Today's Fantasy Rx

Welcome to our weekly LPR rankings, our primary method of identifying highly skilled and/or consistently effective pitchers. While we have not changed this system since last season, feel free to refer to this key for a complete description of the codes. We have included the five most recent 2006 QA scores for each starter, along with the 10 most recent QA scores for each reliever, tabulating all data through June 7th. Pitchers with no QA scores have not pitched this year, so do not roster any of them unless you see someone ready to return to the majors.

1
23AXcz - John Smoltz(54225)
3AC - Brad Penny(44504)
3AX - Bronson Arroyo(44424)
ABXY - Brandon Webb(35454)
AX - Chris Capuano(53333)

3abcxyz - Tom Gordon(4323445255)
Yabcxyz - Ryan Dempster(3254422454)
ax - Todd Coffey(4454242254)
ax - Ramon Ramirez(1444343543)
ax - Adam Wainwright(5332354443)
ax - Brandon Lyon(3433254542)
a - David Borkowski(3454334524)

A wild week of pitching resulted in a half-dozen new pitchers up here, including Webb, Gordon, Dempster, Ramirez, Lyon, and Borkowski. Dempster, Ramirez, and Borkowski seem the most unlikely candidates, but Ramirez's skills look so good that he probably belongs on someone's roster in deep NL leagues despite his home park in Denver. I also like Borkowski, but treating him as more than roster filler is a mistake.

2
3BCXYZ - Roy Oswalt(03354)
3BCYZ - Jake Peavy(52530)
3bcz - Ryan Madson(33143)
ABCXY - Chris Carpenter(54533)
BCYZ - Andy Pettitte(52032)
B - Dontrelle Willis(23234)
Zach Duke(44423)

3abcxyz - Billy Wagner(5144334534)
BCZabxy - Aaron Heilman(4534421334)
abcxyz - Chad Qualls(3453352453)
bcxyz - Trevor Hoffman(3355313433)
axy - Arthur Rhodes(3433454442)
ax - Aaron Fultz(5433555344)

3
BCYZ - Ben Sheets(3550)
Livan Hernandez(22422)

abcxyz - Mike Gonzalez(2535241325)
abcyz - Jason Isringhausen(5243453440)
bcyz - Eric Gagne(44)
cz - Salomon Torres(3433334332)
C - Glendon Rusch(3432442)
z - Trever Miller(3444325443)

A
BCXY - Pedro Martinez(34441)
BCX - Cory Lidle(54333)
BXY - Derek Lowe(34443)
CYZ - Greg Maddux(42432)
CX - Jason Schmidt(23444)
B - Brett Myers(42442)
X - Josh Johnson(24554)
X - Aaron Sele(44515)
z - Juan Cruz(20453)
Aaron Harang(05443)
Jamey Wright(54040)
Tony Armas(42244)
Tomo Ohka(04043)
Matt Cain(02344)
Aaron Cook(52333)

Johnson and Sele may rank as the biggest surprises here, but the former should develop into no less than a qualified middle-of-the-rotation option for the rest of the decade. Unfortunately, Sele appears far too likely to regress to his normal level of mediocrity for me to recommend him as anything more than a fallback option.

B
CZ - Carlos Zambrano(53345)
C - Doug Davis(34305)
Y - Paul Maholm(54333)
Jae Weong Seo(04400)
Jon Lieber(34210)

b - Matt Belisle(3235222435)

C
by - Kerry Wood(4350)
Z - Oliver Perez(33400)
Matt Morris(32253)
Odalis Perez(34000)
Dave Williams(13130)

X
Elizardo Ramirez(03434)
Tom Glavine(33531)

Z
Tim Hudson(43353)
Mark Mulder(54302)
Jason Marquis(32432)

John Van Benschoten

a
bcxyz - Scott Linebrink(3432554345)
bcxyz - Brad Lidge(3405355433)
bcxy - Chad Bradford(2444334444)
bcxy - Brian Fuentes(4455343342)
bcxz - Scott Williamson(3443533323)
cxyz - Bob Howry(5422444343)
bxy - Roberto Hernandez(5445442344)
bxy - Brad Thompson(4443424442)
bxy - Dan Wheeler(3254514344)
bxy - Derrick Turnbow(2554234335)
bxy - Rheal Cormier(3324553053)
bc - Jose Mesa(3443444434)
bx - Scott Eyre(4455514333)
bx - Randy Flores(4034243354)
cx - Pedro Feliciano(5443334544)
cz - Luis Vizcaino(4144545334)
cz - Armando Benitez(3543114443)
cz - Steve Kline(4202345433)
xy - Chad Cordero(4525544434)
xy - Jonathan Broxton(5543335530)
xz - Gary Majewski(4542404543)
xz - Danys Baez(4353440344)
xz - Greg Aquino(3504443442)
xz - Alan Embree(4532440553)
x - Takashi Saito(5424454454)
x - Jeremy Accardo(4430543454)
x - Jorge Julio(2455453525)
x - Matt Capps(2345244443)
x - Randy Messenger(3320345554)
x - Damaso Marte(4335235451)
x - Joe Beimel(3225424543)
y - Jose Capellan(5534235324)
Geoff Geary(4353254444)
Logan Kensing(3442552452)
Tim Hamulack(0344414414)
Scott Cassidy(5541054532)
Tyler Johnson(4450423551)
Matt Wise(5343454322)
Brian Sweeney(3441323434)

b
y - Clay Hensley(43430)

cxy - Jose Valverde(3443223334)
cyz - Chris Reitsma(4135533433)
cyz - Braden Looper(5042342225)
cyz - Danny Kolb(3243223424)
cyz - Tim Worrell(2054330321)
cyz - Heath Bell(443133)
cyz - Mike DeJean(23)
xy - Will Ohman(5344433333)
xy - Brandon Medders(5323345333)
xy - Brian Shackelford(3334034430)
xz - Duaner Sanchez(3425344223)
c - John Grabow(4533024453)
x - Mike Remlinger(4335432235)
x - Russ Springer(4214334422)
x - Roberto Novoa(2443014333)
y - Macay McBride(4335552322)
y - David Weathers(3333532342)
y - Mike Gallo(0335223053)
y - Mike Wuertz(4403)
y - Jonah Bayliss
Franquelis Osoria(4353255020)
Blaine Boyer(23)
Ryan Wagner

c
z - Ray King(5404344441)
z - Brian Shouse(0404032124)
z - Tyler Yates(2542)
z - Chin-hui Tsao
z - Luis Ayala
Esteban Yan(4514333252)
Oscar Villarreal(3532334213)
Mike Adams(21)
Doug Brocail

x
yz - Chris Hammond(3454433354)
Casey Daigle(3543024334)
Scott Dohmann(3433433043)
Jon Adkins(3323344334)
Kevin Correia(5333433523)

y
Scott Munter(4254340341)
Mike Burns(324322444)
Jay Bergmann(0443233412)
Terry Mulholland(33330)

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 2006.
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 2005.
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 2004.

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.

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 2006 starts
B - QA score of 4 or 5 in at least 50% of 2005 starts
C - QA score of 4 or 5 in at least 50% of 2004 starts

X - QA score below 3 in no more than 20% of 2006 starts
Y - QA score below 3 in no more than 20% of 2005 starts
Z - QA score below 3 in no more than 20% of 2004 starts

a - QA score of 4 or 5 in at least 50% of 2006 relief outings
b - QA score of 4 or 5 in at least 50% of 2005 relief outings
c - QA score of 4 or 5 in at least 50% of 2004 relief outings

x - QA score below 3 in no more than 20% of 2006 relief outings
y - QA score below 3 in no more than 20% of 2005 relief outings
z - QA score below 3 in no more than 20% of 2004 relief outings

Today's Fantasy Rx: Yesterday's promotion of Carlos Villanueva by Milwaukee brings a rather intriguing young starter to the majors. Although he could struggle to find starts, especially with the Brewers seeking veteran pitching help, the 22-year-old right-hander just might emerge as a quality sleeper.

Initially acquired by Milwaukee from San Francisco in a 2-for-2 swap for Wayne Franklin at the end of spring training in 2004, merely months after the Giants' disastrous deal for A.J. Pierzynski that Nathan, Liriano, and Bonser to Minnesota, Villaneuva quietly demonstrated impressive command through two years of A-ball before finishing 2005 at AA Huntsville(SL). Returning to that level this year, he compiled a 4-5 record and a 3.90 ERA on a 59:14 K:BB in 62.1 IP over 10 GS(11G) with 61 H and 6 HR. He looks far less risky than many young pitchers, so if you see him on your free agent wire, consider gambling a couple of bucks given his age, skills, and overall upside.