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March
10th
2005
Your Daily Fantasy Rx
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'05 NL Relief Pitcher Week: Day Four
by Tim Polko

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 Relief Pitchers with DV from $0 through $-1

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.


61.WSERAWHIPKBBHIP
Jon Leicester503.891.3235154041.2
CH Cubs4x45x5RARAdj. RAR
Age: 25P:R    B:R009.27.8

With his perfectly respectable 6-2 record and 3.65 ERA on a 61:37 K:BB in 66.2 IP with 62 H and 3 HR over 12 GS(13G) for AAA Iowa(PCL) only exceeded by his success in the Cubs' bullpen, Leicester absolutely belongs in the majors this year. He at least ranks as a top mid-season option if Chicago foolishly demotes him this spring despite very solid all-around skills. Of course, he won't emerge as a particularly valuable fantasy option regardless of how many big league innings he pitches, but Leicester qualifies as useful roster filler right now with the potential to develop into a middle-of-the-rotation option or possibly a key short reliever.


62.WSERAWHIPKBBHIP
Jay Witasick013.211.3557265761.2
SD Padres4x45x5RARAdj. RAR
Age: 32P:R    B:R0118.818.8

A few successful years on the West Coast don't make Witasick a guarantee to succeed in Baltimore. He lacks great control, struggles to stay healthy, and suffers from the same platoon split as fellow new Oriole Steve Reed. Considering his minimal upside even if he avoids further injury, I see no reason to view Witasick as more than passable roster filler.


63.WSERAWHIPKBBHIP
Tyler Walker514.241.4648246963.2
SF Giants4x45x5RARAdj. RAR
Age: 28P:R    B:R0011.39.2

Walker finally earned a regular job in the majors after several solid seasons in the upper minors. While he certainly didn't dominate batters, only the Giants' questionable defense keeps him from ranking among the safe middle relievers to own. Of course, San Francisco's off-season additions even might push Walker back to the minors, but feel free to deploy him when needed as long as he remains in the big league bullpen.


64.WSERAWHIPKBBHIP
Mike Remlinger123.441.3435163336.2
CH Cubs4x45x5RARAdj. RAR
Age: 38P:L    B:L0010.110.1


65.WSERAWHIPKBBHIP
Scott Eyre214.101.3349274352.2
SF Giants4x45x5RARAdj. RAR
Age: 32P:L    B:L0010.310.3


66.WSERAWHIPKBBHIP
Joe Borowski298.021.9717152721.1
CH Cubs4x45x5RARAdj. RAR
Age: 33P:R    B:R0-1-6.1-6.1


67.WSERAWHIPKBBHIP
Al Reyes000.750.42112312
STL Cardinals4x45x5RARAdj. RAR
Age: 33P:R    B:R0-17.36.9


68.WSERAWHIPKBBHIP
Jason Christiansen434.501.6722263436
SF Giants4x45x5RARAdj. RAR
Age: 35P:L    B:R0-15.25.2


69.WSERAWHIPKBBHIP
Elmer Dessens224.461.477331123105
ARI/LA4x45x5RARAdj. RAR
Age: 32P:R    B:R0015.812.3


70.WSERAWHIPKBBHIP
David Weathers204.071.3236204448.2
NYM/HOU/FLO4x45x5RARAdj. RAR
Age: 35P:R    B:R0-19.78.1


71.WSERAWHIPKBBHIP
Mike Lincoln305.190.921461017.1
STL Cardinals4x45x5RARAdj. RAR
Age: 29P:R    B:R-1-111


72.WSERAWHIPKBBHIP
Matt Wise104.441.2530155152.2
MIL Brewers4x45x5RARAdj. RAR
Age: 28P:R    B:R-1-186.3


73.WSERAWHIPKBBHIP
Brandon Backe504.301.5254277567
HOU Astros4x45x5RARAdj. RAR
Age: 26P:R    B:R-1011.49.2


74.WSERAWHIPKBBHIP
Dan Haren304.501.3532174546
STL Cardinals4x45x5RARAdj. RAR
Age: 24P:R    B:R-1-16.75.2

Returning to the minors resulted in a dominant performance from Haren as he compiled an 11-4 record and 4.15 ERA on a 150:33 K:BB in 128 IP with 136 H and 19 HR over 21 GS for AAA Memphis(PCL). While he excelled down the stretch in relief for St. Louis, his difficulties as a starter, especially concerning his huge platoon split, suggests he might struggle after heading to Oakland in the Mark Mulder deal. However, Haren's excellent command also makes him a good bet to remain successful with the Athletics considering he appears assured of opening the season as their #3 starter, so allowing him to leave the board for anything under $10 looks like a mistake.


180-6.3/2.4/1.0/9.4
75.WSERAWHIPKBBHIP
Matt Perisho504.401.5142264547
FLO Marlins4x45x5RARAdj. RAR
Age: 29P:L    B:L-1-17.45.8


76.WSERAWHIPKBBHIP
Brooks Kieschnick103.771.3328134443
MIL Brewers4x45x5RARAdj. RAR
Age: 32P:R    B:L-1-110.110.1


77.WSERAWHIPKBBHIP
Ryan Dempster123.921.4018131620.2
CH Cubs4x45x5RARAdj. RAR
Age: 27P:R    B:R-1-14.53.8


78.WSERAWHIPKBBHIP
Joe Valentine245.221.6429252329.1
CIN Reds4x45x5RARAdj. RAR
Age: 24P:R    B:R-1-11.71.7

Please refer to our Post-2004 Prospect Review: Cincinnati for my comments on Valentine.


79.WSERAWHIPKBBHIP
Sun-Woo Kim404.581.478755145135.2
MON Expos4x45x5RARAdj. RAR
Age: 27P:R    B:R-1018.513.9


80.WSERAWHIPKBBHIP
Randy Flores101.931.14731314
STL Cardinals4x45x5RARAdj. RAR
Age: 29P:L    B:L-1-26.56.5


81.WSERAWHIPKBBHIP
Rocky Biddle4116.921.6551319878
MON Expos4x45x5RARAdj. RAR
Age: 28P:R    B:R-1-1-12-14.6


82.WSERAWHIPKBBHIP
Heath Bell003.331.152762224.1
NY Mets4x45x5RARAdj. RAR
Age: 27P:R    B:R-1-17.17.1

Please refer to our Post-2004 Prospect Review: New York(N) for my comments on Bell.


83.WSERAWHIPKBBHIP
Amaury Telemaco004.311.2932195154.1
PHI Phillies4x45x5RARAdj. RAR
Age: 30P:R    B:R-1-19.29.2


84.WSERAWHIPKBBHIP
Dan Wheeler304.291.4855207665
NYM/HOU4x45x5RARAdj. RAR
Age: 26P:R    B:R-1-111.19


85.WSERAWHIPKBBHIP
Mike Wuertz114.341.3430172229
CH Cubs4x45x5RARAdj. RAR
Age: 25P:R    B:R-1-14.84.8


86.WSERAWHIPKBBHIP
Roman Colon203.321.371581819
ATL Braves4x45x5RARAdj. RAR
Age: 25P:R    B:R-1-25.54.9

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


87.WSERAWHIPKBBHIP
Scott Dohmann004.111.3049194146
COL Rockies4x45x5RARAdj. RAR
Age: 26P:R    B:R-1-18.98.9


88.WSERAWHIPKBBHIP
Chin-hui Tsao013.860.8611179.1
COL Rockies4x45x5RARAdj. RAR
Age: 23P:R    B:R-1-22.11.8


89.WSERAWHIPKBBHIP
Brian Bruney304.311.5034272031.1
ARI Diamondbacks4x45x5RARAdj. RAR
Age: 22P:R    B:R-1-15.35.3


90.WSERAWHIPKBBHIP
Kyle Farnsworth404.731.5078336766.2
CH Cubs4x45x5RARAdj. RAR
Age: 28P:R    B:R-107.97.9


'05 NL Relief Pitcher Week continues tomorrow with more National League relievers.


Today's Fantasy Rx: Allowing Haren to slide under $10 anywhere ranks as a mistake since he could post a 3.50 ERA and 15 victories without significant effort given his skills and situation. Look to Reyes and Bell as the primary sleepers to fill out your roster, feel free to invest several dollars in the hope of a Borowski comeback, and avoid Tsao and all Rockies' relievers since their bullpen could remain in flux all season long.


Click here to read the previous article.

Please e-mail your comments to tim@rotohelp.com.
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