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 July 5th . 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
ABCXYZ - Johan Santana(55433)
AXax - Francisco Liriano(55545)
ABX - Jeremy Bonderman(45444)
B - Jose Contreras(43123)

23abcxyz - Mariano Rivera(4425554454)
abcxyz - Juan Rincon(3445442453)
abcxyz - Akinori Otsuka(5245534434)
abxyz - Scot Shields(4354342454)
BYax - Hector Carrasco(3324443443)
abcx - J.J. Putz(4555543454)
abxy - Bobby Jenks(5355335454)

Although Sabathia and Francisco Cordero dropped down, the major news looks like the continuing dominance of Liriano and Bonderman. Rivera, Putz, and Jenks also appear quite strong as they continue to rank as the safest closers in the league.

2
ABY - Felix Hernandez(43445)
BXY - Roy Halladay(44343)
AX - Kevin Millwood(44330)
BC - Matt Clement(40050)
B - Josh Beckett(43543)
Y - Bartolo Colon(22234)
C.C. Sabathia(43042)

3bcyz - Julian Tavarez(2544242313)
abcxyz - B.J. Ryan(3453334553)
abxy - Justin Duchscherer(4344344435)
abxy - Huston Street(4344324355)
aby - Todd Jones(3425435434)

3
ACXZ - Curt Schilling(44443)
BCY - A.J. Burnett(20550)
BCZ - Randy Johnson(05542)
CZ - Freddy Garcia(13322)

abxyz - Mike Timlin(4534444433)
bcyz - Kiko Calero(5434423353)
Kevin Gregg(2124034434)
Travis Harper(2222343234)

A
BY - Rich Harden(44400)
CZ - Jake Westbrook(45453)
X - Zach Miner(54434)
X - Jered Weaver(44344)
X - James Shields(54433)
X - Mike Mussina(44203)
Scott Kazmir(32424)

Miner's performance to date rivals that of Jered Weaver, who likely will cost you ten times as much value to acquire. With Detroit showing no sign of slowing down, a preemptive strike on Miner could pay welcome dividends, especially if Maroth doesn't return any time soon.

B
XY - Kelvim Escobar(35403)
Erik Bedard(44554)
John Lackey(05444)
Jae Weong Seo(44001)
Barry Zito(25233)

a - Scott Downs(4243244525)

C
Z - Carl Pavano
Nate Robertson(24333)

Za - Joe Kennedy(3043242450)
ax - Dennys Reyes(4305455443)

X
Dan Haren(35125)
Adam Loewen(33304)
Javier Vazquez(43313)

Y
Esteban Loaiza(54042)

Z
Mark Buehrle(23332)
David Wells(00)

a
bcxyz - Francisco Rodriguez(4454544535)
bcxyz - Joe Nathan(3335445534)
bcxyz - Bob Wickman(2514433153)
bcyz - Francisco Cordero(2543445233)
bxy - Scott Schoeneweis(4345303424)
xy - Chris Ray(4224541542)
xy - Fernando Rodney(0343335033)
xz - Elmer Dessens(2334322444)
b - Ambiorix Burgos(4444444325)
x - Fausto Carmona(4544534535)
x - Bryan Corey(5430455435)
x - Fernando Cabrera(1413225344)
x - Jon Papelbon(3353434333)
y - Neal Cotts(5534513334)
Chad Harville(4253444504)
Matt Thornton(3245345354)
Scott Feldman(5145244433)
Joe Nelson(4524351525)
Shawn Camp(2253454542)
Matt Smith(5224234443)
Rick Bauer(2244533144)

b
cxy - Kyle Farnsworth(1444433344)
cyz - Rafael Betancourt(5352033304)
xyz - Ron Villone(3234522333)
cz - Octavio Dotel
yz - Rudy Seanez(4423425304)
y - George Sherrill(4233530535)
y - David Riske(2342332143)
y - Jay Witasick(23321)
Scott Sauerbeck(3104434312)
Tyler Walker(3334332432)

c
xyz - Jeremy Affeldt(4123433344)
xz - Todd Williams(3333343434)
yz - Guillermo Mota(5411433345)
yz - Eddie Guardado(0303441541)
yz - Dustin Hermanson
x - J.C. Romero(4345552443)
z - Brendan Donnelly(2343533453)
z - LaTroy Hawkins(2244522433)
z - Keith Foulke(4133353313)
Brian Meadows(2242134543)
Mike Myers(5333050352)

x
Jimmy Gobble(03)

Kurt Birkins(3345353454)
C.J. Wilson(4334453423)
Rafael Soriano(1534334433)
Chris Britton(3234342435)
Vinnie Chulk(0443342353)
Joaquin Benoit(2343333414)
Joel Zumaya(3340343333)
Sean Green(3351433333)

y
z - Jason Frasor(4325323333)
Manny Delcarmen(1333244543)
Justin Speier(3343433332)
Ron Flores(1323552302)
Cliff Politte(2220111423)
Marco Carvajal

z
Rodrigo Lopez(40530)

Javier Lopez(350444524)

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: Sun:@TEX(J.Koronka?)
Roy Oswalt: No start.
Pedro Martinez: No start.
Chris Carpenter: Sun:@HOU(A.Pettitte)
Randy Johnson: No start.
Jake Peavy: No start.
Roy Halladay: Sun:@KC(J.Gobble)
Mark Buehrle: Fri:BOS(J.Lester)
Curt Schilling: Sun:@CHW(J.Contreras)
Felix Hernandez: Sun:DET(N.Robertson)
John Lackey: Fri:@OAK(B.Zito)
Dan Haren: Sun:LAA(E.Santana)
Francisco Liriano: Sat:@TEX(J.Rheinecker?)

Deploying Halladay, Felix, Lackey, and Haren looks quite logical, but since both Buehrle and Schilling seem obviously risky in the Double Sox matchup, we'll use Santana and Liriano.

The extra cap room gives us the chance to use Victor Martinez and Figgins for Willingham and Swisher. Tex, Encarnacion, and Dempster stay benched.

Rotohelp.com(13th lg; 342nd overall)
Week 14b: July 7-July 9

 
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	Jason Bay		1380 
OF	Chone Figgins		1350
OF	Pat Burrell		1040 
OF	Chad Tracy		1020 
OF	Corey Patterson		910
OF	Jermaine Dye		840 
DH	Albert Pujols		2060 
DH	Matt Holliday		1040

SP	Johan Santana		1960 
SP	Roy Halladay		1230
SP	Felix Hernandez		960 
SP	John Lackey		940 
SP	Dan Haren		860 
SP	Francisco Liriano		700
RP	Huston Street		1300 
RP	J.J. Putz		890
RP	Jon Papelbon		890
RP	Chris Ray		820

Total Salary for Week 14b:	29770

Today's Fantasy Rx: The combination of the Guardado trade and Rafael Soriano's injury problems leave Putz the unquestioned closer in Seattle. Conversely, don't view Guardado as a particularly strong NL bet since Todd Coffey owns far better skills. While Eddie might safe a dozen or more games if everything breaks right, I simply don't trust his flyball tendency in that park. Gambling much more than a low double-digit FAAB bid doesn't make much sense unless you desperately need saves.