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 $-2 DV

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.

91.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Blaine Neal		1	0	4.07	1.43	36	11	49	42
SD Padres		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 26	P:L    B:L	-2		-1		8.3		8.3

Registering a 1.86 ERA on a 38:13 K:BB in 38.2 IP with 30 H and 0 HR over 27 G for AAA Portland(PCL) demonstrates that Neal requires no more seasoning. Unfortunately, off-season additions of Dennys Reyes, Chris Hammond, and Rudy Saenez probably leave Neal the 12th man on an 11-man staff. He still should see a few dozen innings in the majors and could emerge as a very useful middle reliever, however Neal currently

92.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Tom Martin		0	1	3.97	1.50	30	19	49	45.1
LA/ATL		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 34	P:L    B:L	-2		-2		9.6		9.6

The Dodgers dumped the mediocre journeyman to the Braves at the trade deadline to avoid paying the second season of his two-year deal, a wise move considering the general decline in Martin's skills last summer. Of course, almost all experienced relievers tend to flourish under Leo Mazzone's tutelage, so I see little reason why Martin shouldn't earn a couple bucks of roto value this year. Only his limited upside keeps me from recommending Martin as more than a Dollar Days' option.

93.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Jose Parra		1	0	3.21	1.43	14	6	14	14
NY Mets		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 31	P:R    B:R	-2		-2		4.3		3.8

Parra's 1.75 ERA on a 34:9 K:BB in 25.2 IP over 23 G for AAA Norfolk(IL) earned him a look with the Mets, and he emerged as a surprisingly reliable middle relief option late in the first half. Unfortunately, a hip flexor forced him to the DL in mid-July; a subsequent broken finger during his rehab assignment ended Parra's season in August. Despite decent immediate upside in the majors, Parra signed in Japan this winter and therefore won't contribute to fantasy teams sooner than 2006.

94.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Tommy Phelps		1	0	4.76	1.35	28	12	34	34
FLO Marlins		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 30	P:L    B:L	-2		-2		3.8		3.8

95.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Pedro Liriano		0	0	4.02	1.15	10	3	15	15.2
MIL Brewers		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 23	P:R    B:R	-2		-2		3.2		2.7

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

96.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Rick Ankiel		1	0	5.40	1.10	9	1	10	10
STL Cardinals		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 25	P:L    B:L	-2		-2		0.3		0

97.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Joey Eischen		0	0	3.93	1.31	17	8	16	18.1
MON Expos		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 34	P:L    B:L	-2		-2		4		4

98.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Gary Majewski		0	1	3.86	1.57	12	5	28	21
MON Expos		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 24	P:R    B:R	-2		-2		4.7		4

Please refer to our Post-2004 Prospect Review: Montreal for my comments on Majewski.

99.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Darren Dreifort		1	1	4.44	1.56	63	36	43	50.2
LA Dodgers		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 32	P:R    B:R	-2		-1		7.7		6.1

100.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Russ Springer		0	0	2.63	1.54	9	6	15	13.2
HOU Astros		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 35	P:R    B:R	-2		-3		5.1		5.1

101.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Andy Ashby		0	0	0.00	0.50	2	0	1	2
SD Padres		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 37	P:R    B:R	-2		-3		1.4		1.3

102.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Rodney Myers		0	0	0.00	0.50	1	0	1	2
LA Dodgers		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 35	P:R    B:R	-2		-3		1.4		1.4

103.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Brian Powell		1	0	5.03	1.40	24	16	39	39.1
PHI Phillies		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 30	P:R    B:R	-2		-2		3.1		1.8

104.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Frank Brooks		0	0	4.67	1.27	18	9	13	17.1
PIT Pirates		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 26	P:L    B:L	-2		-2		2.2		1.6

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

105.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Mike Gallo		2	0	4.74	1.52	34	20	55	49.1
HOU Astros		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 27	P:L    B:L	-2		-2		5.7		5.7

106.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Sam McConnell		1	0	3.86	1.61	4	4	11	9.1
ATL Braves		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 28	P:R    B:S	-2		-3		2.1		1.8

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

107.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Jeff Bennett		1	0	4.79	1.46	45	26	78	71.1
MIL Brewers		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 24	P:R    B:R	-2		-2		7.8		5.4

108.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Andy Good		1	0	5.31	1.38	26	13	43	40.2
ARI Diamondbacks		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 25	P:R    B:R	-2		-2		1.8		0.5

109.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Francis Beltran		2	1	5.47	1.50	48	27	47	49.1
CHC/MON		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 24	P:R    B:R	-2		-2		1.3		1.3

110.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Pedro Feliciano		1	0	5.40	1.42	14	12	14	18.1
NY Mets		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 28	P:L    B:L	-2		-3		0.6		0.6

111.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Dan Meyer		0	0	0.00	1.50	1	1	2	2
ATL Braves		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 23	P:L    B:R	-2		-3		1.4		1.3

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

112.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Armando Almanza		1	0	6.17	1.37	13	7	9	11.2
ATL Braves		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 31	P:L    B:L	-2		-3		-0.7		-0.7

113.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Jesse Foppert		0	0	0.00	1.00	2	0	1	1
SF Giants		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 24	P:R    B:R	-2		-3		0.7		0.7

114.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Randy Choate		2	0	4.62	1.58	49	28	52	50.2
ARI Diamondbacks		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 29	P:L    B:L	-2		-2		6.6		6.6

115.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Jimmy Anderson		0	1	5.17	1.60	6	6	19	15.2
CHC/BOS		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 28	P:L    B:L	-2		-3		1		0.5

116.		W	S	ERA	WHIP	K	BB	H	IP
Josh Pearce		0	0	3.86	1.29	0	0	3	2.1
STL Cardinals		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 27	P:R    B:R	-2		-3		0.5		0.4

Please refer to our Post-2004 Prospect Review: St. Louis for my comments on Pearce.

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

Today's Fantasy Rx: Every year I find a couple days of pitcher reviews filled with staff fodder highlighted by just a couple of promising names; Dan Meyer towers over the other arms listed here considering his long-term promise and immediate upside. Pushing into the low double digits to roster the youngster is not a bad idea in most reasonably deep AL leagues.