Today's Fantasy Rx

Arizona: Shane Nance, LH Reliever
1-0 on an 8:9 K:BB in 8.1 IP over 12 G
with 11 H, 2 HR, a 9-10 G-F, and a 3.24 ERA.
2-4 and 2 Saves on a 48:22 K:BB in 45.1 IP over 2 GS(46G)
with 60 H, 5 HR, and a 6.15 ERA for AAA Tucson(PCL).

While we can attribute most of his shoddy AAA ERA to poor defense, Nance doesn't possess great control, and since Arizona also owns nearly the worst defense in the league, his ERA should head upward soon to a level more in line with his 2.40 WHIP. The 26-year-old appears to need a very supportive environment to succeed, and I don't envision the Diamondbacks providing the necessary help any time soon. Despite his currently helpful ERA, Nance should finish the year with very poor qualitative marks, making him someone to deal or cut immediately if you picked him up for any reason.

Internet Challenge

SP(6)
Pedro Martinez: Fri:TEX(J.Wasdin)
Curt Schilling: Sun:TEX(R.Drese)
Randy Johnson: Sun:@SF(B.Tomko?)
Mike Mussina: Sat:BAL(S.Ponson)
Tim Hudson: Fri:@TOR(T.Lilly)
Javier Vazquez: Sun:BAL(B.Chen)
Kevin Brown: Fri:BAL(Rod.Lopez)
Josh Beckett: Sun:CHC(G.Maddux)
Jeremy Affeldt: 3 Road Games at MIN.
Dustin Hermanson: 3 Home Games vs. ARI.

No starts: Schmidt, Oswalt, Wood.

Pedro, Randy, and Hudson are logical calls to join our closers; Kevin Brown will complete the staff since Beckett might lose a start to the hurricane.

While Fullmer, Crede, Kaz Matsui, Pierre, and Podsednik aren't leaving our bench, we can run Piazza in Philly instead of Crawford for the extra power boost.

The Umpire Hunter(18th lg; 458th overall)
Week 22b: September 3-September 5

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	Albert Pujols		1840
OF	Carlos Beltran		1760
OF	Vernon Wells		1150 
OF	Brad Wilkerson		690
OF	Adam Dunn		690
OF	Miguel Cabrera		570 
DH	Mike Piazza		990
DH	Orlando Hudson		550

SP	Pedro Martinez		1800 
SP	Randy Johnson		1550 
SP	Tim Hudson		1320 
SP	Kevin Brown		1180
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 22b: 	29890

Today's Fantasy Rx: Although a few dozen players will join big league rosters over the next couple weeks, only a small percentage of those players should contribute to fantasy teams over the balance of the season. No recalled relievers should emerge as closers either this season or next spring, but several NL starters merit roto consideration, including Chicago's Sergio Mitre, Philadelphia's Gavin Floyd, Pittsburgh's Dave Williams, San Diego's Justin Germano, San Francisco's Jesse Foppert, and St. Louis' Dan Haren and Rick Ankiel. Of course, only contenders with secure qualitative foundations should risk running rookie pitchers, but since they own good shots at earning starting rotation slots next spring, rebuilding teams should look to add them as potential keepers.