by Tim Polko
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 Relief Pitchers with DV from $0 through $-1
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.
| 67. | | W | S | ERA | WHIP | K | BB | H | IP |
| Rick Bauer | 2 | 0 | 4.70 | 1.29 | 37 | 20 | 49 | 53.2 |
|
| BAL Orioles | 4x4 | 5x5 | RAR | Adj. RAR |
| Age: 27 | P:R B:R | 0 | 0 | 8.4 | 8.4 |
A severe split profiles Bauer as a right-handed specialist, yet his 4.00 ERA on a 42:19 K:BB in 63 IP over 11 GS for AAA Ottawa(IL) last summer suggests he could remain successful in a rotation. While his 2.07 G-F limits his downside regardless of his role, an unimpressive 6.2 K/9 conversely keeps his potential relatively low, so I see little reason to target Bauer in any league. He simply offers little value as more than roster filler.
| 68. | | W | S | ERA | WHIP | K | BB | H | IP |
| Grant Balfour | 4 | 0 | 4.35 | 1.42 | 42 | 21 | 35 | 39.1 |
|
| MIN Twins | 4x4 | 5x5 | RAR | Adj. RAR |
| Age: 26 | P:R B:R | 0 | 0 | 7.8 | 7.9 |
Labrum problem should prevent Balfour from developing into a star, but his continued dominant performances in relief essentially guarantee him a roster spot this spring. The Australian import excelled in the minors as both a starter and reliever, and despite a .82 G-F that could create homer problems, Balfour could earn significant roto value due to respectable qualitative numbers and a surprisingly strong win total. He absolutely merits a few bucks in any standard league.
| 69. | | W | S | ERA | WHIP | K | BB | H | IP |
| Jose Jimenez | 1 | 8 | 8.42 | 1.62 | 21 | 14 | 45 | 36.1 |
|
| CLE Indians | 4x4 | 5x5 | RAR | Adj. RAR |
| Age: 31 | P:R B:R | 0 | -1 | -11 | -11 |
Although even a career-worst 2.50 G-F didn't lead to significant homer problems, awful defensive support and negligible dominance left Jimenez with negative value on the season. He failed to reemerge as a viable closing option and now shouldn't even open the year in the majors after signing with Arizona. Nothing in his skills suggests that Jimenez ever will merit additional fantasy consideration.
| 70. | | W | S | ERA | WHIP | K | BB | H | IP |
| Rick White | 5 | 1 | 5.29 | 1.49 | 44 | 29 | 88 | 78.1 |
|
| CLE Indians | 4x4 | 5x5 | RAR | Adj. RAR |
| Age: 35 | P:R B:R | 0 | 0 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
| 71. | | W | S | ERA | WHIP | K | BB | H | IP |
| Bobby Seay | 0 | 0 | 2.38 | 1.15 | 17 | 5 | 21 | 22.2 |
|
| TB Devil Rays | 4x4 | 5x5 | RAR | Adj. RAR |
| Age: 26 | P:L B:L | 0 | -1 | 10 | 10 |
| 72. | | W | S | ERA | WHIP | K | BB | H | IP |
| Scott Atchison | 2 | 0 | 3.52 | 1.40 | 36 | 14 | 29 | 30.2 |
|
| SEA Mariners | 4x4 | 5x5 | RAR | Adj. RAR |
| Age: 28 | P:R B:R | -1 | 0 | 9.2 | 9.3 |
Please refer to our Post-2004 Prospect Review: Seattle for my comments on Atchison.
| 73. | | W | S | ERA | WHIP | K | BB | H | IP |
| Dennys Reyes | 4 | 0 | 4.75 | 1.52 | 91 | 50 | 114 | 108 |
|
| KC Royals | 4x4 | 5x5 | RAR | Adj. RAR |
| Age: 27 | P:L B:R | -1 | 1 | 16.1 | 16.3 |
| 74. | | W | S | ERA | WHIP | K | BB | H | IP |
| Aaron Fultz | 3 | 1 | 5.04 | 1.46 | 37 | 23 | 50 | 50 |
|
| MIN Twins | 4x4 | 5x5 | RAR | Adj. RAR |
| Age: 31 | P:L B:L | -1 | 0 | 5.7 | 5.7 |
| 75. | | W | S | ERA | WHIP | K | BB | H | IP |
| Vinnie Chulk | 1 | 2 | 4.66 | 1.54 | 44 | 27 | 59 | 56 |
|
| TOR Blue Jays | 4x4 | 5x5 | RAR | Adj. RAR |
| Age: 25 | P:R B:R | -1 | 0 | 9 | 9 |
| 76. | | W | S | ERA | WHIP | K | BB | H | IP |
| Shigetoshi Hasegawa | 4 | 0 | 5.16 | 1.44 | 46 | 31 | 67 | 68 |
|
| SEA Mariners | 4x4 | 5x5 | RAR | Adj. RAR |
| Age: 36 | P:R B:R | -1 | 0 | 6.7 | 6.7 |
| 77. | | W | S | ERA | WHIP | K | BB | H | IP |
| Danny Patterson | 0 | 2 | 4.75 | 1.44 | 24 | 16 | 44 | 41.2 |
|
| DET Tigers | 4x4 | 5x5 | RAR | Adj. RAR |
| Age: 33 | P:R B:R | -1 | -1 | 6.2 | 6.2 |
| 78. | | W | S | ERA | WHIP | K | BB | H | IP |
| Al Levine | 3 | 0 | 4.58 | 1.51 | 32 | 24 | 83 | 70.2 |
|
| DET Tigers | 4x4 | 5x5 | RAR | Adj. RAR |
| Age: 36 | P:R B:L | -1 | -1 | 12 | 12 |
| 79. | | W | S | ERA | WHIP | K | BB | H | IP |
| Cliff Politte | 0 | 1 | 4.38 | 1.44 | 48 | 22 | 52 | 51.1 |
|
| CH White Sox | 4x4 | 5x5 | RAR | Adj. RAR |
| Age: 30 | P:R B:R | -1 | 0 | 10 | 10 |
| 80. | | W | S | ERA | WHIP | K | BB | H | IP |
| Curtis Leskanic | 3 | 4 | 5.31 | 1.82 | 37 | 30 | 47 | 42.1 |
|
| KC/BOS | 4x4 | 5x5 | RAR | Adj. RAR |
| Age: 36 | P:R B:R | -1 | -1 | 3.4 | 3.4 |
| 81. | | W | S | ERA | WHIP | K | BB | H | IP |
| Mike Myers | 5 | 0 | 4.64 | 1.59 | 32 | 23 | 45 | 42.2 |
|
| SEA/BOS | 4x4 | 5x5 | RAR | Adj. RAR |
| Age: 35 | P:L B:L | -1 | -1 | 6.9 | 6.9 |
| 82. | | W | S | ERA | WHIP | K | BB | H | IP |
| Bartolome Fortunato | 1 | 1 | 3.81 | 1.50 | 25 | 15 | 24 | 26 |
|
| TB/NYM | 4x4 | 5x5 | RAR | Adj. RAR |
| Age: 30 | P:R B:R | -1 | -1 | 6.9 | 6.9 |
Please refer to our Post-2004 Prospect Review: New York(N) for my comments on Fortunato.
| 83. | | W | S | ERA | WHIP | K | BB | H | IP |
| George Sherrill | 2 | 0 | 3.80 | 1.39 | 16 | 9 | 24 | 23.2 |
|
| SEA Mariners | 4x4 | 5x5 | RAR | Adj. RAR |
| Age: 27 | P:L B:L | -1 | -1 | 6.3 | 6.3 |
| 84. | | W | S | ERA | WHIP | K | BB | H | IP |
| Chad Harville | 3 | 0 | 4.69 | 1.49 | 46 | 27 | 56 | 55.2 |
|
| OAK/HOU | 4x4 | 5x5 | RAR | Adj. RAR |
| Age: 28 | P:R B:R | -1 | -1 | 8.7 | 8.7 |
| 85. | | W | S | ERA | WHIP | K | BB | H | IP |
| Neal Cotts | 4 | 0 | 5.65 | 1.39 | 58 | 30 | 61 | 65.1 |
|
| CH White Sox | 4x4 | 5x5 | RAR | Adj. RAR |
| Age: 24 | P:L B:L | -1 | 0 | 2.5 | 2.6 |
| 86. | | W | S | ERA | WHIP | K | BB | H | IP |
| Ricardo Rincon | 1 | 0 | 3.68 | 1.52 | 40 | 22 | 45 | 44 |
|
| OAK Athletics | 4x4 | 5x5 | RAR | Adj. RAR |
| Age: 34 | P:L B:L | -1 | -1 | 12.4 | 12.4 |
| 87. | | W | S | ERA | WHIP | K | BB | H | IP |
| Dave Borkowski | 3 | 0 | 5.14 | 1.43 | 45 | 15 | 65 | 56 |
|
| BAL Orioles | 4x4 | 5x5 | RAR | Adj. RAR |
| Age: 27 | P:R B:R | -1 | -1 | 5.6 | 5.7 |
| 88. | | W | S | ERA | WHIP | K | BB | H | IP |
| Jay Powell | 1 | 0 | 3.38 | 1.46 | 17 | 11 | 24 | 24 |
|
| TEX Rangers | 4x4 | 5x5 | RAR | Adj. RAR |
| Age: 32 | P:R B:R | -1 | -2 | 7.7 | 7.7 |
| 89. | | W | S | ERA | WHIP | K | BB | H | IP |
| Joe Roa | 2 | 0 | 4.50 | 1.54 | 47 | 24 | 84 | 70 |
|
| MIN Twins | 4x4 | 5x5 | RAR | Adj. RAR |
| Age: 32 | P:R B:R | -1 | -1 | 12.6 | 12.7 |
| 90. | | W | S | ERA | WHIP | K | BB | H | IP |
| Buddy Groom | 4 | 0 | 4.78 | 1.58 | 32 | 16 | 67 | 52.2 |
|
| BAL Orioles | 4x4 | 5x5 | RAR | Adj. RAR |
| Age: 39 | P:L B:L | -1 | -1 | 7.6 | 7.6 |
| 91. | | W | S | ERA | WHIP | K | BB | H | IP |
| Kazuhito Tadano | 1 | 0 | 4.65 | 1.45 | 39 | 18 | 55 | 50.1 |
|
| CLE Indians | 4x4 | 5x5 | RAR | Adj. RAR |
| Age: 24 | P:R B:R | -1 | -1 | 8.1 | 8.2 |
| 92. | | W | S | ERA | WHIP | K | BB | H | IP |
| Ryan Glynn | 1 | 0 | 4.05 | 1.35 | 14 | 8 | 19 | 20 |
|
| TOR Blue Jays | 4x4 | 5x5 | RAR | Adj. RAR |
| Age: 29 | P:R B:R | -1 | -2 | 4.7 | 4.7 |
'05 AL Relief Pitcher Week continues tomorrow with more American League relievers.
Today's Fantasy Rx: Only Balfour possesses serious immediate upside among all these pitchers, and he needs to stay healthy and effective even to earn a roster spot. Everyone else here should enter the season as no better than roster filler for any competitive fantasy team.
Click
here to read the previous article.
