Today's Fantasy Rx

Arizona: Byung-Hyun Kim, RH Starter
1-5 on a 27:12 K:BB in 36 IP over 6 GS
with 29 H, 6 HR, and a 53-29 G-F; 4.00 ERA.
Kim hit the DL May 5th with a right ankle contusion, and then he strained his left hamstring last night in a rehab start at AAA Tucson. However he dominated in four of his six April starts, and aside from a slightly elevated homer rate, all his skills suggest he belongs in a rotation. As long as you won't lose Kim if Arizona deals him to the other league as rumored, I suggest you attempt to acquire him now since I only expect his value to increase for the rest of the year.

April Underachiever: Mike Myers, LH Reliever
Old stats: 0-0 on a 1:4 K:BB in 5.1 IP over 9 G
with 8 H, 0 HR, and an 18-3 G-F; 8.44 ERA.
Recommendation: wait.
Stats since recommendation: 0-0 on a 7:2 K:BB in 6.2 IP over 14 G
with 6 H, 0 HR, and a 2.70 ERA.

Atlanta: Shane Reynolds, RH Starter
3-1 on a 25:11 K:BB in 39.2 IP over 7 GS
with 39 H, 7 HR, and a 58-40 G-F; 4.99 ERA.

Reynolds' 04445 five-start QA log and nearly all his skill ratios indicate dramatically higher upside than suggested by his current ERA. Although he isn't particularly dominant, he's compiled a solid career due to excellent control, and his 2.5 BB/9 looks fine to me. While he may be costly to acquire in many leagues, Reynolds possesses substantially greater immediate potential than otherwise comparable starters likely available at a similar trade cost.

April Underachiever: Greg Maddux, RH Starter
Old stats: 2-3 on a 20:7 K:BB in 33.1 IP over 6 GS
with 42 H, 7 HR, and a 47-46 G-F; 5.94 ERA.
Recommendation: acquire.
Stats since recommendation: 1-2 on a 21:10 K:BB in 30 IP over 5 GS
with 33 H, 4 HR, and a 5.10 ERA.

Internet Challenge

SP(6)
Curt Schilling: Sat:SD(B.Lawrence)
Matt Morris: Sat:@PIT(J.Suppan)
Mike Mussina: Fri:TOR(K.Escobar)
Kevin Millwood: Fri:@MON(Z.Day)
Wade Miller: Fri:CHC(C.Zambrano)
Mark Prior: Fri:@HOU(S.Linebrink)
Kurt Ainsworth: Sat:@COL(S.Chacon)

No starts: Randy, Pedro, Oswalt, K.Wood, R.Halladay, and J.Schmidt.

San Francisco's trip to Coors gives us six easy choices, however we're irritated that the CHC/PIT rainout on Tuesday pushed Prior to Friday, both ruining Kerry's double and leaving us with only five starts in the first half of this week.

Offensively, Roberts remains on the DL, we don't believe Jose Hernandez will sustain his power demonstration from earlier this week, and Aramis Ramirez isn't showing us enough to play him. While we like Helton and Orlando Cabrera, we don't see anyone we want to bench for them without going over the cap.

The Umpire Hunter(7th lg; 236th overall)
Week 8b: May 23-May 25

C	Jorge Posada		1120
C	Toby Hall		460
1B	Frank Thomas		920
1B	Aubrey Huff		610
2B	Alfonso Soriano		1460
2B	Luis Castillo		1210
3B	Aaron Boone		1010
3B	Hank Blalock		500
SS	Alex Rodriguez		2010
SS	Nomar Garciaparra	1330
OF	Vlad Guerrero		2010
OF	Lance Berkman		1640
OF	Manny Ramirez		1610
OF	Carl Everett		850
OF	Hideki Matsui		750
OF	Austin Kearns		650
DH	Preston Wilson		1220
DH	Erubiel Durazo		520

SP	Curt Schilling		1610
SP	Matt Morris		1300
SP	Mike Mussina		1210
SP	Kevin Millwood		1010
SP	Wade Miller		990
SP	Mark Prior		750
RP	Scott Williamson	960
RP	Mike MacDougal		750
RP	Tim Worrell		740
RP	Matt Mantei		700

Total Salary for Week 8b: 	29900

Today's Fantasy Rx: Regarding ballparks, the biggest statistical shocks of the season are that PacBell is playing fairly neutral after a year as the second-best pitchers' park in the game, and the appearance of PNC Park at the very bottom of scoring. Only the 6.7 runs per game allowed at Dodger Stadium rank below PNC's 7.1 RPG, which partially explains the great starts of Jeffs Suppan and D'Amico. Anyone seeking safe NL middle relievers should consider certain Pirates, particularly Brian Meadows, Joe Beimel, and Scott Sauerbeck, in addition to the bullpen corps in Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, San Diego, and San Francisco.