Today's Fantasy Rx

Welcome to the first week of our formal LPR rankings this season, 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 2007 QA scores for each starter, along with the 10 most recent QA scores for each reliever, tabulating all data through May 2nd. 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
3ACXYZ - Roy Halladay(44355)
3ACX - Josh Beckett(55445)
X - Joe Blanton(33433)

Blanton still is not a dominant force, but he finally seems a perfectly safe play in all formats. Of course, Josh Beckett's reemergence as a true ace qualifies as the big news here, though with his half-dozen wins, he should be untouchable in every league.
2
3ABX - C.C. Sabathia(44433)
ABCXYZ - Johan Santana(35542)
ABCX - Jeremy Bonderman(43443)
ACX - John Lackey(54334)
C - Jose Contreras(03432)

3abcxyz - Justin Duchscherer(5532523444)
3bcyz - Mariano Rivera(543214534)
abcxyz - Chad Bradford(3344443454)
abcxyz - Akinori Otsuka(5354342354)
abcxyz - Scot Shields(4540513433)
CZaby - Hector Carrasco(0544151443)
abcxy - J.J. Putz(3454432444)
BYby - Francisco Liriano
bcyz - Mike MacDougal(4154433303)
bxy - Alan Embree(3233143332)
by - Dennys Reyes(5440034014)
by - Brandon League
x - Mike Myers(4353030323)

3
BCZ - Felix Hernandez(540)
Bcz - Julian Tavarez(0303)
CZ - Andy Pettitte(04430)
C - Matt Clement
Y - Kevin Millwood(22242)
Z - Bartolo Colon(344)

abcxyz - Huston Street(1235533534)
bcz - Todd Jones(3332424424)
x - Aaron Fultz(3335340034)
z - Arthur Rhodes

A
BCZ - A.J. Burnett(44341)
BC - Erik Bedard(54305)
XY - James Shields(43355)
X - Daniel Cabrera(44344)
X - Nate Robertson(44442)
X - Daisuke Matsuzaka(53344)
X - Mark Buehrle(04543)
X - Javier Vazquez(42443)
X - Justin Verlander(44530)
X - Gil Meche(24334)
Adam Loewen(40442)
Jake Westbrook(40450)
Chad Gaudin(44502)
Jarrod Washburn(24442)

Bedard, Shields, Cabrera, and even Robertson all look like decent targets if you need a second-tier starter, though don't be surprised if each costs more than you want to pay after their fairly fast starts.

B
CYZ - Kelvim Escobar(4344)
XY - Curt Schilling(43343)
by - Fausto Carmona(0444)
Y - Mike Mussina(00)
Joe Saunders(342)
Cha Seung Baek(04)

C
Z - Rich Harden(535)
Jae Seo(03202)
Victor Zambrano(0)

abx - Scott Downs(4544544544)

I rarely recommend Jays' middle relievers, but Downs appears as dominant as anyone in the game right now. Take a chance if you need roster filler with high-K upside.

X
Y - Dan Haren(23354)
Carlos Silva(43234)
Jorge de la Rosa(33314)
Odalis Perez(03343)
Tomo Ohka(03333)

Y
Luke Hudson

Z
Esteban Loaiza

a
bcxyz - Bobby Jenks(4253343352)
bcyz - Francisco Rodriguez(3555424554)
bcyz - Juan Rincon(4424242444)
bcyz - Roberto Hernandez(0124435424)
bxy - Jon Papelbon(5444344450)
bxy - C.J. Wilson(2433445434)
bxy - Scott Feldman(4435244324)
cxz - Al Reyes(4444425454)
cxz - Rafael Betancourt(4352453444)
xyz - Justin Speier(5345335345)
bx - Tom Mastny(4543345344)
by - Pat Neshek(4530553344)
xy - J.C. Romero(4540444324)
xy - Joaquin Benoit(4444324343)
xz - Chris Ray(5544535145)

If the Indians shift from Borowski at any point, a silly idea given his relative effectiveness and the higher value of keeping the club's best relievers in middle relief, Mastny appears the best bet to inherit the closer's role. Cleveland simply seems to favor him more than Roberto Hernandez, the pre-season designated backup closer, the underrated Rafael Betancourt, and even heir-apparent Fernando Cabrera.

b - Shawn Camp(2444555243)
x - Hideki Okajima(5545155554)
x - Jamie Walker(4545440355)
x - David Aardsma(3554455244)
x - Brendan Donnelly(5254444513)
x - Jeremy Accardo(3434433455)
x - John Parrish(2555433333)
z - Jason Frasor(4452424521)
Danys Baez(4554424243)
Jay Marshall(3544315552)
Ron Mahay(3245444014)
Matt Guerrier(4434124242)

Although Accardo appears stuck in middle relief, the Jays' unsettled bullpen situation makes him a perfectly decent FAAB gamble if you need an extra arm.

b
y - Joe Kennedy(4432)

cxyz - Joe Nathan(2333453453)
cxyz - Kyle Farnsworth(5333143433)
cyz - Matt J. Miller
cy - Scott Williamson(245545)
cz - Kiko Calero(2343334332)
xy - Jesse Crain(3334414334)
yz - Fernando Rodney(3324325343)
y - Javier Lopez(4334)
y - Jason Standridge(121)
y - Brian Sikorski
y - Joe Nelson
y - Jon Huber
y - Wes Littleton
z - Mike Burns
Joel Pineiro(2550343324)
Fernando Cabrera(4425433)
Luis Vizcaino(3222422144)
Craig Breslow
Rafael Perez

c
xz - George Sherrill(4433333344)
yz - Mike Timlin(233324534)
z - Chris Reitsma(444421421)
z - David Riske(5234222324)
z - Eric Gagne(5344)
z - Jay Witasick(3055333)
Bobby Seay(3235343)
Jose Mesa(2522)
Octavio Dotel

x
Brian Bruney(3333325354)
Sean Henn(2335433341)

y
Joe Borowski(3341353352)
Brian Burres(232453)
Craig Hansen
Zach Miner
Sean Green

z
Manny Delcarmen
Ron Flores

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 2007.
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 2006.
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 2005.

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 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 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 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.

A - QA score of 4 or 5 in at least 50% of 2007 starts
B - QA score of 4 or 5 in at least 50% of 2006 starts
C - QA score of 4 or 5 in at least 50% of 2005 starts

X - QA score below 3 in no more than 20% of 2007 starts
Y - QA score below 3 in no more than 20% of 2006 starts
Z - QA score below 3 in no more than 20% of 2005 starts

a - QA score of 4 or 5 in at least 50% of 2007 relief outings
b - QA score of 4 or 5 in at least 50% of 2006 relief outings
c - QA score of 4 or 5 in at least 50% of 2005 relief outings

x - QA score below 3 in no more than 20% of 2007 relief outings
y - QA score below 3 in no more than 20% of 2006 relief outings
z - QA score below 3 in no more than 20% of 2005 relief outings

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

Internet Challenge

SP(6)
Johan Santana: Sat:BOS(Ju.Tavarez)
Roy Oswalt: No start.
Ben Sheets: Sun:PIT(T.Armas)
Jake Peavy: Sun:@FLO(S.Olsen)
Roy Halladay: Sat:@TEX(V.Padilla)
Brandon Webb: Sat:NYM(Jor.Sosa?)
Josh Beckett: No start.
Daisuke Matsuzaka: No start.
Dan Haren: Fri:@TB(C.Fossum)
Jon Papelbon: 3 Road at MIN.
Rich Harden: No start(DL)
Felix Hernandez: No start(DL)
Matt Cain: No start.

With six starts and only Halladay looking at all risky, we'll leave Papelbon benched due to the injury rumors.

Brian McCann's injury sends Iannetta into the lineup, and to get under the cap, we'll sub Willy Taveras for Garrett Atkins. Ryan Howard, Kaz Matsui, and J.D. Drew also remain seated.

Rotohelp.com(10th lg; 278th overall)
Week 5b: May 4-May 6

 
C	Chris Iannetta		340
C	Josh Bard		300 
1B	Albert Pujols		2050 
1B	Travis Hafner		1380
2B	Ian Kinsler		630
2B	Kelly Johnson		400 
3B	David Wright		1550
3B	Mark Teahen		750
SS	Jose Reyes		1610
SS	Bill Hall		900 
OF	Matt Holliday		1410
OF	Manny Ramirez		1390
OF	Alex Rios		1000 
OF	Delmon Young		750 
OF	Rocco Baldelli		750
OF	Shane Victorino		560 
DH	Hanley Ramirez		1100 
DH	Willy Taveras		860
 
SP	Johan Santana		1960 
SP	Ben Sheets		1220 
SP	Jake Peavy		1180 
SP	Roy Halladay		1140
SP	Brandon Webb		1130 
SP	Dan Haren		940
RP	Francisco Cordero	1260
RP	Takashi Saito		1200
RP	Ryan Dempster		1130
RP	Joe Borowski		1110

Total Week 5b Salary:		30000

Today's Fantasy Rx: Billy Beane largely remade Oakland's outfield this week, redealing Ryan Langerhans to the Nationals for potential OBP god Chris Snelling while also purchasing Ken Phelps All-Star Jack Cust from San Diego. Both players will receive a shot at regular playing time with Cust offering particular power upside since he should solidify the DH slot until Mike Piazza returns. Definitely bid for both players if looking for any offensive help at all.