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 Relief Pitchers with Double-digit PDV

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.

1.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Eric Gagne		7	45	2.19	0.91	114	22	53	82.1
LA Dodgers		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 28	P:R    B:R	30		27		35.5		35.5

Saving ten fewer games last year didn't prevent Gagne from finishing as the most valuable NL pitcher while cruising to over 100 strikeouts in exactly 82.1 IP for the third straight season. Only a brief slump following the trade of Guillermo Mota prevented Gagne from remaining under a 2.00 ERA. With superb all-around skills, a competitive Dodgers' team, and a new two-year deal, I see no reason he won't remain the best single pitcher to own for the next couple seasons.

2.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Armando Benitez		2	47	1.29	0.82	62	21	36	69.2
FLO Marlins		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 31	P:R    B:R	29		25		37.7		37.7

Shifting teams essentially placed Benitez in an identical situation. Like the Marlins, the Giants field a playoff contender in a quality pitchers' park that limits the downside of his .54 G-F. The only potential problem is that San Francisco's 100-year-old outfield lacks the range of the Marlins' trio, so a higher hit rate will push Benitez's ERA well over 2.00. Other than that minor problem, his development into a top closer makes Benitez a solid buy in any league even if bidding pushes $30 despite his relative lack of dominance compared to his younger days.

3.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Jason Isringhausen		4	47	2.87	1.04	71	23	55	75.1
STL Cardinals		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 32	P:R    B:R	27		23		26.1		26.1

Izzy avoided the DL, kept his ERA under 3.00 while demonstrating solid all-around skills, and saved a career-high 47 games thanks to the opportunities presented by the Cardinals' 105 wins. Expecting a decline in his overall value this year simply seems prudent given his injury history and the loss of key defensive cogs like Edgar Renteria and Mike Matheny. Of course, he still should accrue a few dozen saves accompanied by helpful qualitative stats, but pressing above $25 is a mistake considering the multitude of respectable alternatives available in the National League.

4.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
John Smoltz		0	44	2.76	1.08	85	13	75	81.2
ATL Braves		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 37	P:R    B:R	24		21		29.5		29.5

5.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Brad Lidge		6	29	1.90	0.92	157	30	57	94.2
HOU Astros		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 27	P:R    B:R	24		23		44.1		44.1

6.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Trevor Hoffman		3	41	2.30	0.91	53	8	42	54.2
SD Padres		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 36	P:R    B:R	23		20		22.8		22.8

7.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Jose Mesa		5	43	3.25	1.41	37	20	78	69.1
PIT Pirates		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 38	P:R    B:R	21		18		20.8		20.8

8.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Octavio Dotel		6	36	3.69	1.18	122	33	68	85.1
HOU/OAK		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 30	P:R    B:R	21		19		20.9		20.9

9.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Danny Kolb		0	39	2.98	1.13	21	15	50	57.1
MIL Brewers		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 29	P:R    B:R	19		16		19.1		19.1

10.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Danny Graves		1	41	3.95	1.32	40	13	77	68.1
CIN Reds		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 31	P:R    B:R	19		16		14.6		12.3

11.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
LaTroy Hawkins		5	25	2.63	1.05	69	14	72	82
CH Cubs		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 31	P:R    B:R	18		16		30.8		30.8

12.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Braden Looper		2	29	2.70	1.22	60	16	86	83.1
NY Mets		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 29	P:R    B:R	17		15		30.6		30.6

13.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Billy Wagner		4	21	2.42	0.77	59	6	31	48.1
PHI Phillies		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 33	P:L    B:L	14		12		19.4		19.4

14.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Tim Worrell		5	19	3.68	1.23	64	21	75	78.1
PHI Phillies		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 37	P:R    B:R	12		10		19.4		19.4

15.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Chad Cordero		7	14	2.94	1.34	83	43	68	82.2
MON Expos		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 22	P:R    B:R	10		10		27.9		27.9

'05 NL Relief Pitcher Week continues tomorrow with more National League relievers.

Today's Fantasy Rx: Looper looks like the best sleeper here if the Mets improve as expected. LaTroy Hawkins also should reemerge as an excellent bargain if he slips back into middle relief before your draft.