2		1.2		1.2

Please refer to our Post-2004 Prospect Review: Colorado for my comments on Francis.

75.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Matt Ginter		1	0	4.54	1.47	38	20	82	69.1
NY Mets		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 26	P:R    B:R	-2		-2		7.4		7.4

76.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Josh Hancock		5	0	5.09	1.59	36	28	73	63.2
PHI/CIN		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 26	P:R    B:R	-2		-2		2.5		2.5

77.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Sean Burnett		5	0	5.02	1.59	30	28	86	71.2
PIT Pirates		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 22	P:L    B:L	-2		-2		3.4		3.4

78.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Jamey Wright		2	0	4.12	1.61	41	45	82	78.2
COL Rockies		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 29	P:R    B:R	-2		-2		12.5		12.5

79.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Mike Gosling		1	0	4.62	1.54	14	13	26	25.1
ARI Diamondbacks		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 24	P:L    B:L	-2		-3		2.5		2.5

Please refer to our Post-2004 Prospect Review: Arizona for my comments on Gosling.

80.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Jae Seo		5	0	4.90	1.56	54	50	133	117.2
NY Mets		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 27	P:R    B:R	-2		-2		7.5		7.5

81.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Aaron Heilman		1	0	5.46	1.43	22	13	27	28
NY Mets		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 25	P:R    B:R	-2		-3		-0.2		-0.2

'05 NL Starting Pitcher Week continues tomorrow with more National League starters.

Today's Fantasy Rx: Perhaps only Kevin Millwood and Dave Williams qualify as overly solid sleepers as most of these pitchers play in hitters' parks or face health issues. I still like Chris Capuano and Gavin Floyd; Brett Myers and John Patterson similarly could emerge as quality starters. However, spending more than a few bucks on anyone save Millwood and maybe Williams leaves you little likelihood of seeing a decent profit.