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 August 30th. 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
2A - C.C. Sabathia(55544)
ABCXYZ - Johan Santana(45442)
AXax - Francisco Liriano(34440)
ABX - Jeremy Bonderman(34404)
Justin Verlander(22340)

23abcxyz - Mariano Rivera(4243452355)
abcxyz - Akinori Otsuka(5443445453)
abcxyz - Juan Rincon(5524243554)
abxyz - Scot Shields(2343444325)
abcx - J.J. Putz(3252445543)
Cax - Dennys Reyes(3543543054)
a - Jeremy Accardo(3334423442)

2
ABY - Felix Hernandez(43404)
BXY - Roy Halladay(33444)
B - Josh Beckett(53243)
X - Kevin Millwood(33425)
Y - Bartolo Colon(34340)

3bcyz - Julian Tavarez(3543134324)
abcxyz - B.J. Ryan(0445445344)
abxy - Huston Street(1554445342)
abxy - Justin Duchscherer(3544333544)
abxy - Todd Jones(5532555343)

3
ACXZ - Curt Schilling(43542)
BCY - A.J. Burnett(45322)
BCZ - Randy Johnson(25433)
CZ - Freddy Garcia(34224)

abcyz - Kiko Calero(4453532044)
abxyz - Mike Timlin(4453103314)
Travis Harper(2344521542)
Kevin Gregg(3434334224)

A
BY - Rich Harden(44400)
CZ - Jake Westbrook(35332)
B - Erik Bedard(44433)
X - Mike Mussina(53450)
Jered Weaver(14440)

B
CX - Cory Lidle(50340)
XY - Kelvim Escobar(52444)
Jose Contreras(34330)
Barry Zito(11433)
Jae Weong Seo(02420)
John Lackey(32022)

Escobar suddenly looks very solid, nevertheless while we still trust him to remain around $10, I no longer have any faith that he will dominate for any stretch of starts this season.

Y - Hector Carrasco(0522224334)
a - Scott Downs(5542344444)

C
Z - Carl Pavano
Odalis Perez(23440)
Nate Robertson(34333)

Zax - Joe Kennedy(4505543333)

X
James Shields(45433)
Dan Haren(55325)
Luke Hudson(30315)

Y
Esteban Loaiza(33543)

Z
David Wells(42143)
Mark Buehrle(14224)

a
bcxyz - Joe Nathan(4545545441)
bcxyz - Francisco Rodriguez(3354442224)
bcxy - Mike MacDougal(0544525435)
bcxy - Kyle Farnsworth(3425543450)
bxy - Bobby Jenks(4354244244)
b - Ambiorix Burgos(4452332332)
x - Joe Nelson(3344445534)
x - Jon Papelbon(4034453445)
x - Pat Neshek(4554553342)
x - Scott Feldman(4443343434)
x - C.J. Wilson(3453355435)
x - Mark Lowe(4335444502)
x - Brandon League(3545523404)
x - Wes Littleton(5334334441)
x - Fausto Carmona(5303344233)
Fernando Cabrera(2124344553)
Shawn Camp(4245255321)
Rafael Perez(3355143402)

b
cyz - Rafael Betancourt(3323224423)
cz - Octavio Dotel(343312)
yz - Ron Villone(3422301224)
y - David Riske(5324233410)
y - George Sherrill(5410303400)
y - Jay Witasick(2332123243)
Scott Sauerbeck(2324504200)

c
xz - Todd Williams(4431535332)
yz - Dustin Hermanson
x - J.C. Romero(3345342433)
z - Brendan Donnelly(4331045354)
z - LaTroy Hawkins(4151442242)
z - Keith Foulke(3533132441)
z - Brian Bruney(4333)
Mike Myers(3443350504)
Dan Miceli(1535233423)
Brian Meadows(2230253233)

x
y - Justin Speier(4454534441)
y - Fernando Rodney(5234535353)
Jimmy Gobble(4350044544)
Joel Zumaya(4334252343)
Joaquin Benoit(2530333432)
Craig Hansen(3352322422)
Sean Green(3333433330)

Despite the hype surrounding Zumaya and Hansen, neither appears deserving of a significant late-inning role at this time. Do not expect either to break camp in the spring as more than a middle reliever, though they retain plenty of long-term fantasy upside.

y
z - Jason Frasor(3333505335)
Mike Burns(4322444234)
Manny Delcarmen(4442222343)
Chris Ray(2341335352)
Ron Flores(3552302352)
Neal Cotts(5412132302)
Marco Carvajal

z
Rodrigo Lopez(43433)

Javier Lopez(5240503330)

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 the following skill qualifications: K>=IP-2, BB<=IP/3, H<=IP, HR<=1, and G-F>=1.00. Any starter who does not reach at least one of the required statistical goals or fails to pitch 5 innings earns a QA score of 0. 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 the following skill qualifications: K>=IP, BB=0, H<=IP, HR=0, and G-F>=1.00. Any reliever who does not reach at least one of the required statistical goals or fails to retire a batter earns a QA score of 0. 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.

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 will continue tomorrow with this week's NL LPR article.

Internet Challenge

With saves looking competitive and a need for another SP, we are adding Tampa closer Seth McClung and cutting Pat Burrell, who simply is not going to crack our lineup any time soon.

SP(6)
Johan Santana: No start.
Roy Oswalt: Sat:NYM(J.Maine) OR Sun:NYM(O.Hernandez)
Pedro Martinez: No start(DL)
Chris Carpenter: Fri:PIT(Z.Duke)
Randy Johnson: No start.
Jake Peavy: Sat:CIN(K.Lohse)
Roy Halladay: No start.
Curt Schilling: No start.
Felix Hernandez: Sun:@TB(C.Fossum)
John Lackey: No start.
Dan Haren: Sat:BAL(A.Loewen)
Francisco Liriano: No start(DL)
Seth McClung: 3 Home vs. SEA.

As we have only five starts, McClung completes our staff. Dempster and Street remain benched, and with the Indians heading to Texas, Victor subs for Mauer. The extra cap room lets us activate Figgins for Patterson, who looks likely to continue sitting this weekend. Kendrick, Encarnacion, and Tracy all stay seated.

Rotohelp.com(6th lg; 184th overall)
Week 22b: September 1-September 3

 
C	Victor Martinez		1020
C	Josh Willingham		340
1B	Travis Hafner		1180
1B	Ryan Howard		880
2B	Chase Utley		1190
2B	Ian Kinsler		400
3B	David Wright		1210
3B	Garrett Atkins		610 
SS	Felipe Lopez		1070
SS	Jose Reyes		1030
OF	Bobby Abreu		1790 
OF	Jason Bay		1380 
OF	Chone Figgins		1350
OF	Matt Holliday		1040 
OF	Jermaine Dye		840 
OF	Nick Swisher		620
DH	Albert Pujols		2060
DH	Mark Teixeira		1470 

SP	Roy Oswalt		1830 
SP	Chris Carpenter		1550
SP	Jake Peavy		1240 
SP	Felix Hernandez		960 
SP	Dan Haren		860
SP	Seth McClung		430
RP	J.J. Putz		890 
RP	Jon Papelbon		890
RP	Chris Ray		820
RP	Takashi Saito		750

Total Salary for Week 22b:	29660

Today's Fantasy Rx: Minnesota's acquisition of Phil Nevin looks like the biggest completed deal for any AL club at the waiver deadline, however Boston's pick-up of George Kottaras for David Wells remains the move with serious long-term implications. Of course, we do not expect Kottaras to switch organizations in time to reach the majors this year, leaving one more minor move as the true deadline sleeper. The Rangers grabbed Victor Diaz from the Mets, and despite his awful 2006 campaign, I fully expect him to challenge for a starting role next year. Anyone with his prospect profile deserves several chances, and if he joins Texas late this month, try to grab him for a buck on any rebuilding team.