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 21st. 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
2 - C.C. Sabathia(41430)
ABCXYZ - Johan Santana(45355)
AXax - Francisco Liriano(54355)
ABX - Jeremy Bonderman(35454)
ABX - Jose Contreras(43243)

Realistically, I see no difference between Santana and Liriano right now, other than the fact that Santana's more experience and Liriano faces a much higher injury risk. Plus, of course, that face that Liriano ranks as a far safer overall option given he owns a ground-fly rate roughly double that of Santana.

23abcxyz - Mariano Rivera(5445544255)
abcxyz - Juan Rincon(4243434454)
abcxyz - Akinori Otsuka(3444524553)
abxyz - Scot Shields(2454543543)
abcx - J.J. Putz(4554545555)
abxy - Bobby Jenks(4435544535)
BYx - Hector Carrasco(5353324443)

2
ABXY - Roy Halladay(24344)
ABY - Felix Hernandez(54543)
AX - Kevin Millwood(45443)
BC - Matt Clement(40050)
B - Josh Beckett(50043)
Y - Bartolo Colon(4022)

Yes, we doubted Felix Hernandez earlier in the year, and yes, we were wrong. His skills edge closer to his 2005 marks every week as he again looks like the second coming of Dwight Gooden.

3bcyz - Julian Tavarez(3343425442)
abcxyz - B.J. Ryan(4543434533)
abxy - Huston Street(3434344344)
abxy - Justin Duchscherer(4224434434)
aby - Todd Jones(4113034254)

3
ACXZ - Curt Schilling(33344)
BCZ - Randy Johnson(34055)
CZ - Freddy Garcia(24213)
C - Jeff Weaver(31345)

abcyz - Kiko Calero(4545454344)
abxyz - Mike Timlin(4535434534)
Kevin Gregg(2432212403)
Travis Harper(1302222343)

If Papelbon stumbles or succumbs to injury due to the more frequent workload, Timlin could nab several quick saves. Don't let him remain on you free agent list if you see him available.

A
BY - Rich Harden(44400)
CZ - Jake Westbrook(24245)
X - James Shields(34544)
X - Mike Mussina(44442)
X - Javier Vazquez(43433)
Daniel Cabrera(04432)

B
XY - Kelvim Escobar(33354)
Erik Bedard(03445)
John Lackey(53054)
Barry Zito(52252)

Bedard's stock continues to increase, and frankly, so does the value of the other three pitchers here. Strongly consider targeting one of this quarter of underachievers if looking to add another starter.

Scott Downs(3500344243)

C
Nate Robertson(43243)

Za - Joe Kennedy(3043242450)
Z - Carl Pavano
a - Dennys Reyes(1542343054)

X
Dan Haren(35335)

Y
Esteban Loaiza(30540)

Z
Mark Buehrle(21233)
David Wells(00)

a
bcxyz - Francisco Rodriguez(3524454544)
bcxyz - Joe Nathan(5454533354)
bcxyz - Bob Wickman(4244432514)
bcyz - Francisco Cordero(4544322543)
bxy - Scott Schoeneweis(3544334345)
xy - Chris Ray(3434422454)
xy - Fernando Rodney(3433303433)
xz - Elmer Dessens(4544343233)
b - Ambiorix Burgos(2243444444)
x - Fausto Carmona(4554445445)
x - Ron Mahay(3502234554)
x - Jon Papelbon(3345335343)
y - Neal Cotts(4243525534)
Scott Feldman(3423451452)
Rick Bauer(4142224453)
Matt Thornton(4241232453)
Fernando Cabrera(4431413225)

Both Burgos and Dessens appear calmed down after Buddy Bell's seemingly insane switch last month. The former just might continue closing after Mike MacDougal returns in a week or two.

b
cyz - Rafael Betancourt(4534353520)
xyz - Ron Villone(3333443234)
cy - Kyle Farnsworth(4124314444)
cz - Octavio Dotel
yz - Rudy Seanez(5444234253)
y - George Sherrill(4550503423)
y - David Riske(1433452342)
y - Jay Witasick(23321)
Scott Sauerbeck(5450344310)
Tyler Walker(3334332432)

c
xz - Todd Williams(4333333333)
yz - Guillermo Mota(5421541143)
yz - Eddie Guardado(5504303034)
yz - Jeremy Affeldt(341234)
yz - Dustin Hermanson
z - LaTroy Hawkins(0344222445)
z - Brendan Donnelly(2353234353)
z - Keith Foulke(4133353313)
J.C. Romero(2334234345)
Mike Myers(3003453330)
Brian Meadows(3343224213)

x
Jimmy Gobble(3344413434)
Rafael Soriano(4345153433)
C.J. Wilson(4334453423)
Jesse Crain(0344433334)
Vinnie Chulk(0443342353)
Chris Britton(1551323434)
Sean Green(5333514333)
Kurt Birkins(3343502533)
Joaquin Benoit(2332234333)

While no longer a particularly safe option, Crain's improved consistency should keep him rostered in most standard leagues. Among pitchers with far more immediate upside, Rafael Soriano only missed a top ranking due to his weak ground-fly rate, and if anything happens to Putz, his stock will skyrocket. He belongs on some team's roster even in relatively shallow mixed leagues.

y
z - Jason Frasor(4152432532)
Manny Delcarmen(3433441333)
Justin Speier(3302533434)
Ron Flores(1334132355)
Cliff Politte(3252220111)
Marco Carvajal

z
Rodrigo Lopez(32340)

Javier Lopez(3504)

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

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

Internet Challenge

SP(6)
Johan Santana: Fri:CHC(C.Marmol)
Roy Oswalt: Sun:@CHW(J.Vazquez)
Pedro Martinez: No start.
Chris Carpenter: Sat:@DET(K.Rogers)
Randy Johnson: No start.
Jake Peavy: Fri:SEA(G.Meche)
Roy Halladay: Sat:NYM(O.Hernandez)
Mark Buehrle: No start.
Curt Schilling: Sat:PHI(B.Myers)
Felix Hernandez: No start.
John Lackey: No start.
Dan Haren: Sat:@SF(Jam.Wright)

Vazquez and the Sox represent scarier opposition than Rogers and the Tigers, so Oswalt will sit. Street returns for Mike Gonzalez.

We lack the cap room for Pujols, and also don't really want him this weekend in Detroit. Willingham similarly sits until he proves his good health, and Edwin Encarnacion stays stuck on the DL. However, with the Rockies at home and the Rangers in Colorado, Mark Teixiera rejoins the lineup, shifting Patterson to the OF and leaving both Chone Figgins and Jason Bay on the bench, the latter heading to the unforgiving Dodger Stadium for the weekend.

Rotohelp.com(11th lg; 319th overall)
Week 12b: June 23-June 25

C	Victor Martinez		1020 
C	Joe Mauer		770
1B	Travis Hafner		1180
1B	Ryan Howard		880
2B	Chase Utley		1190
2B	Rickie Weeks		620
3B	David Wright		1210 
3B	Garrett Atkins		610
SS	Felipe Lopez		1070
SS	Jose Reyes		1030 
OF	Pat Burrell		1040 
OF	Matt Holliday		1040
OF	Chad Tracy		1020 
OF	Corey Patterson		910
OF	Jermaine Dye		840
OF	Nick Swisher		620 
DH	Mark Teixeira		1470
DH	Todd Helton		1380

SP	Johan Santana		1960 
SP	Chris Carpenter		1550 
SP	Jake Peavy		1240
SP	Roy Halladay		1230 
SP	Curt Schilling		1070
SP	Dan Haren		860 
RP	Huston Street		1300
RP	Ryan Dempster		1180 
RP	Jon Papelbon		890
RP	Chris Ray		820

Total Salary for Week 12b:	30000

Today's Fantasy Rx: Happy Serenity Day! If you enjoyed Joss Whedon's film Serenity, believe it warrants some kind of sequel, and yet, like us, haven't purchased a copy prior to today, we recommend remedying that unfortunate situation immediately. Amazon.com probably offers the best current online price given their shipping deals, so please consider supporting a franchise dramatically more interesting than current summer disasters like X3 and MI:III.