Today's Fantasy Rx

Per popular request, I will provide all of the player information tables for these articles even if I still need to complete comments for some pitchers.

National League Starting Pitchers with DV from $-3 through $-4

Quick Key to the tables:
W = Wins.  S = Saves.  ERA = Earned Run Average (ER*9/IP).
WHIP = (Walks + Hits)/IP aka Ratio.  K = Strikeouts.  BB = Bases on Balls aka Walks.
H = Hits.  IP = Innings Pitched.  P = Pitches.  B = Bats.
Age = Player's Age as of October 1, 2004.
4x4 = BA, HR, RBI, and SB in 12-team, $260 leagues with 23-man rosters.
5x5 = BA, HR, RBI, SB, and R in 12-team, $260 leagues with 23-man rosters.
RAR = Runs Above Replacement; Adjusted RAR = RAR modified to
consider whether a pitcher qualified as a starter in Scoresheet fantasy baseball .

Players are ranked in order from the highest draft value in a 4x4 league to the lowest. As the majority of fantasy leagues allow you to keep anyone traded to the other league, all players are listed in the league where they began the season.

82.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Tony Armas, Jr.		2	0	4.88	1.54	54	45	66	72
MON Expos		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 26	P:R    B:R	-3		-2		4.8		4.8

Armas owned only marginally decent skills before a barrage of arm problems over the past two seasons completely wrecked his command. A .73 G-F similarly leaves him vulnerable to qualitative disaster, so although he only turns 27 in April, even good health shouldn't result in an overly decent season. Treating him as more than a late-round flyer looks like a mistake.

83.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Jung Bong		1	0	4.70	1.76	11	10	17	15.1
CIN Reds		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 24	P:L    B:L	-3		-3		1.4		1.4

Atlanta sold high on yet two more pitching prospects by moving Bubba Nelson and Bong for Chris Reitsma. Bong only managed a 5.82 ERA on a 65:31 K:BB in 94.1 IP with 118 H and 13 HR over 19 GS for AAA Louisville(IL), pitched poorly in a brief June call-up, and then required minor labrum surgery that ended his season a few weeks early. Considering the Reds already need to find room for seven starting pitchers on a surprisingly full staff, Bong will head back to the minors in an attempt to rediscover the promise he demonstrates with the Braves. I see no reason to consider him in any league at this time.

84.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Brad Hennessey		2	0	4.98	1.66	25	15	42	34.1
SF Giants		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 24	P:R    B:R	-3		-3		1.8		1.8

Please refer to our Post-2004 Prospect Review: San Francisco for my comments on Hennessey.

85.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Dennis Tankersley		0	0	5.14	1.49	29	17	35	35
SD Padres		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 25	P:R    B:R	-3		-3		1.2		1.2

Only control problems should prevent Tankersley from emerging as a decent starter now that San Diego finally provided him with a needed change of scenery. Compiling a 7-4 record and a 3.15 ERA on an 86:37 K:BB in 120 IP with 114 H and 10 HR over 19 GS(20G) for AAA Portland(PCL) indicates he deserves an extended chance in the majors, and considering the unimpressive alternatives on the Royals, Tank easily should break camp in the Kansas City rotation. While you probably shouldn't risk adding him unless you can reserve Tank as needed, I don't expect anything to prevent him from experiencing success in the majors now that he longer suffers the pressures faced by top prospects in their initial organizations.

86.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Jeremy Griffiths		0	0	10.38	1.62	5	3	4	4.1
HOU Astros		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 26	P:R    B:R	-3		-3		-2.7		-2.7

His inclusion with David Weathers in the Richard Hidalgo trail effectively ended any decent chance for Griffiths to contribute in the majors any time soon. While he compiled an 89:55 K:BB in 150 IP with 159 H and 15 HR between AAA Norfolk(IL) and AAA New Orleans(PCL), his comparative ineffectiveness with New Orleans cost him a 40-man slot, and even if he somehow earns another look, Griffiths lacks the skills to succeed in Houston. Don't consider him anywhere until he switches teams a second time.

87.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Sterling Hitchcock		0	0	6.33	1.41	14	8	22	21.1
SD Padres		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 33	P:L    B:L	-3		-3		-2.4		-2.4

Hitchcock finally retired in September while on the disabled list, a logical end for someone seemingly always suffering from an injury. Considering he hadn't posted a good season since 1999 other than a decent month with St. Louis in 2003, he appears unlikely to return under any circumstance. Of course, he still could pitch another few years as a lefty specialist, but don't roster Hitchcock barring unexpected skill development eve if lands another big league job.

88.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Shane Reynolds		0	0	4.50	4.00	0	2	6	2
ARI Diamondbacks		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 36	P:R    B:R	-3		-4		0.2		0.2

89.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Scott Downs		3	0	5.14	1.62	38	23	79	63
MON Expos		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 28	P:L    B:L	-3		-3		2.1		2.1

90.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Edwin Jackson		2	0	7.30	1.70	16	11	31	24.2
LA Dodgers		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 21	P:R    B:R	-4		-4		-5.7		-5.7

Please refer to our Post-2004 Prospect Review: Los Angeles for my comments on Jackson.

91.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Wes Obermueller		6	0	5.80	1.53	59	42	138	118
MIL Brewers		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 27	P:R    B:R	-4		-3		-5.6		-5.6

92.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Jesus Sanchez		0	0	7.53	1.88	8	9	18	14.1
CIN Reds		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 29	P:L    B:L	-4		-4		-3.8		-3.8

93.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Scott Elarton		3	0	5.90	1.42	103	62	164	158.2
COL/CLE		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 28	P:R    B:R	-4		-2		-9.6		-9.6

94.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Jorge de la Rosa		0	0	6.35	1.90	5	14	29	22.2
MIL Brewers		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 23	P:L    B:L	-4		-5		-2.6		-2.6

Please refer to our Post-2004 Prospect Review: Milwaukee for my comments on de la Rosa.

95.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Jose Capellan		0	0	11.25	2.38	4	5	14	8
ATL Braves		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 23	P:R    B:R	-4		-5		-5.8		-5.8

Please refer to our Post-2004 Prospect Review: Atlanta for my comments on Capellan.

96.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
John Van Benschoten		1	0	6.91	1.81	18	19	33	28.2
PIT Pirates		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 24	P:R    B:R	-4		-4		-5.3		-5.3

Please refer to our Post-2004 Prospect Review: Pittsburgh for my comments on Van Benschoten.

'05 NL Starting Pitcher Week concludes tomorrow with more National League starters.

Today's Fantasy Rx: Generally avoid all the veterans discussed above if they somehow manage to secure roster spots, but Edwin Jackson remains a top prospect who could reach double-digit value if his command rebounds as expected. Jose Capellan similarly soon should emerge as a strong contributor in any fantasy league, and while they don't merit significant consideration now due to uncertain roles, both Dennis Tankersley and Jorge de la Rosa still seem quite promising.