Today's Fantasy Rx

Today we conclude our presentation of the 2006 Fantasy Baseball All-Star Teams. To compile these rosters, we're employing traditional 5x5 stats with OBP/SLG to resolve any otherwise tight races. We're also using the current All-Star roster rules, including:

At least one representative from every team;

At least two representatives from every fielding position;

Twelve pitchers, including at least five starters and three relievers;

and five deserving candidates for the 32nd spot on each team.

Rotohelp's 2006 National League Fantasy Baseball All-Stars

Catcher: Like Joe Mauer in the AL, Atlanta's Brian McCann faces no serious contender for the starting job. I'm tempted to slot Josh Bard in the back-up job due to his outstanding performance in a limited role, but despite the lack of impressive alternatives, Arizona's Johnny Estrada appears an acceptable option. Paul Lo Duca and Ronny Paulino head the also-rans.

First Base: Despite extremely similar numbers, Philadelphia's Ryan Howard edges the Cardinals' Albert Pujols on the strength of an extra ten homers, though both make the team. Second Base: Philadelphia's Chase Utley laps the field with Alfonso Soriano thankfully shunted to the outfield. A second-half slump cost Dan Uggla the back-up job, which goes to San Francisco's Ray Durham in a very tight race.

Third Base: Perhaps a half-dozen third basemen deserve serious consideration, though despite Freddy Sanchez's top BA, Florida's Miguel Cabrera snatches the start due to superior power numbers. David Wright then edges Sanchez and Garrett Atkins for the reserve job thanks to his overall 5x5 contributions, though I suspect both Sanchez and Atkins will steal bench spots as we finish this team.

Shortstop: New York's Jose Reyes wins this contest by a mile despite superb seasons from Hanley Ramirez, Jimmy Rollins, Felipe Lopez, and Rafael Furcal. Florida's Ramirez edges his fellow speedsters for the back-up slot.

Outfield: Obviously Washington's Alfonso Soriano paces the field here, though Colorado's Matt Holliday and the Mets' Carlos Beltran remain worthy starters. With no other five-category studs available, Pittsburgh's Jason Bay makes it for his all-around effectiveness, Atlanta's Andruw Jones wins a spot for his power, and Chicago's Juan Pierre completes the outfield back-ups with his league-leading steal total.

Starting Pitcher: Among the multitude of deserving choices, the Cardinals' Chris Carpenter barely merits the start here over Arizona's Brandon Webb and the Astros' Roy Oswalt. Exceeding both 200 strikeouts and 15 wins then requires the inclusion of Chicago's Carlos Zambrano and Atlanta's John Smoltz, along with Aaron Harang, who makes it onto the bench.

Relief Pitcher: In a very bad year for NL closers, only San Diego's Trevor Hoffman and New York's Billy Wagner truly deserve inclusion here. Six wins, over a hundred strikeouts, and fantastic qualitative stats earns the Dodgers' Takashi Saito the third spot despite the superior save totals of Joe Borowski, Tom Gordon, and Bob Wickman, though Francisco Cordero also merits a brief mention for his 10 wins and 16 saves.

Cincinnati's Harang certainly warrants one of the four remaining pitching slots, as does Reds' teammate Bronson Arroyo. With no Brewer particularly impressing me, Milwaukee's Cordero lands a spot here due to his quantitative contribution.

Bench: Both Pittsburgh's Sanchez and Colorado's Atkins simply require spots here, as does Houston's Lance Berkman. A combination of speed, power, and the second-highest run total in the league earn Philadelphia's Jimmy Rollins the final spot here.

32nd Man: Following the lead of Phil Garner, five pitchers will comprise this vote. A lack of saves requires the inclusion of Florida's Joe Borowski and Philadelphia's Tom Gordon. San Diego's Jake Peavy only failed to hit 15 wins and a sub-4.00 ERA due to bad luck as he still exceeded 200 strikeouts with impressive peripherals. Sixteen wins secures a slot for the Dodgers' Derek Lowe, and lastly, after leading the majors in ERA for half of the season, Florida's Josh Johnson edges teammate Anibal Sanchez to complete this quintet due to superior quantitative stats and an extra 40+ innings that magnify his qualitative contribution.

Today's Fantasy Rx: Once your league's website publishes final/official standings, remember to print out or at least save off all your league results for future reference. For each of our teams, we generally keep copies of the extended league standings and complete player stats for everyone we owned during the season.