Today's Fantasy Rx

Welcome to our weekly LPR rankings, our primary method to identify highly skilled and/or consistently effective pitchers. While we haven't changed this system since last season, feel free to refer here for a complete description of the codes. We've included the five most recent 2005 QA scores for each starter, along with the 10 most recent QA scores for each reliever, tabulating all data through August 31st. Pitchers with no QA scores have not pitched this year, so don't roster any of them unless you see someone ready to return to the majors.

1
3ACXZ - Roy Halladay(44555)
ABC - Matt Clement(25533)
AX - Felix Hernandez(55543)
AX - Bartolo Colon(33434)

23abcxyz - Mariano Rivera(55443343444)
3ax - Arthur Rhodes(4433443435)
abcxy - B.J. Ryan(4445543355)
ax - Justin Duchscherer(4443343444)

Two pairs of teammates exchange spots up here as Ryan and Duchscherer replace Erik Bedard and Huston Street. Bartolo Colon also rejoins this ranking, however the continued dominance of Hernandez and Rivera remains the most noteworthy news.

I hope to post the remainder of this ranking soon.

1 - K/9 of 6.0+, BB/9 of 3.0-, H/9 of 9.0-, HR/9 of 1.0-,
     and G-F of 1.0+ in 25+ IP in 2005.
2 - K/9 of 6.0+, BB/9 of 3.0-, H/9 of 9.0-, HR/9 of 1.0-,
     and G-F of 1.0+ in 25+ IP in 2004.
3 - K/9 of 6.0+, BB/9 of 3.0-, H/9 of 9.0-, HR/9 of 1.0-,
     and G-F of 1.0+ in 25+ IP in 2003.

QA score for starts: up to 5 total points, one for each statistical goal, to any starter who pitches at least 5 innings and fulfills any of the following skill qualifications: K>=IP-2, BB<=IP/3, H<=IP, HR<=1, and G-F>=1.00. Any starter who doesn't reach any of the required statistical goals or fails to pitch 5 innings earns a 0 QA score. Scores of 5 and 4 qualify as DOMinant outings, a 3 is DULl, and anything below 3 ranks as a skill DISaster.

QA score for relief outings: up to 5 total points, one for each statistical goal, to any reliever who retires at least one batter and fulfills any of the following skill qualifications: K>=IP, BB=0, H<=IP, HR=0, and G-F>=1.00. Any reliever who doesn't reach any of the required statistical goals or fails to retire a batter earns a 0 QA score. Scores of 5 and 4 qualify as DOMinant outings, a 3 is DULl, and anything below 3 ranks as a skill DISaster.

Note: Starters must pitch in five games before earning any of the following DOM or DIS ratings; relievers must appear in no less than 10 games before earning DOM/DIS consideration. All pitchers are evaluated as relievers aside from those who reached both 5 starts in a given season and qualified for DOM or DIS ratings.

A - QA score of 4 or 5 in at least 50% of 2005 starts
B - QA score of 4 or 5 in at least 50% of 2004 starts
C - QA score of 4 or 5 in at least 50% of 2003 starts

X - QA score below 3 in no more than 20% of 2005 starts
Y - QA score below 3 in no more than 20% of 2004 starts
Z - QA score below 3 in no more than 20% of 2003 starts

a - QA score of 4 or 5 in at least 50% of 2005 relief outings
b - QA score of 4 or 5 in at least 50% of 2004 relief outings
c - QA score of 4 or 5 in at least 50% of 2003 relief outings

x - QA score below 3 in no more than 20% of 2005 relief outings
y - QA score below 3 in no more than 20% of 2004 relief outings
z - QA score below 3 in no more than 20% of 2003 relief outings

We'll continue tomorrow with this week's NL LPR article.

Internet Challenge

SP(6)
Randy Johnson: No start.
Johan Santana: Sat:CLE(K.Millwood).
Pedro Martinez: No start.
Roy Oswalt: No start.
Roger Clemens: Sat:STL(C.Carpenter).
Matt Clement: Sat:BAL(E.Bedard)
Jake Peavy: Sun:@MIL(D.Davis)
Chris Carpenter: Sat:@HOU(R.Clemens)
Dontrelle Willis: Fri:NYM(V.Zambrano).
A.J. Burnett: Sun:NYM(J.Seo)
Josh Beckett: Sat:NYM(K.Benson).
Miguel Batista: 3 Home vs. TB

I see no reason not to run Clemens and possibly even Carpenter as we expect a 1-0 game on Saturday, however we at least own acceptable alternatives so will deploy Santana, Clement, Batista, and the three Marlins. KRod also replaces Lidge.

Offensively, a Colorado homestand means that Atkins and Holliday sub for Wright and Mench while Giles flips with Utley, who heads into RFK. Morneau, Iguchi, Glaus, and Podsednik stay benched.

Rotohelp.com(8th lg; 251st overall)
Week 22b: September 2-September 4

 
C	Victor Martinez		860 
C	Joe Mauer		440
1B	Albert Pujols		1930 
1B	Mark Teixeira		1310 
2B	Brian Roberts		960 
2B	Marcus Giles		950
3B	Melvin Mora		1270
3B	Garrett Atkins		400
SS	Miguel Tejada		1800 
SS	Jose Reyes		850 
OF	Jim Edmonds		1250
OF	Miguel Cabrera		1110
OF	Adam Dunn		1110
OF	Jason Bay		820 
OF	Matt Holliday		630
UT	Travis Hafner		810  
UT	Carl Crawford		1560

SP	Johan Santana		1710
SP	Matt Clement		1030 
SP	Dontrelle Willis	870 
SP	A.J. Burnett		830 
SP	Josh Beckett		820
SP	Miguel Batista		840  
RP	Trevor Hoffman		1270 
RP	Francisco Rodriguez	1250
RP	B.J. Ryan		950 
RP	Todd Jones		510

Total Salary for Week 22b: 	29670

Today's Fantasy Rx: Walter Young highlights yesterday's AL promotions as the one player likely to play everyday and contribute in no less than a couple categories. However, rebuilding teams need to target several other call-ups, including Hayden Penn, Justin Huber, Gerald Laird, and especially Juan Cruz, who should emerge as a potentially dominant starter next season.