Today's Fantasy Rx

Schedule recommendations for teams with 7 games

Good for hitters / Good for pitchers
Chicago White Sox: 1 Home vs. PHI; 3 Home vs. OAK; 3 Home vs. SEA.
Florida: 4 Road at NYM; 3 Home vs. CHC.
Good for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Milwaukee: 4 Home vs. PIT; 3 Home vs. CIN.
New York Mets: 4 Home vs. FLO; 3 Road at PHI.
Pittsburgh: 4 Road at Mil; 3 Road at HOU.

Schedule recommendations for teams with 6 games

Good for hitters / Good for pitchers
Atlanta: 1 Home vs. SF; 2 Road at PHI; 3 Road at MON.
Chicago Cubs: 3 Road at MON; 3 Road at FLO.
New York Yankees: 3 Home vs. CLE; 3 Home vs. BAL.
Oakland: 3 Road at CHW; 3 Road at TOR.
Philadelphia: 1 Road at CHW; 2 Home vs. ATL; 3 Home vs. NYM.
San Diego: 3 Road at STL; 3 Home vs. COL.

Good for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Anaheim: 3 Road at BOS; 3 Road at CLE.
Baltimore: 3 Road at TB; 3 Road at NYY.
Boston: 3 Home vs. ANA; 3 Home vs. TEX.
Cincinnati: 3 Home vs. HOU; 3 Road at MIL.
Cleveland: 3 Road at NYY; 3 Home vs. ANA.
Detroit: 3 Road at KC; 3 Road at TB.
Houston: 3 Road at CIN; 3 Home vs. PIT.
Los Angeles: 3 Road at ARI; 3 Road at STL.
Minnesota: 3 Home vs. TEX; 3 Home vs. KC.
Seattle: 3 Road at TOR; 3 Road at CHW.
Tampa Bay: 3 Home vs. BAL; 3 Home vs. DET.
Texas: 3 Road at MIN; 3 Road at BOS.

Bad for hitters / Good for pitchers
Arizona: 3 Home vs. LA; 3 Road at SF.
Colorado: 3 Road at SF; 3 Road at SD.

Bad for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Kansas City: 3 Home vs. DET; 3 Road at MIN.
Montreal: 3 Home vs. CHC; 3 Home vs. ATL.
St. Louis: 3 Home vs. SD; 3 Home vs. LA.
Toronto: 3 Home vs. SEA; 3 Home vs. OAK.

Pitchers with 2 starts(to deploy everywhere you own them):
Josh Beckett: Tue:@NYM(S.Trachsel); Sun:CHC(G.Maddux)
Rob Bell: Tue:BAL(Br.Chen); Sun:DET(N.Robertson)
Mark Buehrle: Mon:PHI(Br.Myers); Sat:SEA(R.Franklin)
Doug Davis: Tue:PIT(J.Van Benschoten); Sun:CIN(L.Hudson)
Rich Harden: Tue:@CHW(J.Grilli); Sun:@TOR(J.Towers)
Ben Hendrickson: Mon:PIT(J.Fogg); Sat:CIN(J.Hancock)
Livan Hernandez: Tue:CHC(M.Prior); Sun:ATL(J.Thomson)
Randy Johnson: Tue:LA(J.Weaver); Sun:@SF(B.Tomko)
Brian Lawrence: Tue:@STL(Wo.Williams); Sun:LA(J.Weaver)
Al Leiter: Mon:FLO(D.Willis); Sat:@PHI(C.Lidle)
Kyle Lohse: Tue:TEX(R.Drese); Sun:KC(M.Wood)
Noah Lowry: Mon:@ATL(J.Thomson); Sat:ARI(Ed.Gonzalez?)
Greg Maddux: Mon:@MON(R.Biddle); Sun:@FLO(J.Beckett)
Pete Munro: Mon:@CIN(L.Hudson); Sun:PIT(J.VanBenschoten)
Brett Myers: Mon:@CHW(M.Buehrle); Sun:NYM(S.Trachsel)
Nate Robertson: Mon:@KC(M.Wood); Sun:@TB(Ro.Bell)
Curt Schilling: Tue:ANA(J.Lackey); Sun:TEX(R.Drese)
John Thomson: Mon:SF(N.Lowry); Sun:@MON(L.Hernandez)
Brett Tomko: Tue:COL(J.Francis); Sun:ARI(Ra.Johnson)
Josh Towers: Tue:SEA(R.Villone); Sun:OAK(R.Harden)
Steve Trachsel: Tue:FLO(J.Beckett); Sun:@PHI(B.Myers)
Javier Vazquez: Tue:CLE(J.Westbrook); Sun:BAL(Br.Chen)
Ron Villone: Tue:@TOR(J.Towers); Sun:@CHW(J.Grilli)
Jeff Weaver: Mon:@ARI(Ra.Johnson); Sun:@STL(Wo.Williams)
Woody Williams: Tue:SD(B.Lawrence); Sun:LA(J.Weaver)
Dontrelle Willis: Mon:@NYM(A.Leiter); Sat:CHC(M.Clement)
Mike Wood: Mon:DET(N.Robertson); Sun:@MIN(K.Lohse)

Pitchers with 2 starts to deploy only in leagues that don't count qualitative stats:
Bruce Chen: Tue:@TB(Ro.Bell); Sun:@NYY(J.Vazquez)
Ryan Drese: Tue:@MIN(K.Lohse); Sun:@BOS(C.Schilling)
Josh Fogg: Mon:@MIL(B.Hendrickson); Sat:@HOU(C.Hernandez)
Jeff Francis: Tue:@SF(B.Tomko); Sun:@SD(B.Lawrence)
Jason Grilli: Tue:OAK(R.Harden); Sun:SEA(R.Villone)
Luke Hudson: Mon:HOU(P.Munro): Sun:@MIL(Do.Davis)
John Lackey: Tue:@BOS(C.Schilling); Sun:@CLE(J.Westbrook)
John Van Benschoten: Tue:@MIL(Do.Davis); Sun:@HOU(P.Munro)
Jake Westbrook: Tue:@NYY(J.Vazquez); Sun:ANA(J.Lackey)

Diamond Challenge

We want backups at catcher and first in roster expansion, and while we considered John Buck and Carlos Pena, we opted for Victor Martinez and David Ortiz given their superior skills and overall production.

SP(6)
Pedro Martinez: Fri:TEX(J.Wasdin?)
Curt Schilling: Tue:ANA(J.Lackey); Sun:TEX(R.Drese)
Randy Johnson: Tue:LA(J.Weaver); Sun:@SF(B.Tomko)
Mike Mussina: Sat:BAL(S.Ponson)
Roy Halladay: No start(DL)
Tim Hudson: Fri:@TOR(T.Lilly)
Javier Vazquez: Tue:CLE(J.Westbrook); Sun:BAL(Br.Chen)
Mark Mulder: Sat:@TOR(M.Batista)
Roy Oswalt: Wed:@CIN(Pa.Wilson)
Kerry Wood: Wed:@MON(T.Armas?)
Kevin Brown: Fri:BAL(Rod.Lopez)
Josh Beckett: Tue:@NYM(S.Trachsel); Sun:CHC(G.Maddux)
Jeremy Affeldt: 6 Games: 3 Home vs. DET; 3 Road at MIN.

With four doubles and Affeldt, we're fairly pleased with the staff, and we'll take Oswalt over Hudson as our sixth.

Adding Martinez and Ortiz allows us to bench the slumping Overbay and Crede, who join Cintron, Podsednik, and Burnitz on our bench. Wilkerson flips for Crawford since we need power more than steals.

Shadow of the Umpire(12th lg; 118th div; 3044th overall)
Week 22: August 30-September 5

C	Javy Lopez		940
C	Jason Varitek		680 
1B	David Ortiz		800 
1B	Mark Teixeira		760
2B	Alfonso Soriano		1930 
2B	Mark Loretta		820 
3B	Mike Lowell		1230
3B	Hank Blalock		850 
SS	Alex Rodriguez		2010 
SS	Brian Roberts		610 
OF	Carlos Beltran		1760 
OF	Vernon Wells		1150 
OF	Melvin Mora		740 
OF	Brad Wilkerson		690
OF	Adam Dunn		690
OF	Miguel Cabrera		570 
DH	Orlando Hudson		550 
DH	Victor Martinez		450 

SP	Curt Schilling		1610  
SP	Randy Johnson		1550 
SP	Javier Vazquez		1280 
SP	Roy Oswalt		1200
SP	Josh Beckett		990
SP	Jeremy Affeldt		650
RP	Eric Gagne		1890
RP	Octavio Dotel		1250
RP	Brad Lidge		830
RP	Joe Nathan		720 

Total Salary for Week 22: 	29200

Diamond Challenge 2nd Season

Adding Hermanson gives us significant saves upside and provides needed cap relief. We'll wait one more week to see how the trade deadline shakes out before using our last move.

SP(6)
Pedro Martinez: Fri:TEX(J.Wasdin?)
Curt Schilling: Tue:ANA(J.Lackey); Sun:TEX(R.Drese)
Randy Johnson: Tue:LA(J.Weaver); Sun:@SF(B.Tomko)
Javier Vazquez: Tue:CLE(J.Westbrook); Sun:BAL(Br.Chen)
Jason Schmidt: Thu:COL(J.Kennedy)
Mark Mulder: Sat:@TOR(M.Batista)
Roy Oswalt: Wed:@CIN(Pa.Wilson)
Roger Clemens: Fri:PIT(Ol.Perez)
Johan Santana: Fri:KC(D.May)
Brad Penny: No start(DL).
Ben Sheets: Thu:PIT(K.Wells?)
Jon Lieber: Thu:CLE(Cl.Lee)
Dustin Hermanson: 7 Games: 1 Road at ATL; 3 Home vs. COL; 3 Home vs. ARI.

Oswalt and Santana are easy calls to join Schilling, Randy, Vazquez, and Hermanson.

With Colorado on the road, Castilla, Clayton, and Burnitz sit, along with the slumping Hafner and Vernon Wells.

Umpire: The Masquerade(6th lg; 57th div; 481st overall)
Week 22: August 30-September 5

C	Jason Varitek		680
C	Victor Martinez		450
1B	David Ortiz		800 
1B	Lyle Overbay		400 
2B	Mark Loretta		820 
2B	Orlando Hudson		550
3B	Scott Rolen		1460 
3B	Hank Blalock		850
SS	Alex Rodriguez		2010 
SS	Juan Uribe		600
OF	Bobby Abreu		1630 
OF	Lance Berkman		1390
OF	Carl Crawford		1040 
OF	Melvin Mora		740 
OF	Matt Lawton		720 
OF	Miguel Cabrera		570 
DH	Manny Ramirez		1420
DH	Craig Wilson		620

SP	Curt Schilling		1610
SP	Randy Johnson		1550 
SP	Javier Vazquez		1280 
SP	Roy Oswalt		1200
SP	Johan Santana		1000 
SP	Dustin Hermanson	540
RP	Jason Isringhausen	1290
RP	Danny Kolb		940 
RP	Brad Lidge		830
RP	Joe Nathan		720 

Total Salary for Week 21	27710

Internet Challenge

SP(6)
Curt Schilling: Tue:ANA(J.Lackey)
Randy Johnson: Tue:LA(J.Weaver)
Javier Vazquez: Tue:CLE(J.Westbrook)
Roy Oswalt: Wed:@CIN(Pa.Wilson)
Kerry Wood: Wed:@MON(T.Armas?)
Josh Beckett: Tue:@NYM(S.Trachsel)
Jeremy Affeldt: 3 Home Games vs. DET.
Dustin Hermanson: 4 Games: 1 Road at ATL; 3 Home vs. COL.

No starts: Pedro, Mussina, Halladay, T.Hudson, K.Brown.

Schilling, Randy, Vazquez, Oswalt, and the two closers gives us a respectable staff.

We see no reason to remove Piazza, Fullmer, Crede, or Kaz Matsui from our bench, and we don't have the cap room to insert Pierre or Podsednik.

The Umpire Hunter(19th lg; 480th overall)
Week 22a: August 30-September 2

C	Jason Varitek		680 
C	Victor Martinez		450
1B	Lyle Overbay		400
1B	Mark Teixeira		760
2B	Alfonso Soriano		1930
2B	Mark Loretta		820 
3B	Scott Rolen		1460 
3B	Hank Blalock		850
SS	Alex Rodriguez		2010 
SS	Alex Cintron		450 
OF	Carlos Beltran		1760
OF	Vernon Wells		1150
OF	Carl Crawford		1040 
OF	Brad Wilkerson		690
OF	Adam Dunn		690
OF	Miguel Cabrera		570 
DH	Albert Pujols		1840
DH	Orlando Hudson		550

SP	Curt Schilling		1610 
SP	Randy Johnson		1550 
SP	Javier Vazquez		1280 
SP	Roy Oswalt		1200
SP	Jeremy Affeldt		650
SP	Dustin Hermanson	540
RP	Eric Gagne		1890
RP	Octavio Dotel		1250
RP	Danny Kolb		940 
RP	Joe Nathan		720 

Total Salary for Week 22a: 	29730

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

Hermanson offers significant upside in points leagues, making him a great addition, and then we see no reason not to pick up Johan Santana given his great schedule over the next three weeks.

SP(6)
Curt Schilling: Tue:ANA(J.Lackey); Sun:TEX(R.Drese)
Randy Johnson: Tue:LA(J.Weaver); Sun:@SF(B.Tomko)
Javier Vazquez: Tue:CLE(J.Westbrook); Sun:BAL(Br.Chen)
Pedro Martinez: Fri:TEX(J.Wasdin?)
Kerry Wood: Wed:@MON(T.Armas?)
Tim Hudson: Fri:@TOR(T.Lilly)
Jason Schmidt: Thu:COL(J.Kennedy)
Mark Mulder: Sat:@TOR(M.Batista)
Kevin Brown: Fri:BAL(Rod.Lopez)
Josh Beckett: Tue:@NYM(S.Trachsel); Sun:CHC(G.Maddux)
Johan Santana: Fri:KC(D.May)
Dustin Hermanson: 7 Games: 1 Road at ATL; 3 Home vs. COL; 3 Home vs. ARI.

With four doubles, Santana, and Hermanson, we're pleased with this pitching alignment.

LeCroy, Helton, Giles, Cintron, Vernon Wells, and Kearns stay glued to our bench, although adding the inexpensive Hermanson gives us room to run Lowell for Tony Batista and Miguel Cabrera for Overbay.

The Umpire Chronicles(10th lg; 939th overall)
& Umpire with a Soul(12th lg; 2007th overall)
Week 22: August 30-September 5

 
C	Brian Schneider		1100 
C	Johnny Estrada		1000 
1B	Derrek Lee		2690 
1B	Mark Teixeira		1550
2B	Mark Loretta		1650 
2B	Orlando Hudson		1420
3B	Mike Lowell		2380
3B	Hank Blalock		2020 
SS	Orlando Cabrera		2460 
SS	Brian Roberts		1260 
OF	Albert Pujols		3350 
OF	Carlos Beltran		3060
OF	Manny Ramirez		2960
OF	Adam Dunn		1950 
OF	Brad Wilkerson		1870
OF	Hideki Matsui		1800 
DH	Alfonso Soriano		3060 
DH	Miguel Cabrera		1600

SP	Curt Schilling		3090
SP	Randy Johnson		2900 
SP	Javier Vazquez		2890
SP	Josh Beckett		2000 
SP	Johan Santana		2170 
SP	Dustin Hermanson	1280
RP	John Smoltz		2800
RP	Octavio Dotel		2400 
RP	Brad Lidge		1730
RP	Joe Nathan		1420

Total Salary for Week 22: 	59860

Mid-Season Fantasy Baseball

Adding Hermanson is an obvious call due to his upside in points leagues and his very cap-friendly salary.

We're also spending to buy Varitek given his dominance and CJ's struggles.

SP(6)
Curt Schilling: Tue:ANA(J.Lackey); Sun:TEX(R.Drese)
Randy Johnson: Tue:LA(J.Weaver); Sun:@SF(B.Tomko)
Tim Hudson: Fri:@TOR(T.Lilly)
Roger Clemens: Fri:PIT(Ol.Perez)
Mark Mulder: Sat:@TOR(M.Batista)
Roy Oswalt: Wed:@CIN(Pa.Wilson)
Matt Clement: Sat:@FLO(D.Willis)
Ben Sheets: Thu:PIT(K.Wells?)
Johan Santana: Fri:KC(D.May)
Carl Pavano: Thu:@NYM(J.Seo)
Dustin Hermanson: 7 Games: 1 Road at ATL; 3 Home vs. COL; 3 Home vs. ARI.

Although we wish we had more doubles, we don't see any logical buys given the schedule. Oswalt and Santana join Schilling, Randy, and Hermanson, and then Clemens seems slightly safer than Sheets.

Varitek subs for Victor Martinez, Blalock for Vinny Castilla, and then Bonds and Jose Guillen for Abreu and Manny. Hafner, Mike Young, Kaz Matsui, and Burnitz stay benched.

Umpire in Brooklyn(1st lg; 14th overall)
Week 22: August 30-September 5

 
C	Jason Varitek		1710 
C	Johnny Estrada		1000
1B	David Ortiz		1980 
1B	Mark Teixeira		1550
2B	Marcus Giles		1740
2B	Mark Loretta		1650
3B	Adrian Beltre		2090
3B	Hank Blalock		2020
SS	Nomar Garciaparra	2340
SS	Carlos Guillen		1640 
OF	Adam Dunn		1950 
OF	Hideki Matsui		1800 
OF	J.D. Drew		1690 
OF	Jose Guillen		1620
OF	Miguel Cabrera		1600
OF	Jason Bay		1050 
DH	Barry Bonds		3520
DH	Lyle Overbay		1000

SP	Curt Schilling		3090 
SP	Randy Johnson		2900 
SP	Roger Clemens		2670
SP	Roy Oswalt		2560 
SP	Johan Santana		2170 
SP	Dustin Hermanson	1280
RP	John Smoltz		2800
RP	Francisco Cordero	2080
RP	Brad Lidge		1730
RP	Joe Nathan		1420

Total Salary for Week 22: 	54650

Today's Fantasy Rx: As most teams likely possess only a couple of remaining purchases at best, use your roster expansion moves on established players in clear roles. Insuring you own backups at most positions is a good idea to guard against injury. Owners in points leagues probably should focus on pitching given the imposed restrictions on the number of pitchers you can own in Fantasy Baseball, Budget Baseball, and Mid-Season Fantasy Baseball.