Rotohelp.com

by Tim Polko

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 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.

61. W S ERA WHIP K BB H IP
Jon Leicester 5 0 3.89 1.32 35 15 40 41.2
CH Cubs 4x4 5x5 RAR Adj. RAR
Age: 25 P:R B:R 0 0 9.2 7.8

With his perfectly respectable 6-2 record and 3.65 ERA on a 61:37 K:BB in 66.2 IP with 62 H and 3 HR over 12 GS(13G) for AAA Iowa(PCL) only exceeded by his success in the Cubs' bullpen, Leicester absolutely belongs in the majors this year. He at least ranks as a top mid-season option if Chicago foolishly demotes him this spring despite very solid all-around skills. Of course, he won't emerge as a particularly valuable fantasy option regardless of how many big league innings he pitches, but Leicester qualifies as useful roster filler right now with the potential to develop into a middle-of-the-rotation option or possibly a key short reliever.

62. W S ERA WHIP K BB H IP
Jay Witasick 0 1 3.21 1.35 57 26 57 61.2
SD Padres 4x4 5x5 RAR Adj. RAR
Age: 32 P:R B:R 0 1 18.8 18.8

A few successful years on the West Coast don't make Witasick a guarantee to succeed in Baltimore. He lacks great control, struggles to stay healthy, and suffers from the same platoon split as fellow new Oriole Steve Reed. Considering his minimal upside even if he avoids further injury, I see no reason to view Witasick as more than passable roster filler.

63. W S ERA WHIP K BB H IP
Tyler Walker 5 1 4.24 1.46 48 24 69 63.2
SF Giants 4x4 5x5 RAR Adj. RAR
Age: 28 P:R B:R 0 0 11.3 9.2

Walker finally earned a regular job in the majors after several solid seasons in the upper minors. While he certainly didn't dominate batters, only the Giants' questionable defense keeps him from ranking among the safe middle relievers to own. Of course, San Francisco's off-season additions even might push Walker back to the minors, but feel free to deploy him when needed as long as he remains in the big league bullpen.

64. W S ERA WHIP K BB H IP
Mike Remlinger 1 2 3.44 1.34 35 16 33 36.2
CH Cubs 4x4 5x5 RAR Adj. RAR
Age: 38 P:L B:L 0 0 10.1 10.1

65. W S ERA WHIP K BB H IP
Scott Eyre 2 1 4.10 1.33 49 27 43 52.2
SF Giants 4x4 5x5 RAR Adj. RAR
Age: 32 P:L B:L 0 0 10.3 10.3

66. W S ERA WHIP K BB H IP
Joe Borowski 2 9 8.02 1.97 17 15 27 21.1
CH Cubs 4x4 5x5 RAR Adj. RAR
Age: 33 P:R B:R 0 -1 -6.1 -6.1

67. W S ERA WHIP K BB H IP
Al Reyes 0 0 0.75 0.42 11 2 3 12
STL Cardinals 4x4 5x5 RAR Adj. RAR
Age: 33 P:R B:R 0 -1 7.3 6.9

68. W S ERA WHIP K BB H IP
Jason Christiansen 4 3 4.50 1.67 22 26 34 36
SF Giants 4x4 5x5 RAR Adj. RAR
Age: 35 P:L B:R 0 -1 5.2 5.2

69. W S ERA WHIP K BB H IP
Elmer Dessens 2 2 4.46 1.47 73 31 123 105
ARI/LA 4x4 5x5 RAR Adj. RAR
Age: 32 P:R B:R 0 0 15.8 12.3

70. W S ERA WHIP K BB H IP
David Weathers 2 0 4.07 1.32 36 20 44 48.2
NYM/HOU/FLO 4x4 5x5 RAR Adj. RAR
Age: 35 P:R B:R 0 -1 9.7 8.1

71. W S ERA WHIP K BB H IP
Mike Lincoln 3 0 5.19 0.92 14 6 10 17.1
STL Cardinals 4x4 5x5 RAR Adj. RAR
Age: 29 P:R B:R -1 -1 1 1

72. W S ERA WHIP K BB H IP
Matt Wise 1 0 4.44 1.25 30 15 51 52.2
MIL Brewers 4x4 5x5 RAR Adj. RAR
Age: 28 P:R B:R -1 -1 8 6.3

73. W S ERA WHIP K BB H IP
Brandon Backe 5 0 4.30 1.52 54 27 75 67
HOU Astros 4x4 5x5 RAR Adj. RAR
Age: 26 P:R B:R -1 0 11.4 9.2

74. W S ERA WHIP K BB H IP
Dan Haren 3 0 4.50 1.35 32 17 45 46
STL Cardinals 4x4 5x5 RAR Adj. RAR
Age: 24 P:R B:R -1 -1 6.7 5.2

Returning to the minors resulted in a dominant performance from Haren as he compiled an 11-4 record and 4.15 ERA on a 150:33 K:BB in 128 IP with 136 H and 19 HR over 21 GS for AAA Memphis(PCL). While he excelled down the stretch in relief for St. Louis, his difficulties as a starter, especially concerning his huge platoon split, suggests he might struggle after heading to Oakland in the Mark Mulder deal. However, Haren's excellent command also makes him a good bet to remain successful with the Athletics considering he appears assured of opening the season as their #3 starter, so allowing him to leave the board for anything under $10 looks like a mistake.

180-6.3/2.4/1.0/9.4
75. W S ERA WHIP K BB H IP
Matt Perisho 5 0 4.40 1.51 42 26 45 47
FLO Marlins 4x4 5x5 RAR Adj. RAR
Age: 29 P:L B:L -1 -1 7.4 5.8

76. W S ERA WHIP K BB H IP
Brooks Kieschnick 1 0 3.77 1.33 28 13 44 43
MIL Brewers 4x4 5x5 RAR Adj. RAR
Age: 32 P:R B:L -1 -1 10.1 10.1

77. W S ERA WHIP K BB H IP
Ryan Dempster 1 2 3.92 1.40 18 13 16 20.2
CH Cubs 4x4 5x5 RAR Adj. RAR
Age: 27 P:R B:R -1 -1 4.5 3.8

78. W S ERA WHIP K BB H IP
Joe Valentine 2 4 5.22 1.64 29 25 23 29.1
CIN Reds 4x4 5x5 RAR Adj. RAR
Age: 24 P:R B:R -1 -1 1.7 1.7

Please refer to our Post-2004 Prospect Review: Cincinnati for my comments on Valentine.

79. W S ERA WHIP K BB H IP
Sun-Woo Kim 4 0 4.58 1.47 87 55 145 135.2
MON Expos 4x4 5x5 RAR Adj. RAR
Age: 27 P:R B:R -1 0 18.5 13.9

80. W S ERA WHIP K BB H IP
Randy Flores 1 0 1.93 1.14 7 3 13 14
STL Cardinals 4x4 5x5 RAR Adj. RAR
Age: 29 P:L B:L -1 -2 6.5 6.5

81. W S ERA WHIP K BB H IP
Rocky Biddle 4 11 6.92 1.65 51 31 98 78
MON Expos 4x4 5x5 RAR Adj. RAR
Age: 28 P:R B:R -1 -1 -12 -14.6

82. W S ERA WHIP K BB H IP
Heath Bell 0 0 3.33 1.15 27 6 22 24.1
NY Mets 4x4 5x5 RAR Adj. RAR
Age: 27 P:R B:R -1 -1 7.1 7.1

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

83. W S ERA WHIP K BB H IP
Amaury Telemaco 0 0 4.31 1.29 32 19 51 54.1
PHI Phillies 4x4 5x5 RAR Adj. RAR
Age: 30 P:R B:R -1 -1 9.2 9.2

84. W S ERA WHIP K BB H IP
Dan Wheeler 3 0 4.29 1.48 55 20 76 65
NYM/HOU 4x4 5x5 RAR Adj. RAR
Age: 26 P:R B:R -1 -1 11.1 9

85. W S ERA WHIP K BB H IP
Mike Wuertz 1 1 4.34 1.34 30 17 22 29
CH Cubs 4x4 5x5 RAR Adj. RAR
Age: 25 P:R B:R -1 -1 4.8 4.8

86. W S ERA WHIP K BB H IP
Roman Colon 2 0 3.32 1.37 15 8 18 19
ATL Braves 4x4 5x5 RAR Adj. RAR
Age: 25 P:R B:R -1 -2 5.5 4.9

Please refer to our Post-2004 Prospect Review: Atlanta for my comments on Colon.

87. W S ERA WHIP K BB H IP
Scott Dohmann 0 0 4.11 1.30 49 19 41 46
COL Rockies 4x4 5x5 RAR Adj. RAR
Age: 26 P:R B:R -1 -1 8.9 8.9

88. W S ERA WHIP K BB H IP
Chin-hui Tsao 0 1 3.86 0.86 11 1 7 9.1
COL Rockies 4x4 5x5 RAR Adj. RAR
Age: 23 P:R B:R -1 -2 2.1 1.8

89. W S ERA WHIP K BB H IP
Brian Bruney 3 0 4.31 1.50 34 27 20 31.1
ARI Diamondbacks 4x4 5x5 RAR Adj. RAR
Age: 22 P:R B:R -1 -1 5.3 5.3

90. W S ERA WHIP K BB H IP
Kyle Farnsworth 4 0 4.73 1.50 78 33 67 66.2
CH Cubs 4x4 5x5 RAR Adj. RAR
Age: 28 P:R B:R -1 0 7.9 7.9

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

Today's Fantasy Rx: Allowing Haren to slide under $10 anywhere ranks as a mistake since he could post a 3.50 ERA and 15 victories without significant effort given his skills and situation. Look to Reyes and Bell as the primary sleepers to fill out your roster, feel free to invest several dollars in the hope of a Borowski comeback, and avoid Tsao and all Rockies' relievers since their bullpen could remain in flux all season long.

Click here to read the previous article.

Please e-mail your comments to tim@rotohelp.com.




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	March 10^th 2005			Your Daily Fantasy Rx