Today's Fantasy Rx

Schedule recommendations for teams with 8 games

Good for hitters / Good for pitchers
Chicago Cubs: 2 Road at FLO; 3 Road at PIT; 3 Road at NYM.

Good for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Florida: 2 Home vs. CHC; 3 Home vs. PHI; 3 Road at ATL.

Schedule recommendations for teams with 7 games

Good for hitters / Good for pitchers
Kansas City: 3 Road at TB; 4 Road at CHW.
Minnesota: 3 Road at CHW; 4 Road at CLE.
New York Yankees: 3 Home vs. TOR; 1 Home vs. TB; 3 Road at BOS.

Good for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Boston: 4 Home vs. BAL; 3 Home vs. NYY.
Chicago White Sox: 3 Home vs. MIN; 4 Home vs. KC.
Cleveland: 3 Road at DET; 4 Home vs. MIN.
St. Louis: 4 Road at MIL; 3 Road at COL.
Tampa Bay: 3 Home vs. KC; 1 Road at NYY; 3 Home vs. TOR.

Bad for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Baltimore: 4 Road at BOS; 3 Home vs. DET.
Milwaukee: 4 Home vs. STL; 3 Home vs. HOU.

Schedule recommendations for teams with 6 games

Good for hitters / Good for pitchers
Atlanta: 3 Home vs. CIN; 3 Home vs. FLO.
Houston: 3 Road at SF; 3 Road at MIL.
San Diego: 3 Home vs. LA; 3 Home vs. ARI.

Good for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Anaheim: 3 Home vs. SEA; 3 Home vs. OAK.
Arizona: 3 Road at COL; 3 Road at SD.
Colorado: 3 Home vs. ARI; 3 Home vs. STL.
Detroit: 3 Home vs. CLE; 3 Road at BAL.
Montreal: 3 Home vs. NYM; 3 Home vs. PHI.
Oakland: 3 Road at TEX; 3 Road at ANA.
Seattle: 3 Road at ANA; 3 Road at TEX.
Texas: 3 Home vs. OAK; 3 Home vs. SEA.
Toronto: 3 Road at NYY; 3 Road at TB.

Bad for hitters / Good for pitchers
Los Angeles: 3 Road at SD; 3 Road at SF.
Pittsburgh: 3 Home vs. CHC; 3 Home vs. CIN.
San Francisco: 3 Home vs. HOU; 3 Home vs. LA.

Bad for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Cincinnati: 3 Road at ATL; 3 Road at PIT.
New York Mets: 3 Road at MON; 3 Home vs. CHC.
Philadelphia: 3 Road at FLO; 3 Road at MON.

Pitchers with 2 starts(to deploy everywhere you own them):
Mark Buehrle: Mon:MIN(C.Silva); Sat:KC(De.Bautista)
Ryan Drese: Tue:OAK(M.Mulder); Sun:SEA(R.Franklin)
Adam Eaton: Tue:LA(J.Weaver); Sat:ARI(S.Randolph)
Josh Fogg: Tue:CHC(K.Wood); Sun:CIN(Jos.Acevedo)
Jon Garland: Tue:MIN(K.Lohse); Sun:KC(Br.Anderson)
Livan Hernandez: Tue:NYM(A.Leiter); Sun:PHI(C.Lidle)
Randy Johnson: Tue:@COL(S.Estes); Sun:@SD(J.Peavy)
John Lackey: Mon:SEA(R.Franklin); Sun:OAK(M.Mulder)
Al Leiter: Tue:@MON(L.Hernandez); Sun:CHC(K.Wood)
Cory Lidle: Tue:@FLO(D.Willis); Sun:@MON(L.Hernandez)
Esteban Loaiza?: Tue:TOR(R.Halladay); Sun:@BOS(C.Schilling)?
Kyle Lohse: Tue:@CHW(J.Garland); Sun:@CLE(F.Cruceta)
Mike Maroth: Mon:CLE(S.Elarton); Sun:@BAL(Rod.Lopez)
Mark Mulder: Tue:@TEX(R.Drese); Sun:@ANA(J.Lackey)
Carl Pavano: Mon:CHC(M.Prior); Sat:@ATL(M.Hampton?)
Jake Peavy: Wed:LA(B.Penny); Sun:ARI(R.Johnson)
Curt Schilling: Tue:BAL(Rod.Lopez); Sun:NYY(E.Loaiza?)
Carlos Silva: Mon:@CHW(M.Buehrle); Sat:@CLE(S.Elarton)
John Thomson: Tue:CIN(B.Claussen); Sun:FLO(D.Willis)
Brett Tomko: Tue:HOU(C.Hernandez); Sun:LA(J.Weaver)
Javier Vazquez: Mon:TOR(G.Chacin); Sat:@BOS(T.Wakefield)
Tim Wakefield: Mon:BAL(M.Riley); Sat:NYY(J.Vazquez)
Jeff Weaver: Tue:@SD(A.Eaton); Sun:@SF(B.Tomko)
Dontrelle Willis: Tue:PHI(C.Lidle); Sun:@ATL(J.Thomson)
Kerry Wood: Tue:@PIT(J.Fogg); Sun:@NYM(A.Leiter)

Pitchers with 2 starts to deploy only in leagues that don't count qualitative stats:
Brian Anderson: Mon:@TB(D.Brazelton); Sun:@CHW(J.Garland)
Rob Bell: Tue:KC(Z.Greinke); Sun:TOR(R.Halladay???)
Dewon Brazelton: Mon:KC(Br.Anderson); Sat:TOR(D.Bush)
Francisco Cruceta: Tue:@DET(G.Knotts); Sun:MIN(K.Lohse)
Scott Elarton: Mon:@DET(M.Maroth); Sat:MIN(C.Silva)
Shawn Estes: Tue:ARI(R.Johnson); Sun:STL(J.Marquis)
Ryan Franklin: Mon:@ANA(J.Lackey); Sun:@TEX(R.Drese)
Roy Halladay???: Tue:@NYY(E.Loaiza); Sun:@TB(R.Bell)???
Carlos Hernandez: Tue:@SF(B.Tomko); Sun:@MIL(V.Santos)
Rodrigo Lopez: Tue:@BOS(C.Schilling); Sun:DET(M.Maroth)
Jason Marquis: Tue:@MIL(J.de la Rosa); Sun:@COL(S.Estes)
Matt Riley: Mon:@BOS(T.Wakefield); Sat:DET(J.Bonderman)
Victor Santos: Tue:STL(J.Marquis); Sun:HOU(C.Hernandez)

Diamond Challenge

SP(6)
Pedro Martinez: Fri:NYY(M.Mussina)
Curt Schilling: Tue:BAL(Rod.Lopez); Sun:NYY(E.Loaiza?)
Randy Johnson: Tue:@COL(S.Estes); Sun:@SD(J.Peavy)
Mike Mussina: Fri:@BOS(P.Martinez)
Roy Halladay???: Tue:@NYY(E.Loaiza); Sun:@TB(R.Bell)???
Tim Hudson: Thu:@TEX(C.H.Park)
Javier Vazquez: Mon:TOR(G.Chacin); Sat:@BOS(T.Wakefield)
Mark Mulder: Tue:@TEX(R.Drese); Sun:@ANA(J.Lackey)
Roy Oswalt: Wed:@SF(N.Lowry)
Kerry Wood: Tue:@PIT(J.Fogg); Sun:@NYM(A.Leiter)
Kevin Brown: No start(DL)
Josh Beckett: Thu:PHI(E.Milton)
Jeremy Affeldt: 7 Road games: 3 at TB; 4 at CHW.

While we don't trust Halladay, we happily will take the doubles of Schilling, Randy, Vazquez, Mulder, and Oswalt with Affeldt.

Vernon Wells replaces the injured Soriano, however we can't find roster spots for Overbay, Crede, Alex Cintron, Crawford, or Podsednik.

Shadow of the Umpire(11th lg; 102nd div; 2592nd overall)
Week 25: September 20-September 26

C	Javy Lopez		940
C	Jason Varitek		680 
1B	David Ortiz		800 
1B	Mark Teixeira		760 
2B	Mark Loretta		820 
2B	Orlando Hudson		550
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	Vernon Wells		1150
DH	Victor Martinez		450 

SP	Curt Schilling		1610  
SP	Randy Johnson		1550 
SP	Javier Vazquez		1280
SP	Mark Mulder		1200 
SP	Kerry Wood		1190
SP	Jeremy Affeldt		650
RP	Eric Gagne		1890
RP	Octavio Dotel		1250
RP	Brad Lidge		830
RP	Joe Nathan		720 

Total Salary for Week 25: 	28280

Diamond Challenge 2nd Season

SP(6)
Pedro Martinez: Fri:NYY(M.Mussina)
Curt Schilling: Tue:BAL(Rod.Lopez); Sun:NYY(E.Loaiza?)
Randy Johnson: Tue:@COL(S.Estes); Sun:@SD(J.Peavy)
Javier Vazquez: Mon:TOR(G.Chacin); Sat:@BOS(T.Wakefield)
Jason Schmidt: Thu:HOU(B.Backe)
Mark Mulder: Tue:@TEX(R.Drese); Sun:@ANA(J.Lackey)
Roy Oswalt: Wed:@SF(N.Lowry)
Roger Clemens: Fri:@MIL(D.Davis)
Johan Santana: Fri:@CLE(K.Denney)
Ben Sheets: Wed:STL(W.Williams)
Jon Lieber: Thu:TB(T.Ritchie)
Dustin Hermanson: 6 Home games: 3 vs. HOU; 3 vs. LA.

Santana and Hermanson are easy calls to join the four doubles.

While we want to run Vernon Wells, subbing Blalock for Overbay leaves us with little cap room. Craig Wilson, Clayton, Crawford, and Lawton also remain on the bench. Rolen's likely return makes him a logical play with St. Louis heading to Colorado for an RBI title showdown with Vinny Castilla.

Umpire: The Masquerade(6th lg; 55th div; 442nd overall)
Week 25: September 20-September 26

C	Jason Varitek		680
C	Victor Martinez		450
1B	David Ortiz		800 
1B	Travis Hafner		500
2B	Mark Loretta		820 
2B	Orlando Hudson		550
3B	Scott Rolen		1460 
3B	Vinny Castilla		760
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	Corey Patterson		870
DH	Hank Blalock		850

SP	Curt Schilling		1610
SP	Randy Johnson		1550 
SP	Javier Vazquez		1280 
SP	Mark Mulder		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 25:	27870

Internet Challenge

SP(6)
Curt Schilling: Tue:BAL(Rod.Lopez)
Randy Johnson: Tue:@COL(S.Estes)
Tim Hudson: Thu:@TEX(C.H.Park)
Javier Vazquez: Mon:TOR(G.Chacin)
Jason Schmidt: Thu:HOU(B.Backe)
Roy Oswalt: Wed:@SF(N.Lowry)
Kerry Wood: Tue:@PIT(J.Fogg);
Josh Beckett: Thu:PHI(E.Milton)
Jeremy Affeldt: 4 Road games: 3 at TB; 1 at CHW.
Dustin Hermanson: 3 Home games vs. HOU.

No starts: Pedro, Mussina, K.Brown.

Since Randy normally pitches well in Coors, we'll risk running him, along with the easy choices of Schilling, Beckett, Affeldt, and Hermanson. Vazquez's good odds of getting a win make him our pick over Schmidt, Oswalt, and Wood.

Rolen also returns to the lineup here, putting Piazza on the bench alongside Fullmer, Soriano, Kaz Matsui, Crawford, and Podsednik.

The Umpire Hunter(17th lg; 406th overall)
Week 25a: September 20-September 23

 
C	Jason Varitek		680 
C	Victor Martinez		450
1B	Lyle Overbay		400
1B	Mark Teixeira		760
2B	Mark Loretta		820 
2B	Orlando Hudson		550
3B	Hank Blalock		850
3B	Joe Crede		600
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	Scott Rolen		1460
DH	Vernon Wells		1150

SP	Curt Schilling		1610 
SP	Randy Johnson		1550
SP	Javier Vazquez		1280
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 25a: 	28620

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

SP(6)
Curt Schilling: Tue:BAL(Rod.Lopez); Sun:NYY(E.Loaiza?)
Randy Johnson: Tue:@COL(S.Estes); Sun:@SD(J.Peavy)
Javier Vazquez: Mon:TOR(G.Chacin); Sat:@BOS(T.Wakefield)
Pedro Martinez: Fri:NYY(M.Mussina)
Kerry Wood: Tue:@PIT(J.Fogg); Sun:@NYM(A.Leiter)
Tim Hudson: Thu:@TEX(C.H.Park)
Jason Schmidt: Thu:HOU(B.Backe)
Mark Mulder: Tue:@TEX(R.Drese); Sun:@ANA(J.Lackey)
Kevin Brown: No start(DL)
Josh Beckett: Thu:PHI(E.Milton)
Johan Santana: Fri:@CLE(K.Denney)
Dustin Hermanson: 6 Home games: 3 vs. HOU; 3 vs. LA.

While we wanted to run the five doubles with Hermanson, Wood's uncertainty coupled with Santana's dominance and superior salary means we'll stay with only four.

Helton, Batista, and Vernon Wells replace Soriano, Beltran, and Matsui. LeCroy, Overbay, Marcus Giles, Cintron, and Kearns remain benched.

Although we planned to use our last move now, we simply don't see a significant advantage in adding anyone. We considered Vinny Castilla and several young outfielders, but we like our current players and will wait one last week until we find a logical upgrade.

The Umpire Chronicles(10th lg; 774th overall)
& Umpire with a Soul(10th lg; 1692nd overall)
Week 25: September 20-September 26

 
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	Manny Ramirez		2960
OF	Vernon Wells		2260
OF	Adam Dunn		1950 
OF	Brad Wilkerson		1870
OF	Miguel Cabrera		1600
DH	Todd Helton		3450
DH	Tony Batista		1640

SP	Curt Schilling		3090 
SP	Randy Johnson		2900
SP	Javier Vazquez		2890 
SP	Mark Mulder		2610
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 25: 	59900

Mid-Season Fantasy Baseball

After significant consideration, we opted to save our last move here, too. We like everyone in our lineup and already own four probable doubles, five solid closers, and the potential AL MVP in Santana. Hopefully next week we can add an extra double that playoff preparations won't affect.

SP(6)
Curt Schilling: Tue:BAL(Rod.Lopez); Sun:NYY(E.Loaiza?)
Randy Johnson: Tue:@COL(S.Estes); Sun:@SD(J.Peavy)
Tim Hudson: Thu:@TEX(C.H.Park)
Roger Clemens: Fri:@MIL(D.Davis)
Roy Oswalt: Wed:@SF(N.Lowry)
Matt Clement: Mon:@FLO(D.Weathers); Sat:@NYM(A.Heilman)?
Ben Sheets: Wed:STL(W.Williams)
Johan Santana: Fri:@CLE(K.Denney)
Carl Pavano: Mon:CHC(M.Prior); Sat:@ATL(M.Hampton?)
Dustin Hermanson: 6 Home games: 3 vs. HOU; 3 vs. LA.
Orlando Hernandez: Wed:TOR(T.Lilly)

Santana joins the four doubles and Hermanson to give us a relatively high-upside pitching staff.

Victor Martinez, Blalock, and Abreu replace Estrada, the hurting Beltre, and Bonds, who we want to run but simply can't fit under the cap. Overbay, Marcus Giles, Nomar, Jose Guillen, and Hideki Matsui remain benched.

Umpire in Brooklyn(2nd lg; 62nd overall)
Week 25: September 20-September 26

 
C	Jason Varitek		1710 
C	Victor Martinez		1120
1B	David Ortiz		1980 
1B	Mark Teixeira		1550
2B	Mike Young		2120
2B	Mark Loretta		1650 
3B	Hank Blalock		2020
3B	Vinny Castilla		1610
SS	Derek Jeter		2430
SS	Juan Uribe		1300
OF	Manny Ramirez		2960
OF	Jeromy Burnitz		2100
OF	Adam Dunn		1950 
OF	J.D. Drew		1690 
OF	Miguel Cabrera		1600 
OF	Jason Bay		1050 
DH	Bobby Abreu		3120
DH	Travis Hafner		1140

SP	Curt Schilling		3090 
SP	Randy Johnson		2900 
SP	Matt Clement		2460
SP	Johan Santana		2170 
SP	Carl Pavano		1620
SP	Dustin Hermanson	1280 
RP	John Smoltz		2800
RP	Francisco Cordero	2080
RP	Brad Lidge		1730
RP	Joe Nathan		1420

Total Salary for Week 25: 	54650

Today's Fantasy Rx: Bronson Arroyo, Carlos Zambrano, Roy Oswalt, Ben Sheets, Orlando Hernandez, and Jake Peavy all appear on track to double next week. Josh Beckett, Jon Lieber, Tim Hudson, David Wells, and Jason Schmidt also might double. However, as only Sheets pitches for a non-contender, don't be surprised to see several rotations severely juggled, especially for teams ready to clinch like the Yankees. Take advantage of a strong week of doubles this week to spend your remaining moves, since even adding extra offense now gives you twice the impact of anyone added next week. Unless your roster is fairly shallow now and further injuries could leave you with no healthy players at a couple positions, I see little reason to save any moves.