Today's Fantasy Rx

Arizona: Randy Choate, LH Reliever
2-3 on a 47:27 K:BB in 45.2 IP over 68 G
with 48 H, 1 HR, a 2.23 G-F, and a 4.93 ERA.
0-0 and 1 Save on a 7:8 K:BB in 12.2 IP over 15 G
with 10 H, 1 HR, and a 5.68 ERA for AAA Tucson(PCL).

After failing to exceed a 6.9 K/9 in four previous big league seasons, Choate's 9.3 strikeout rate in 2004 makes him an increasingly intriguing reliever, especially since he coupled his developing dominance with a dramatic jump of his groundball rate. Yes, he needs to cut his walk rate before I can recommend him in any save the deepest leagues. Arizona's new manager also might not like him, and the Diamondbacks' defense should limit his value next year even if he receives regular work. However, while you should deal or cut Choate now to avoid unnecessary qualitative risk, I still see significant upside in his skill trends that merits watching.

Internet Challenge

SP(6)
Pedro Martinez: Fri:NYY(M.Mussina)
Curt Schilling: Sun:NYY(E.Loaiza?)
Mike Mussina: Fri:@BOS(P.Martinez)
Javier Vazquez: Sat:@BOS(T.Wakefield)
Kerry Wood: Sun:@NYM(A.Leiter)
Jeremy Affeldt: 3 Road games at CHW.
Dustin Hermanson: 3 Home games vs. LA.

No starts: Randy, T.Hudson, Schmidt, Oswalt, Beckett, K.Brown.

With only Mussina questionable on the road against Pedro, we see no reason not to run our remaining active six pitchers.

Given that Fullmer, Soriano, and Kaz Matsui remain effectively useless, and we see little reason to deploy Piazza, Crawford, and Podsednik, we'll keep our lineup intact.

The Umpire Hunter(17th lg; 413th overall)
Week 25b: September 24-September 26

 
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	Pedro Martinez		1800
SP	Curt Schilling		1610 
SP	Javier Vazquez		1280 
SP	Kerry Wood		1190
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 25b: 	29070

Today's Fantasy Rx: Consider keeping a middle reliever or two next year in standard leagues if you own anyone near the minimum who approached or exceeded double-digit value this year. NL non-closing relievers who should remain good sources of profit next year include Akinori Otsuka, Luis Ayala, Salomon Torres, Julian Tavarez, Mike Gonzalez, and Juan Cruz.