Today's Fantasy Rx

Minor League Free Agent and AAA/AA Relief Pitchers in the NL East

Atlanta Braves
Minor League Free Agents:
Sam McConnell is listed with National League Relief Pitchers.

Daniel Curtis, 24, T:R, B:R.
0-1 on an 8:5 K:BB in 8.1 IP over 2 GS
with 8 H, 1 HR, and a 5.40 ERA for AAA Richmond(IL).
7-3 on an 88:35 K:BB in 95.1 IP over 6 GS(33G)
with 90 H, 7 HR, and a 3.12 ERA for AA Greenville(SL).
Appropriate 2005 Role: AAA reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Major league short reliever by 2009.
2005 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $15 by 2010.

Jamie Emiliano, 29, T:R, B:R.
4-3 and 11 Saves on a 53:35 K:BB in 61.2 IP over 51 G
with 59 H, 3 HR, and a 3.50 ERA for AA Greenville(SL).
Appropriate 2005 Role: AA reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: AAA reliever by 2006.
2005 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: None.

Sean Fesh, 31, T:L, B:L.
1-5 on a 41:28 K:BB in 53 IP over 1 GS(40G)
with 50 H, 4 HR, and a 3.74 ERA for AAA Richmond(IL).
0-1 on a 0:2 K:BB in 3.2 IP over 1 G
with 4 H, 1 HR, and a 2.45 ERA for AA Greenville(SL).
Appropriate 2005 Role: AAA reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: AAAA reliever by 2006.
2005 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: None.

Rolando Garza, 24, T:R, B:R.
1-1 on a 13:12 K:BB in 21.1 IP over 10 G
with 21 H, 2 HR, and a 6.75 ERA for A Rome(SAL).
0-0 on a 2:1 K:BB in 2 IP over 1 G
with 0 H, 0 HR, and a 0.00 ERA for R Braves(GCL).
Appropriate 2005 Role: A/A+ reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: AAA reliever by 2010.
2005 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: None.

Brian Langen, 26, T:L, B:L.
4-4 on a 52:18 K:BB in 72.2 IP over 12 GS(15G)
with 75 H, 4 HR, and a 2.35 ERA
between I Bridgeport(Atlantic) and I Newark(Atlantic).
1-0 and 2 Saves on an 18:15 K:BB in 18.1 IP over 15 G
with 14 H, 1 HR, and a 4.91 ERA for AA Greenville(SL).
Appropriate 2005 Role: AA reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: AAAA reliever by 2009.
2005 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: None.

Derrick Lewis, 28, T:R, B:R.
No 2004 stats.
Appropriate 2005 Role: AA reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: AAA reliever by 2007.
2005 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: None.

Isauro Pineda, 25, T:R, B:R.
5-7 on a 79:38 K:BB in 76.1 IP over 10 GS(32G)
with 77 H, 5 HR, and a 4.48 ERA for AA Greenville(SL).
Appropriate 2005 Role: AAA reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Major league reliever by 2008.
2005 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $5 by 2009.

Mike Romano, 32, T:R, B:R.
13-5 on a 99:51 K:BB in 123.2 IP over 16 GS(40G)
with 130 H, 13 HR, and a 3.42 ERA for AAA Richmond(IL).
Appropriate 2005 Role: AAAA reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Major league reliever by 2006.
2005 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $5 by 2007.

Matt Whiteside, 37, T:R, B:R.
2-4 and 38 Saves on a 59:16 K:BB in 64 IP over 57 G
with 56 H, 9 HR, and a 3.23 ERA for AAA Richmond(IL).
Appropriate 2005 Role: AAAA reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Major league reliever by 2006.
2005 Fantasy Potential: Roster filler.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $5 by 2006.

Prospects:
Kevin Barry, 26, T:R, B:R.
3-3 and 2 Saves on a 40:25 K:BB in 35.2 IP over 30 G
with 25 H, 1 HR, and a 2.52 ERA for AAA Richmond(IL).
2-1 and 4 Saves on a 31:10 K:BB in 24.2 IP over 20 G
with 15 H, 0 HR, and a 0.73 ERA for AA Greenville(SL).
Appropriate 2005 Role: AAAA reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Major league closer by 2008.
2005 Fantasy Potential: Roster filler.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $25 by 2010.

Buddy Hernandez, 25, T:R, B:R.
7-2 on a 60:26 K:BB in 67 IP over 47 G
with 45 H, 5 HR, and a 2.42 ERA for AAA Richmond(IL).
Appropriate 2005 Role: AAAA reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Major league short reliever by 2007.
2005 Fantasy Potential: Roster filler.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $15 by 2008.

Matt Coenen, 24, T:L, B:L.
3-5 and 2 Saves on a 54:42 K:BB in 78.2 IP over 6 GS(36G)
with 77 H, 3 HR, and a 3.09 ERA for AA Greenville(SL).
Appropriate 2005 Role: AA/AAA reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Major league reliever by 2008.
2005 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $5 by 2009.

Macay McBride, 21, T:L, B:L.
1-7 on a 102:46 K:BB in 103.1 IP over 12 GS(38G)
with 113 H, 9 HR, and a 4.44 ERA for AA Greenville(SL).
Appropriate 2005 Role: AA/AAA starter.
Long-term Upside & ETA: #3 starter by 2009.
2005 Fantasy Potential: Low-round draft pick.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $25 by 2010.

Jason Richardson, 24, T:R, B:R.
1-2 on a 19:19 K:BB in 28 IP over 5 GS(11G)
with 33 H, 3 HR, and a 5.79 ERA for AA New Britain(EL).
0-0 and 1 Save on a 4:6 K:BB in 10 IP over 4 G
with 9 H, 0 HR, and a 7.20 ERA for AA Greenville(SL).
0-4 and 2 Saves on a 22:20 K:BB in 28.1 IP over 1 GS(14G)
with 29 H, 4 HR, and a 4.45 ERA for A+ Myrtle Beach(Car).
Appropriate 2005 Role: A/A+ reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: AAA reliever by 2009.
2005 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: None.

Ralph Roberts, 24, T:R, B:R.
0-1 on a 12:5 K:BB in 14 IP over 8 G
with 17 H, 1 HR, and a 4.50 ERA for AA Greenville(SL).
3-5 and 3 Saves on a 36:22 K:BB in 53.2 IP over 32 G
with 47 H, 3 HR, and a 3.52 ERA for A+ Myrtle Beach(Car).
Appropriate 2005 Role: AA reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: AAAA reliever by 2008.
2005 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: Roster filler by 2009.

Scott Sturkie, 25, T:R, B:R.
2-1 on a 10:11 K:BB in 25.1 IP over 1 GS(13G)
with 22 H, 1 HR, and a 1.78 ERA for AA Akron(EL).
1-3 and 4 Saves on a 13:11 K:BB in 27 IP over 19 G
with 25 H, 1 HR, and a 4.33 ERA for AA Greenville(SL).
2-1 on an 8:8 K:BB in 28 IP over 1 GS(12G)
with 30 H, 1 HR, and a 3.86 ERA for A+ Myrtle Beach(Car).
Appropriate 2005 Role: AA reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: AAA reliever by 2008.
2005 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: None.

Alec Zumwalt, 23, T:R, B:R.
3-7 and 1 Save on a 67:38 K:BB in 76 IP over 46 G
with 84 H, 5 HR, and a 5.09 ERA for AA Greenville(SL).
Appropriate 2005 Role: AAA reliever.
Long-term Upside & ETA: Major league reliever by 2008.
2005 Fantasy Potential: None.
Long-term Fantasy Upside & ETA: $10 by 2010.

'05 AA/AAA Relief Pitcher Week continues tomorrow, featuring Minor League Free Agent and AAA/AA Relievers in the National League Central.

Today's Fantasy Rx: Based on each player's keeper potential heading into his sophomore season in the majors, select rookie relievers in the following order in minor league drafts; I've included the preferred round price for Ultra leagues: Macay McBride($2). I still expect McBride to reemerge as a quality starting prospect, but he certainly owns the skills to succeed in any role. Gambling on an upper-level Atlanta pitcher with a good chance of contributing sometime this summer isn't a bad idea in deeper leagues.