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 26th. 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
2ABCXYZ - Roger Clemens(43354)
2ABCXY - Chris Carpenter(45553)
ABXY - Brandon Webb(55543)
A - Aaron Harang(24404)

Harang's return frankly shocks me given his relatively frequent disasters, but with Arroyo and Coffey suffering other skill failures, seeing one Reds' pitcher here seems proper. Of course, the other three pitchers here remains the safest starters to own in the league.

abcxy - Chad Bradford(2543343554)
abxy - Dan Wheeler(2435452455)
ax - Adam Wainwright(3334435454)
ax - Matt Capps(4343255244)
ax - Ramon Ramirez(2340304431)
a - David Borkowski(2443222455)
x - Brandon Lyon(3533334352)

The lack of a closer here just strikes me as weird, but both Capps and Lyon just might emerge into more significant roles by the deadline. Snagging them now off the waiver wire offers plenty of potential profit and very little downside.

2
3BCXYZ - Roy Oswalt(34432)
3AXcz - John Smoltz(45533)
3BCYZ - Jake Peavy(43203)
3bcz - Ryan Madson(04230)
BCYZ - Andy Pettitte(25524)
B - Dontrelle Willis(43532)
Zach Duke(42230)

3abcxyz - Billy Wagner(5553345535)
BCZaby - Aaron Heilman(2255044342)
abcxyz - Chad Qualls(4534443545)
abcxyz - Trevor Hoffman(4455314034)
a - Aaron Fultz(2444233355)
y - Arthur Rhodes(0324222143)

3
ABCXYZ - Ben Sheets(35504)
AC - Brad Penny(54434)
C - Jeff Weaver(45001)
X - Bronson Arroyo(30332)
Livan Hernandez(23032)

abcyz - Jason Isringhausen(3354235434)
abcyz - Tom Gordon(2425542325)
bcxyz - Mike Gonzalez(2533343423)
bcyz - Eric Gagne(44)
cxz - Salomon Torres(3435345434)
C - Glendon Rusch(4324423432)
z - Trever Miller(5352524333)

A
BCXY - Pedro Martinez(14430)
CXYZ - Greg Maddux(24444)
CX - Jason Schmidt(54234)
B - Brett Myers(04345)
X - Josh Johnson(24353)
X - Anthony Reyes(32443)
X - Chris Capuano(04031)
Aaron Sele(54430)
David Bush(44430)
Tomo Ohka(04335)
Alay Soler(44200)

Ohka's surprising success might make him good trade bait with the Brewers both rebuilding and contending, but given his overall skill level on the year, keeping him looks like the best option if you lack four solid starters.

B
CX - Cory Lidle(33523)
CZ - Carlos Zambrano(24433)
C - Doug Davis(23323)
Y - Paul Maholm(20354)
Y - Derek Lowe(20404)
Jon Lieber(03222)

Y - Rick Helling(522452445)
b - Matt Belisle(2243552354)

C
by - Kerry Wood(4350)
Z - Oliver Perez(00330)
Matt Morris(42430)
Dave Williams(13130)

X
Elizardo Ramirez(34343)
Mike Thompson(33333)

Y
abcxyz - Ryan Dempster(4444452453)

Though Dempster dipped down over the last week, he remains the Cubs' unquestioned closer and almost certainly won't switch teams any time soon. Consider buying low if you need saves.

Z
Jason Marquis(43323)
Tim Hudson(04033)
Mark Mulder(02020)
John Van Benschoten

a
bcxyz - Brad Lidge(3442244444)
bcxyz - Heath Bell(5544315144)
bcxyz - Bob Wickman(3315335535)
bcxy - Brian Fuentes(4434333244)
bcxz - Scott Williamson(4344443244)
cxyz - Bob Howry(5434455233)
bxy - Derrick Turnbow(3023505324)
bxz - Duaner Sanchez(4344544444)
cyz - Eddie Guardado(5414334554)
bx - Scott Eyre(4543435243)
bx - Russ Springer(3242344444)
by - Brad Thompson(4231133332)
cz - Luis Vizcaino(2315455424)
cz - Armando Benitez(2355144412)
xy - Chad Cordero(5444134333)
xy - Jonathan Broxton(4133325534)
xz - Gary Majewski(3453223454)
xz - Greg Aquino(3343323442)
c - Randy Choate(5023400454)
x - Jason Standridge(4453444454)
x - Bill Bray(4434433543)
x - Fernando Nieve(3442244444)
x - Giovanni Carrara(4245345523)
x - Cla Meredith(4452035344)
x - Takashi Saito(5234244541)
x - Jorge Julio(4345453321)
z - Elmer Dessens(2444212354)
Taylor Tankersley(2335544452)
Tim Hamulack(0344414414)
Logan Kensing(4251542141)
Tyler Johnson(0323543344)
Damaso Marte(3454003423)

Ignore Dessens' recent inconsistency. His overall body of work out of the bullpen, coupled with the easier opposition he'll face as a Dodger, makes him a good candidate to complete anyone's pitching staff.

Elsewhere in the NL West, the acquisition of Scott Williamson and recent demotions Scott Cassidy, Brian Sikorski, and Brian Sweeney leave Cla Meredith in a central middle relief role. With impressive control and a superb ground-fly ratio over 5.00, he could emerge as a competent replacement for Scott Linebrink if the Padres sell high on another top set-up man.

b
y - Clay Hensley(44334)

cxyz - Scott Linebrink(3435342222)
cxy - Jose Valverde(3343234432)
cyz - Danny Kolb(2434354534)
cyz - Braden Looper(1345443233)
cyz - Mike DeJean(23)
xy - Will Ohman(3245533444)
xy - Brian Shackelford(0344301354)
xy - Roberto Hernandez(3343333333)
c - John Grabow(3154544554)
c - Jose Mesa(4332442302)
x - Randy Flores(0433034443)
y - Macay McBride(4055043354)
y - Brandon Medders(3513443335)
y - Mike Wuertz(4403441)
y - David Weathers(3223434314)
y - Rheal Cormier(3243242302)
y - Jonah Bayliss(342)
Franquelis Osoria(4353255020)
Roberto Novoa(5334222113)
Ryan Wagner

c
x - Pedro Feliciano(3032535342)
z - Tyler Yates(5343134424)
z - Steve Kline(3032553545)
z - Brian Shouse(4332553320)
z - Ray King(3242020334)
Oscar Villarreal(0334401323)
Doug Brocail(520432)
Mike Adams(21)

x
z - Alan Embree(4345230333)
Joe Borowski(1553343425)
Rick White(4434334233)
Casey Daigle(3543024334)
Joe Beimel(3245333243)
Vinnie Chulk(3423533324)
Saul Rivera(2332333433)

y
Scott Munter(4254340341)
Mike Burns(2432244423)
Jay Bergmann(3412133345)
Jose Capellan(1432331232)

z
Juan Cruz(30320)

Danys Baez(3323322542)
Kevin Gryboski(4232)

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: My first response to the Carlos Lee deal was surprise that Milwaukee failed to obtain a single top prospect, reportedly passing on a future All-Star like Erick Aybar among several other possibilities. However, given the Brewers' fervent desire to surpass a .500 record for the first time since joining the NL, I like that Doug Melvin managed to fill multiple needs. Kevin Mench possesses as much upside as Carlos Lee with an OPS that could approach .850, a reasonable replacement for Lee's likely output over the balance of the year given his previous fall downturns. Hopefully Ned Yost also will boost Mench's confidence by demonstrating the faith in the Big Giant Head that Buck Showalter seemingly always lacked. If Mench continues his second-half surge, he at least will possess plenty of trade value this winter, if not validate the trade entirely on his own. If they shop Mench, they'll receive at least a comparable return to the draft picks likely headed to the Rangers once Lee finds far greener pastures somewhere like Baltimore this winter.

Including the swap of Laynce Nix for Nelson Cruz is a loss for Milwaukee, but with Corey Hart, Gabe Gross, and Anthony Gwynn already fighting for at-bats, Cruz appeared unlikely to receive a long look on the Brewers even without Mench joining the club. A-ball southpaw Julian Cordero also doesn't appear a significant factor.

No, the key to this trade is the Brewers' acquisition of Francisco Cordero, which stabilizes a tremendously leaky bullpen further depleted by Jose Capellan's injury. Since losing his closer's job to Akinori Otsuka at the end of April, Cordero owns a 2.77 ERA on a 46:13 K:BB in 39.2 IP with 33 H and 3 HR. He ranked with the safest relievers to own in the AL despite pitching in of baseball's best batters' parks, and if we ignore his home numbers, he'd hold a 3.20 ERA on a 25:7 K:BB in 25.1 IP with 22 H and only 1 HR.

Looking at the deal as two trades, Lee for Mench and Cruz for Cordero, Nix, and Julian Cordero, provides a far better breakdown of the talent involved, as well as illustrating the upside for both teams. Fantasy owners should break the bank for Lee, consider a significant bid for Mench, offer no less than several dollars for Cordero given his potential to close, and ante a couple of bucks on Cruz to see if he somehow supplants Mark DeRosa in right field. Obviously ignore Julian Cordero, as well as Laynce Nix, who probably needs to join Brad Nelson at AA Huntsville to see if the lesser level of competition will allow him to reestablish his credentials at the plate.