Today's Fantasy Rx

Colorado: 6 Road games: 3 at Arizona; 3 at Milwaukee.
Houston: 7 Home games: 3 vs. Milwaukee; 4 vs. Pittsburgh.

Arizona: 7 Home games: 3 vs. Colorado; 4 vs. San Diego.
Boston: 7 Home games: 4 vs. Tampa Bay; 3 vs. Baltimore.
San Francisco: 7 Home games: 4 vs. St. Louis; 3 vs. Los Angeles.

Chicago Cubs: 7 games: 4 Home vs. Philadelphia; 3 Road at St. Louis.
Montreal: 7 games: 3 Road at NewYork Mets; 4 Home vs. Florida.

Florida: 7 games: 3 Home vs. Atlanta; 4 Road at Montreal.
San Diego: 7 games: 3 Home vs. Los Angeles; 4 Road at Arizona.
St. Louis: 7 games: 4 Road at San Francisco; 3 Home vs. Chicago Cubs.
Tampa Bay: 7 games: 4 Road at Boston; 3 vs. New York Yankees.

Philadelphia: 7 Road games: 4 at Chicago Cubs; 3 at Atlanta.
Pittsburgh: 7 Road games: 3 at Cincinnati; 4 at Houston.

Cleveland: 5 Home games: 2 vs. NewYorkYankees; 3 vs. Detroit.

New YorkYankees: 5 Road games: 2 at Cleveland; 3 at Tampa Bay.
All other teams play six games.

Pitchers of interest with two starts(whom we'd start if we owned them):
Kevin Appier: Tue:OAK(Zito); Sun:@SEA(Moyer)
Curt Schilling: Mon:COL(Hampton); Sat:SD(Lawrence)
Greg Maddux: Mon:@FLO(Burnett); Sat:PHI(Person)
Tom Glavine: Mon:@FLO(Ju.Tavarez); Sun:PHI(Padilla)
Jason Johnson: Mon:TOR(Halladay); Sun:@BOS(D.Lowe)
Derek Lowe: Tue:TB(P.Wilson); Sun:BAL(Ja.Johnson)
Mark Buehrle: Tue:MIN(Joh.Santana); Sun:KC(Suppan)
Kerry Wood: Mon:PHI(Person); Sat:@STL(Simontacchi)
Matt Clement: Tue:PHI(Padilla); Sun:@STL(Morris)
Ryan Dempster: Mon:PIT(J.Anderson); Sun:@NYM(Trachsel)
Mark Redman: Tue:KC(Suppan); Sun:@CLE(Sabathia)
A.J. Burnett: Mon:ATL(Maddux); Sat:@MON(Ohka)
Wade Miller: Mon:MIL(Rusch); Sat:PIT(J.Anderson)
Jeff Suppan: Tue:@DET(Redman); Sun:@CHW(Buehrle)
Odalis Perez: Mon:@SD(Lawrence); Sun:@SF(Schmidt)
Glendon Rusch: Mon:@HOU(W.Miller); Sun:COL(Hampton)
Rick Reed: Mon:@CHW(Ritchie); Sun:TOR(Halladay)
Tomo Ohka: Mon:@NYM(Trachsel); Sat:FLO(Burnett)
Bartolo Colon: Tue:@NYM(D'Amico); Sun:FLO(Ju.Tavarez)
Steve Trachsel: Mon:MON(Ohka); Sun:CIN(Dempster)
Andy Pettitte(?): Tue:@CLE(D.Baez); Sun(?):@TB(P.Wilson)
Barry Zito: Tue:@ANA(Appier); Sun:@TEX(I.Valdes)
Robert Person: Mon:@CHC(Wood); Sat:@ATL(Maddux)
Vicente Padilla: Tue:@CHC(Clement); Sun:@ATL(Glavine)
Brian Lawrence: Mon:LA(O.Perez); Sat:@ARI(Schilling)
Brett Tomko: Tue:LA(Ashby); Sun:@ARI(B.Anderson)
Jamie Moyer:Tue:TEX(I.Valdes); Sun:ANA(Appier)
Livan Hernandez: Mon:STL(Simontacchi); Sat:LA(Nomo)
Jason Schmidt: Tue:STL(Morris); Sun:LA(O.Perez)
Matt Morris: Tue:@SF(Schmidt); Sun:CHC(Clement)
Paul Wilson: Tue:@BOS(D.Lowe); Sun:NYY(Pettitte?)
Ismael Valdes: Tue:@SEA(Moyer); Sun:OAK(Zito)
Roy Halladay: Mon:@BAL(Jas.Johnson); Sun:@MIN(R.Reed)

Diamond Challenge

We expected to pick up either Nomar or Hunter this week, but as we're quite satisifed with the team we ended up fielding, including five starters with double starts, we'll again wait another week.

SP(6)
Randy Johnson: Fri:SD(Peavy)
Pedro Martinez: Thu:TB(L. de los Santos)
Curt Schilling: Mon:COL(Hampton); Sat:SD(Lawrence)
Mike Mussina: Fri:@TB(Jo.Sosa)
Roger Clemens: DL
Matt Morris: Tue:@SF(Schmidt); Sun:CHC(Clement)
Tim Hudson: Wed:@ANA(Sele)
Javier Vazquez: Wed:@NYM(Estes)
Barry Zito: Tue:@ANA(Appier); Sun:@TEX(I.Valdes)
Kerry Wood: Mon:PHI(Person); Sat:@STL(Simontacchi)
Roy Oswalt: Fri:PIT(Fogg)
Eric Gagne: 6 Road games: 3 at San Diego; 3 at San Francisco.
Brian Lawrence: Mon:LA(O.Perez); Sat:@ARI(Schilling)

While we'd love to run out Pedro or Mussina against Tampa, and Randy, Hudson, Vazquez, and Oswalt all look appealing, we'll stick to our established strategy, deploying Gagne and the five doubles of Schilling, Morris, Zito, Wood, and Lawrence.

We have the flexibility to sit all four Rockies as Colorado begins a two week road trip. Finally, while Hunter is very interesting right now and Nomar would be nice, we're comfortable deploying Drew given that he'll likely bat in at least six games and hopefully will continue his recent power surge. Klesko joins the Rockies on our bench.

Shadow of the Umpire(1st lg; 1st div; 1st(tie) overall; 62nd(tie) field)
& Interview with the Umpire(1st lg; 1st div; 1st(tie) overall; 62nd(tie) field)
Week 17: July 22-July 28

C 	Jorge Posada		990
C	A.J. Pierzynski		460
1B	Jason Giambi		1640
1B	Paul Konerko		1220
2B	Luis Castillo		1000
2B	Alfonso Soriano		900
3B	Eric Chavez		1070
3B	Shea Hillenbrand	450
SS	Alex Rodriguez		1880
SS	Jimmy Rollins		940
OF	Vlad Guerrero		1880
OF	Ichiro Suzuki		1330
OF	Lance Berkman		1320
OF	Adam Dunn		710
OF	Daryle Ward		620
OF	Jeremy Giambi		500
DH	Sammy Sosa		1900
DH	J.D. Drew		1010

SP	Curt Schilling		1540
SP	Matt Morris		1190
SP	Barry Zito		1080
SP	Kerry Wood		1050
SP	Eric Gagne		500
SP	Brian Lawrence		480
RP	Jason Isringhausen	1290
RP	Byung-Hyun Kim		1200
RP	Mike Williams		900
RP	Eddie Guardado		900

Diamond Challenge 2nd Season

SP(6)
Randy Johnson: Fri:SD(Peavy)
Pedro Martinez: Thu:TB(L. de los Santos)
Curt Schilling: Mon:COL(Hampton); Sat:SD(Lawrence)
Mike Mussina: Fri:@TB(Jo.Sosa)
Roger Clemens: DL
Matt Morris: Tue:@SF(Schmidt); Sun:CHC(Clement)
Freddy Garcia: Wed:TEX(K.Rogers or Myette/Benoit)
Javier Vazquez: Wed:@NYM(Estes)
Barry Zito: Tue:@ANA(Appier); Sun:@TEX(I.Valdes)
Kerry Wood: Mon:PHI(Person); Sat:@STL(Simontacchi)
Derek Lowe: Tue:TB(P.Wilson); Sun:BAL(Ja.Johnson)
Roy Oswalt: Fri:PIT(Fogg)
Eric Gagne: 6 Road games: 3 at San Diego; 3 at San Francisco.
Roy Halladay: Mon:@BAL(Jas.Johnson); Sun:@MIN(R.Reed )

Schilling, Zito, Wood, Lowe, and Halladay look automatic, so our only question is whether we take Morris with two tough road starts or Gagne. We can likely make a strong run for both our league and division, and we need saves in the division more than wins or qualitative damage. As we're running Stewart to open up cap room, we'll keep using Gagne.

Helton, Walker, and Pierre sit on the road, and Drew joins them on the bench.

Umpire: The Masquerade(2nd lg; 4th div; 276th overall)
Week 17: July 22-July 28

C 	Jorge Posada		990
C	Michael Barrett		590
1B	Jason Giambi		1640
1B	Paul Konerko		1220
2B	Luis Castillo		1000
2B	Alfonso Soriano		900
3B	Mike Lowell		870
3B	Shea Hillenbrand	450
SS	Alex Rodriguez		1880
SS	Nomar Garciaparra	1120
OF	Sammy Sosa		1900
OF	Ichiro Suzuki		1330
OF	Lance Berkman		1320
OF	Pat Burrell		920
OF	Torii Hunter		830
OF	Adam Dunn		710
DH	Daryle Ward		620
DH	Jeremy Giambi		500

SP	Curt Schilling		1540
SP	Barry Zito		1080
SP	Kerry Wood		1050
SP	Derek Lowe		870
SP	Eric Gagne		500
SP	Roy Halladay		490
RP	Jason Isringhausen	1290
RP	Mike Williams		900
RP	Eddie Guardado		900
RP	Scott Stewart		490

Internet Challenge

After dropping Izzy for Konerko, we're staying with Kim, Guardado, Mike Williams, and Julio indefinitely.

SP(6)
Pedro Martinez: Thu:TB(L. de los Santos)
Curt Schilling: Mon:COL(Hampton)
Matt Morris: Tue:@SF(Schmidt)
Javier Vazquez: Wed:@NYM(Estes)
Barry Zito: Tue:@ANA(Appier)
Kerry Wood: Mon:PHI(Person)
Eric Gagne: 3 Road games at San Diego.
Brian Lawrence: Mon:LA(O.Perez)

No starts: Randy, Mussina, Clemens, and Oswalt.

Pedro, Schilling, Wood, and Lawrence look great, and we'll deploy Gagne and then Zito over Vazquez.

Helton, Walker, and Pierre will sit on the road, as will Bonds since he might not play until Friday; Klesko joins them on the bench due to lack of salary room.

Once again, we probably should replace Durazo, but Giambi and Piatt aren't playing, Gibbons is playing great but hurting, Winn might miss a few games if traded, and Vernon Wells hasn't walked in three weeks, making his high BA a mirage. We'll run out Uribe this week and see if he can finally maintain a hot streak, though we'll examine this situation yet again Friday morning.

The Umpire Hunter(1st lg; 4th overall)
Week 17a: July 22 - July 25

C 	Jorge Posada		990
C	A.J. Pierzynski		460
1B	Jason Giambi		1640
1B	Paul Konerko		1220
2B	Luis Castillo		1000
2B	Alfonso Soriano		900
3B	Eric Chavez		1070
3B	Shea Hillenbrand	450
SS	Alex Rodriguez		1880
SS	Jimmy Rollins		940
OF	Sammy Sosa		1900
OF	Ichiro Suzuki		1330
OF	Lance Berkman		1320
OF	J.D. Drew		1010
OF	Adam Dunn		710
OF	Daryle Ward		620
DH	Vlad Guerrero		1880
DH	Juan Uribe		500

SP	Pedro Martinez		1770
SP	Curt Schilling		1540
SP	Barry Zito		1080
SP	Kerry Wood		1050
SP	Eric Gagne		500
SP	Brian Lawrence		480
RP	Byung-Hyun Kim		1200
RP	Mike Williams		900
RP	Eddie Guardado		900
RP	Jorge Julio		750

Fantasy Baseball & Budget Baseball
(Same game = same rosters and moves for both teams)

We have no relievers on the bench, so we'll stay with Smoltz, Isringhausen, Kim, and Guardado until further notice.

SP(6)
Randy Johnson: Fri:SD(Peavy)
Curt Schilling: Mon:COL(Hampton); Sat:SD(Lawrence)
Pedro Martinez: Thu:TB(L. de los Santos)
Mike Mussina: Fri:@TB(Jo.Sosa)
Roger Clemens: DL
Matt Morris: Tue:@SF(Schmidt); Sun:CHC(Clement)
Javier Vazquez: Wed:@NYM(Estes)
Kerry Wood: Mon:PHI(Person); Sat:@STL(Simontacchi)
Roy Oswalt: Fri:PIT(Fogg)
Eric Gagne: 6 Road games: 3 at San Diego; 3 at San Francisco.

Schilling, Morris, Wood, and Gagne all work here, and since we have some cap room, we'll take two of the strongest offenses in baseball against two of the worst by deploying Pedro and Moose. We considered adding Zito and dropping Clemens, but we're happy with our current pitchers without burning one of our four remaining moves.

Helton, Walker, Pierre, and Jose Ortiz sit, and we'll use Uribe since there isn't another shortstop we really want to pick up. Actually that's not true - we'd really like to add Nomar, and with his great week at home against Tampa Bay and Baltimore, we'll burn a move here, dropping Jose Ortiz.

Along with the four Rockies, we'll sit the slumping Lowell, Jeremy Giambi, and B. Boone, along with Drew since we have more alternatives here. With regards to playing our two Yankee 1B, even though New York only plays five games, they avoid both Cleveland's and Tampa Bay's lefties, so our guys play five high-upside games against generally weak pitching.

The Umpire Chronicles(1st lg; 168th overall)
& Umpire with a Soul(6th lg; 428th overall)
Week 17: July 22-July 28

C	Paul Lo Duca		1640
C	A.J. Pierzynski		1000
1B	Jason Giambi		3320
1B	Steve Cox		1160
2B	Alfonso Soriano		1800
2B	Junior Spivey		1500
3B	Eric Chavez		2270
3B	Aramis Ramirez		1590
SS	Alex Rodriguez		3430
SS	Nomar Garciaparra	2160
OF	Lance Berkman		2540
OF	Cliff Floyd		2300
OF	Torii Hunter		1710
OF	Adam Dunn		1610
OF	Daryle Ward		1590
OF	Corey Patterson		1370
DH	Sammy Sosa		3480
DH	Nick Johnson		1200

SP	Curt Schilling		3160
SP	Pedro Martinez		2950
SP	Mike Mussina		2940
SP	Matt Morris		2650
SP	Kerry Wood		2300
SP	Eric Gagne		1230
RP	John Smoltz		2610
RP	Jason Isringhausen	2370
RP	Byung-Hyun Kim		2230
RP	Eddie Guardado		1690

Mid-Season Fantasy Baseball
SP(6)
Randy Johnson: Fri:SD(Peavy)
Curt Schilling: Mon:COL(Hampton); Sat:SD(Lawrence)
Pedro Martinez: Thu:TB(L. de los Santos)
Freddy Garcia: Wed:TEX(K.Rogers or Myette/Benoit)
Barry Zito: Tue:@ANA(Appier); Sun:@TEX(I.Valdes)
Roy Oswalt: Fri:PIT(Fogg)
A.J. Burnett: Mon:ATL(Maddux); Sat:@MON(Ohka)
Roy Halladay: Mon:@BAL(Jas.Johnson); Sun:@MIN(R.Reed)
Eric Gagne: 6 Road games: 3 at San Diego; 3 at San Francisco.
Odalis Perez: Mon:@SD(Lawrence); Sun:@SF(Schmidt)

We'll take our five doubles here with Schilling, Zito, Burnett, Halladay, and Odalis, and then we'll deploy Gagne over Pedro for salary reasons.

Helton and Walker sit on the road, Hall and Jeremy Giambi sit while not playing every day, Castillo and Derrek Lee sit while slumping, Bonds is injured, and we don't need to use Eckstein's cheap salary.

Umpire in Brooklyn(5th lg; 182nd overall)
Week 17: July 22-July 28

C	Paul Lo Duca		1640
C	A.J. Pierzynski		1000
1B	Paul Konerko		2410
1B	Steve Cox		1160
2B	Alfonso Soriano		1800
2B	Junior Spivey		1500
3B	Eric Chavez		2270
3B	Eric Hinske		1500
SS	Alex Rodriguez		3430
SS	Nomar Garciaparra	2160
OF	Lance Berkman		2540
OF	Albert Pujols		2500
OF	Ichiro Suzuki		2390
OF	Pat Burrell		2050
OF	Torii Hunter		1710
OF	Adam Dunn		1610
DH	Cliff Floyd		2300
DH	Mike Lowell		1920

SP	Curt Schilling		3160
SP	Barry Zito		2380
SP	A.J. Burnett		1600
SP	Roy Halladay		1230
SP	Eric Gagne		1230
SP	Odalis Perez		1070
RP	John Smoltz		2610
RP	Byung-Hyun Kim		2230
RP	Mike Williams		1790
RP	Eddie Guardado		1690

Today's Fantasy Rx: With the trading deadline looming a week from Wednesday, be wary of players rumored on the block. Especially in the points' games, you could lose several days of stats if they miss games while in transit, and some of these moves seem to take the better part of a week. I'm not saying that you shouldn't deploy trade bait, but if you have a choice, deploy someone like Lowell, who we expect to stay in Florida instead of someone like Derrek Lee, who could depart soon.