Today's Fantasy Rx

Schedule recommendations for teams with 8 games

Good for hitters / Good for pitchers
Houston: 3 Home vs. CIN; 5 Road at PIT.
New York Yankees: 5 Home vs. TB; 3 Road at BAL.

Good for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Pittsburgh: 3 Home vs. MIL; 5 Home vs. HOU.
Tampa Bay: 5 Road at NYY; 3 Road at KC.

Schedule recommendations for teams with 7 games

Good for hitters / Good for pitchers
Atlanta: 4 Home vs. PHI; 3 Home vs. MON.
Boston: 4 Road at OAK; 3 Road at SEA.
Kansas City: 4 Road at DET; 3 Home vs. TB.
New York Yankees: 4 Home vs. TB; 3 Road at BAL.

Good for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Chicago White Sox: 4 Road at TEX; 3 Road at ANA.
Chicago Cubs: 3 Home vs. MON; 4 Home vs. FLO.
Cincinnati: 3 Road at HOU; 4 Home vs. MIL.
Florida: 3 Home vs. NYM; 4 Road at CHC.
Houston: 3 Home vs. CIN; 4 Road at PIT.
Milwaukee: 3 Road at PIT; 4 Road at CIN.
Pittsburgh: 3 Home vs. MIL; 4 Home vs. HOU.
San Diego: 3 Home vs. STL; 4 Road at COL.
Texas: 4 Home vs. CHW; 3 Home vs. TOR.

Bad for hitters / Good for pitchers
Philadelphia: 4 Road at ATL; 3 Road at NYM.

Bad for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Detroit: 4 Home vs. KC: 3 Home vs. MIN.
Tampa Bay: 4 Road at NYY; 3 Road at KC.

Schedule recommendations for teams with 6 games

Good for hitters / Good for pitchers
Anaheim: 3 Home vs. TOR; 3 Home vs. CHW.
Minnesota: 3 Road at BAL; 3 Road at DET.
New York Mets: 3 Road at FLO; 3 Home vs. PHI.

Good for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Colorado: 2 Home vs. SF; 4 Home vs. SD.
Montreal: 3 Road at CHC; 3 Road at ATL.
Toronto: 3 Road at ANA; 3 Road at TEX.

Bad for hitters / Good for pitchers
Los Angeles: 3 Home vs. ARI; 3 Home vs. STL.
St. Louis: 3 Road at SD; 3 Road at LA.

Bad for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Arizona: 3 Road at LA; 3 Home vs. SF.
Baltimore: 3 Home vs. MIN; 3 Home vs. NYY.
Oakland: 3 Home vs. BOS; 3 Home vs. CLE.
Seattle: 2 Home vs. CLE; 4 Home vs. BOS.

Schedule recommendations for teams with 5 games

Good for hitters / Bad for pitchers
San Francisco: 2 Road at COL; 3 Road at ARI.

Bad for hitters / Good for pitchers
Cleveland: 2 Road at SEA; 3 Road at OAK.

Pitchers with 2 starts(to deploy everywhere you own them):
Bronson Arroyo: Mon:@OAK(B.Zito); Sat:@SEA(J.Moyer)
A.J. Burnett: Tue:NYM(T.Glavine); Sun:@CHC(M.Clement)
David Bush: Tue:@ANA(B.Colon); Sun:@TOR(K.Rogers)
Chris Carpenter: Mon:@SD(A.Eaton); Sun:@LA(H.Nomo)
Matt Clement: Tue:MON(S.Kim); Sun:@FLO(A.Burnett)
Jose Contreras: Tue:@TEX(K.Rogers); Sun:@ANA(B.Colon)
Tom Glavine: Tue:@FLO(A.Burnett); Sun:PHI(V.Padilla)
Mike Hampton: Mon:PHI(E.Milton); Sat:MON(L.Hernandez)
Orlando Hernandez: Mon:TB(D.Waechter); Sat:@BAL(B.Chen)
Jon Lieber: Tue:TB(R.Bell?); Sun:@BAL(D.Cabrera)
Derek Lowe: Tue:@OAK(M.Redman); Sun:@SEA(G.Meche)
Eric Milton: Mon:@ATL(M.Hampton); Sat:@NYM(S.Trachsel)
Terry Mulholland: Mon:@BAL(D.Cabrera); Sun:@DET(N.Robertson)
Roy Oswalt: Tue:CIN(Pa.Wilson); Sun:@PIT(Da.Williams)
Vicente Padilla: Tue:@ATL(Jar.Wright); Sun:@NYM(T.Glavine)
Nate Robertson: Tue:KC(Br.Anderson); Sun:MIN(T.Mulholland)
C.C. Sabathia: Mon:@SEA(G.Meche); Sun:@OAK(B.Zito)
Victor Santos: Mon:@PIT(R.Vogelsong); Sat:@CIN(L.Hudson)
Ben Sheets?: Tue:@PIT(Da.Williams); Sun:@CIN(A.Harang)?
Brandon Webb: Tue:@LA(H.Nomo); Sun:SF(K.Rueter)
Jaret Wright: Tue:PHI(V.Padilla): Sun:MON(T.Armas)
Carlos Zambrano: Mon:MON(T.Armas); Sat:FLO(C.Pavano)
Barry Zito: Mon:BOS(B.Arroyo); Sun:CLE(C.Sabathia)

Pitchers with 2 starts to deploy only in leagues that don't count qualitative stats:
Tony Armas: Mon:@CHC(C.Zambrano); Sun:@ATL(Jar.Wright)
Brandon Backe: Mon:CIN(A.Harang); Sat:@PIT(R.Vogelsong)
Denny Bautista: Mon:@DET(W.Ledezma): Sun:TB(R.Bell?)
Rob Bell?: Tue:@NYY(J.Lieber)?; Sun:@KC(De.Bautista)?
Daniel Cabrera: Mon:MIN(T.Mulholland); Sun:NYY(J.Lieber)
Bartolo Colon: Tue:TOR(D.Bush); Sun:CHW(J.Contreras)
Adam Eaton: Mon:STL(C.Carpenter); Sat:@COL(J.Francis)
Jason Grilli: Mon:@TEX(C.Park); Sat:@ANA(A.Sele)
Aaron Harang: Mon:@HOU(B.Backe); Sun:MIL(B.Sheets?)
Gil Meche: Mon:CLE(C.Sabathia); Sun:BOS(D.Lowe)
Hideo Nomo: Tue:ARI(B.Webb); Sun:STL(C.Carpenter)
Chan Ho Park: Mon:CHW(J.Grilli); Sat:TOR(J.Towers?)
Jake Peavy: Tue:STL(J.Suppan); Sun:@COL(Jam.Wright)
Kenny Rogers: CHW(J.Contreras); Sun:TOR(D.Bush)
Kirk Rueter: Tue:@COL(Jam.Wright); Sun:@ARI(B.Webb)
Ryan Vogelsong: Mon:MIL(V.Santos); Sat:HOU(B.Backe)
Doug Waechter?: Mon:@NYY(O.Hernandez); Sat:@KC(J.Gobble)?
David Williams: Tue:MIL(B.Sheets); Sun:HOU(R.Oswalt)
Jamey Wright: Tue:SF(K.Rueter); Sun:SD(J.Peavy)

Diamond Challenge

SP(6)
Pedro Martinez: Wed:@OAK(T.Hudson)
Curt Schilling: Fri:@SEA(R.Franklin)
Randy Johnson: Fri:SF(N.Lowry)
Mike Mussina: Thu:TB(S.Kazmir?)
Roy Halladay: No start(DL)
Tim Hudson: Wed:BOS(P.Martinez)
Javier Vazquez: Fri:@BAL(S.Ponson)
Mark Mulder: Fri:CLE(J.Westbrook?)
Roy Oswalt: Tue:CIN(Pa.Wilson); Sun:@PIT(Da.Williams)
Kerry Wood: Fri:FLO(I.Valdez)
Kevin Brown: No start(DL)
Josh Beckett: Thu:NYM(K.Benson)
Jeremy Affeldt: 7 Games: 4 Road at DET; 3 Home vs. TB.

With no moves left, we're stuck with Oswalt, Schilling, Randy, Wood, Beckett, and Affeldt.

Aside from flipping Burnitz for Wells, our bench remains Overbay, Crede, Cintron, Podsednik, and Crawford.

Shadow of the Umpire(11th lg; 111th div; 2865th overall)
Week 23: September 6-September 12

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	Jeromy Burnitz		810
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	Roy Oswalt		1200 
SP	Kerry Wood		1190
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 23: 	28770

Diamond Challenge 2nd Season

SP(6)
Pedro Martinez: Wed:@OAK(T.Hudson)
Curt Schilling: Fri:@SEA(R.Franklin)
Randy Johnson: Fri:SF(N.Lowry)
Javier Vazquez: Fri:@BAL(S.Ponson)
Jason Schmidt: Wed:@COL(J.Kennedy)
Mark Mulder: Fri:CLE(J.Westbrook?)
Roy Oswalt: Tue:CIN(Pa.Wilson); Sun:@PIT(Da.Williams)
Roger Clemens: Wed:CIN(Jo.Acevedo)
Johan Santana: Wed:@BAL(Rod.Lopez)
Brad Penny: No start(DL).
Ben Sheets?: Tue:@PIT(Da.Williams); Sun:@CIN(A.Harang)?
Jon Lieber: Tue:TB(R.Bell?); Sun:@BAL(D.Cabrera)
Dustin Hermanson: 5 games: 2 Road at COL; 3 Road at ARI.

Oswalt, Sheets, and Lieber join Hermanson, and then Santana and Randy seem slightly stronger than Schilling or Clemens.

Burnitz and Castilla replace Crawford and Lawton while Hafner, Clayton, and Wells remain benched.

Umpire: The Masquerade(6th lg; 50th div; 382nd overall)
Week 23: September 6-September 12

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	Manny Ramirez		1420
OF	Lance Berkman		1390 
OF	Jeromy Burnitz		810
OF	Melvin Mora		740 
OF	Miguel Cabrera		570 
DH	Vinny Castilla		760
DH	Craig Wilson		620

SP	Randy Johnson		1550 
SP	Roy Oswalt		1200
SP	Johan Santana		1000 
SP	Ben Sheets		870
SP	Jon Lieber		840
SP	Dustin Hermanson	540
RP	Jason Isringhausen	1290
RP	Danny Kolb		940 
RP	Brad Lidge		830
RP	Joe Nathan		720 

Total Salary for Week 23:	26340

Internet Challenge

SP(6)
Pedro Martinez: Wed:@OAK(T.Hudson)
Mike Mussina: Thu:TB(S.Kazmir?)
Tim Hudson: Wed:BOS(P.Martinez)
Jason Schmidt: Wed:@COL(J.Kennedy)
Roy Oswalt: Tue:CIN(Pa.Wilson)
Josh Beckett: Thu:NYM(K.Benson)
Jeremy Affeldt: 4 Road Games at DET.
Dustin Hermanson: 2 Road Games at COL.

No starts: Schilling, Randy, Vazquez, Wood, Brown.

While we don't mind running Hermanson for only two games, Schmidt's out of the question, and then Hudson seems superior to Pedro given his current QA log and the advantage of pitching at home.

Along with Pierre for Vernon Wells, we'll flip Crede for Victor Martinez since Crede plays an extra two games in a much better hitters' park. Fullmer, Kaz Matsui, Crawford, and Podsednik remain benched.

The Umpire Hunter(17th lg; 437th overall)
Week 23a: September 6-September 9

 
C	Mike Piazza		990
C	Jason Varitek		680 
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	Juan Pierre		1470
OF	Brad Wilkerson		690
OF	Adam Dunn		690
OF	Miguel Cabrera		570 
DH	Joe Crede		600
DH	Orlando Hudson		550

SP	Mike Mussina		1380 
SP	Tim Hudson		1320
SP	Roy Oswalt		1200 
SP	Josh Beckett		990 
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 23a: 	29400

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

SP(6)
Curt Schilling: Fri:@SEA(R.Franklin)
Randy Johnson: Fri:SF(N.Lowry)
Javier Vazquez: Fri:@BAL(S.Ponson)
Pedro Martinez: Wed:@OAK(T.Hudson)
Kerry Wood: Fri:FLO(I.Valdez)
Tim Hudson: Wed:BOS(P.Martinez)
Jason Schmidt: Wed:@COL(J.Kennedy)
Mark Mulder: Fri:CLE(J.Westbrook?)
Kevin Brown: No start(DL)
Josh Beckett: Thu:NYM(K.Benson)
Johan Santana: Wed:@BAL(Rod.Lopez)
Dustin Hermanson: 5 games: 2 Road at COL; 3 Road at ARI.

While we nearly added Oswalt, the mild uncertainty regarding his double convinced us to hold off spending our last move. Schilling, Randy, Wood, Santana, Beckett, and Hermanson will comprise our rotation.

We also nearly moved Helton into the lineup, but since even swapping him for Soriano would push us over the cap, and Colorado only plays five at home while Soriano enjoys seven in Texas, we're making no hitting changes.

The Umpire Chronicles(10th lg; 868th overall)
& Umpire with a Soul(11th lg; 1912th overall)
Week 23: September 6-September 12

 
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	Kerry Wood		2880
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 23: 	59850

Mid-Season Fantasy Baseball

We're adding El Duque this week to give us a fourth double; he seems slightly stronger than Burnett and a safer option than Peavy. He also costs less than any other pitcher we own, giving us room to run another top position player.

SP(6)
Curt Schilling: Fri:@SEA(R.Franklin)
Randy Johnson: Fri:SF(N.Lowry)
Tim Hudson: Wed:BOS(P.Martinez)
Roger Clemens: Wed:CIN(Jo.Acevedo)
Roy Oswalt: Tue:CIN(Pa.Wilson); Sun:@PIT(Da.Williams)
Matt Clement: Tue:MON(S.Kim); Sun:@FLO(A.Burnett)
Ben Sheets?: Tue:@PIT(Da.Williams); Sun:@CIN(A.Harang)?
Johan Santana: Wed:@BAL(Rod.Lopez)
Carl Pavano: Sat:@CHC(C.Zambrano)
Dustin Hermanson: 5 games: 2 Road at COL; 3 Road at ARI.
Orlando Hernandez: Mon:TB(D.Waechter); Sat:@BAL(B.Chen)

Santana joins Oswalt, Clement, Sheets, Hermanson, and Hernandez.

While Victor Martinez, Hafner, Mike Young, Kaz Matsui, and Abreu remain benched, Manny and Burnitz sub for Guillen and Bay, and then Castilla replaces Overbay.

Umpire in Brooklyn(1st lg; 71st overall)
Week 23: September 6-September 12

 
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	Manny Ramirez		2960
OF	Jeromy Burnitz		2100
OF	Adam Dunn		1950 
OF	Hideki Matsui		1800 
OF	J.D. Drew		1690 
OF	Miguel Cabrera		1600 
DH	Barry Bonds		3520
DH	Vinny Castilla		1610

SP	Roy Oswalt		2560 
SP	Matt Clement		2460
SP	Ben Sheets		2300
SP	Johan Santana		2170 
SP	Dustin Hermanson	1280
SP	Orlando Hernandez	1180
RP	John Smoltz		2800
RP	Francisco Cordero	2080
RP	Brad Lidge		1730
RP	Joe Nathan		1420

Total Salary for Week 23: 	54930

Today's Fantasy Rx: The best doubles this week look like low-percentage plays that could give you a nice advantage over your competitors. Orlando Hernandez, A.J. Burnett, Jon Lieber, and even Jake Peavy offer intriguing upside, especially since few teams own these players.