Today's Fantasy Rx

Schedule recommendations for teams with 8 games

Good for hitters / Bad for pitchers
New York Mets: 4 Home vs. STL; 4 Road at PHI.

Schedule recommendations for teams with 7 games

Good for hitters / Good for pitchers
Arizona: 4 Home vs. LAD; 3 Road at SF.
Cleveland: 4 Home vs. OAK; 3 Home vs. TB.
Detroit: 4 Home vs. TEX; 3 Home vs. MIN.

Good for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Chicago White Sox: 4 Road at TB; 3 Road at KC.
Colorado: 3 Road at CHC; 4 Road at HOU.
Houston: 3 Road at MIL; 4 Home vs. COL.
Los Angeles Dodgers: 4 Road at ARI; 3 Home vs. SD.
Minnesota: 4 Home vs. TOR; 3 Road at DET.
Philadelphia: 3 Home vs. CIN; 4 Home vs. NYM.
St. Louis: 4 Road at NYM; 3 Road at CIN.
Tampa Bay: 4 Home vs. CHW; 3 Road at CLE.

Bad for hitters / Good for pitchers
Oakland: 4 Road at CLE; 3 Road at NYY.

Bad for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Texas: 4 Road at DET; 3 Road at BOS.
Toronto: 4 Road at MIN; 3 Road at SEA.

Schedule recommendations for teams with 6 games

Good for hitters / Good for pitchers
Atlanta: 3 Home vs. WAS; 3 Road at FLO.
Boston: 3 Road at SEA; 3 Home vs. TEX.
Los Angeles Angels: 3 Home vs. KC; 3 Road at BAL.
New York Yankees: 3 Road at BAL; 3 Home vs. OAK.

Good for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Baltimore: 3 Home vs. NYY; 3 Home vs. LAA.
Chicago Cubs: 3 Home vs. COL; 3 Home vs. MIL.
Cincinnati: 3 Road at PHI; 3 Home vs. STL.
Kansas City: 3 Road at LAA: 3 Home vs. CHW.
Milwaukee: 3 Home vs. HOU; 3 Road at CHC.
Seattle: 3 Home vs. BOS; 3 Home vs. TOR.

Bad for hitters / Good for pitchers
Florida: 3 Home vs. PIT; 3 Home vs. ATL.
Pittsburgh: 3 Road at FLO; 3 Home vs. WAS.
San Diego: 3 Road at SF; 3 Road at LAD.
San Francisco: 3 Home vs. SD; 3 Home vs. ARI.

Bad for hitters / Bad for pitchers
Washington: 3 Road at ATL; 3 Road at PIT.

Pitchers with 2 starts(to deploy everywhere you own them):
Jason Bergmann: Mon:@ATL(T.Hudson); Sun:@PIT(P.Maholm)
Chad Billingsley: Tue:@ARI(Ed.Gonzalez); Sun:SD(J.Germano)
Jeremy Bonderman: Mon:TEX(K.Loe); Sat:MIN(K.Slowey)
Buddy Carlyle???: Tue:WAS(M.Bacsik); Sun:@FLO(D.Willis)???
Jeff Francis: Mon:@CHC(J.Marquis); Sat:@HOU(J.Jennings)
Chad Gaudin: Mon:@CLE(C.Sabathia); Sat:@NYY(K.Igawa)
Justin Germano: Mon:@SF(T.Lincecum); Sun:@LAD(C.Billingsley)
Jeremy Guthrie: Tue:NYY(A.Pettitte); Sun:LAA(J.Lackey)
Roy Halladay: Mon:@MIN(K.Slowey); Sat:@SEA(M.Batista)
Dan Haren: Tue:@CLE(C.Lee); Sun:@NYY(A.Pettitte)
J.P. Howell: Mon:CHW(J.Danks); Sat:@CLE(C.Sabathia)
Tim Hudson: Mon:WAS(J.Bergmann); Sat:@FLO(B.Kim)
Jason Jennings: Mon:@MIL(B.Sheets); Sat:COL(J.Francis)
John Lackey: Mon:KC(J.Thomson); Sun:@BAL(J.Guthrie)
Cliff Lee: Tue:OAK(D.Haren); Sun:TB(J.Shields)
Paul Maholm: Tue:@FLO(D.Willis); Sun:WAS(J.Bergmann)
Jason Marquis: Mon:COL(J.Francis); Sun:MIL(Y.Gallardo)
Micah Owings: Mon:LAD(B.Penny); Sat:@SF(N.Lowry)
Brad Penny: Mon:@ARI(M.Owings); Sat:SD(J.Peavy)
Andy Pettitte: Tue:@BAL(J.Guthrie); Sun:OAK(D.Haren)
Wandy Rodriguez: Tue:@MIL(C.Vargas); Sun:COL(R.Lopez)
C.C. Sabathia: Mon:OAK(C.Gaudin); Sat:TB(J.Howell)
Ben Sheets: Mon:HOU(J.Jennings); Sat:@CHC(S.Marshall)
James Shields: Tue:CHW(J.Garland); Sun:@CLE(C.Lee)
Kevin Slowey: Mon:TOR(R.Halladay); Sat:@DET(J.Bonderman)
Dontrelle Willis: Tue:PIT(P.Maholm); Sun:ATL(B.Carlyle?)
Barry Zito: Tue:SD(D.Wells); Sun:ARI(R.Johnson?)

Pitchers with 2 starts to deploy only in leagues that don't count qualitative stats:
Homer Bailey: Tue:@PHI(K.Kendrick); Sun:STL(T.Wellemeyer?)
Scott Baker: Tue:TOR(S.Marcum); Sun:@DET(N.Robertson)
John Danks: Mon:@TB(J.Howell); Sat:@KC(Od.Perez)
Jon Garland: Tue:@TB(J.Shields); Sun:@KC(J.Thomson)
Kyle Kendrick: Tue:CIN(H.Bailey); Sun:NYM(Ol.Perez)
Kameron Loe: Mon:@DET(J.Bonderman); Sat:@BOS(J.Beckett)
Rodrigo Lopez: Tue:@CHC(T.Lilly); Sun:@HOU(W.Rodriguez)
Shaun Marcum: Tue:@MIN(S.Baker); Sun:@SEA(Jef.Weaver)
Mike Maroth: Mon:@NYM(J.Sosa); Sat:@CIN(B.Arroyo)
Oliver Perez: Tue:STL(T.Wellemeyer); Sun:@PHI(K.Kendrick)
Nate Robertson: Tue:TEX(B.McCarthy?); Sun:MIN(S.Baker)
Jorge Sosa: Mon:STL(M.Maroth); Sat:@PHI(J.Happ?)
Julian Tavarez: Mon:@SEA(Jef.Weaver); Sun:TEX(B.McCarthy?)
John Thomson: Mon:@LAA(J.Lackey); Sun:CHW(J.Garland)
Jeff Weaver: Mon:BOS(J.Tavarez); Sun:TOR(S.Marcum)
Todd Wellemeyer?: Tue:@NYM(Ol.Perez); Sun:@CIN(H.Bailey)?

Diamond Challenge

As we're only at eleven starting pitchers, as well as holding around ten saves ahead of third place in that category, we need another top starting pitcher. With Haren available as a free agent at the All-Star break, we're adding C.C. Sabathia, who enjoys a superior schedule to Jeremy Bonderman over the balance of the year. Rocco Baldelli finally departs our team upon his move to the 60-day DL.

SP(6)
Johan Santana: Fri:@DET(An.Miller)
Roy Oswalt: Thu:COL(A.Cook)
John Smoltz: Wed:WAS(M.Bowie)
Ben Sheets: Mon:HOU(J.Jennings); Sat:@CHC(S.Marshall)
Jake Peavy: Sat:@LAD(B.Penny)
Roy Halladay: Mon:@MIN(K.Slowey); Sat:@SEA(M.Batista)
Brandon Webb: Wed:LAD(D.Lowe)
John Lackey: Mon:KC(J.Thomson); Sun:@BAL(J.Guthrie)
C.C. Sabathia: Mon:OAK(C.Gaudin); Sat:TB(J.Howell)
Josh Beckett: Sat:TEX(K.Loe)
Chris Young: Fri:@LAD(H.Kuo)
Felix Hernandez: Tue:BOS(K.Gabbard); Sun:TOR(S.Marcum)???
Jon Papelbon: 3 Road at SEA; 3 Home vs TEX.

Beckett, facing a depleted Texas roster, seems an easy call to join our four doubles and the potential Felix double.

Offensively, Bard, Morneau, and Hall stay benched while Manny returns to the lineup for Delmon Young.

Rotohelp.com(12th lg; 133th div; 2113th overall)
Week 13: June 25-July 1

 
C	Brian McCann		880
C	Russ Martin		680 
1B	Albert Pujols		2050 
1B	Ryan Howard		1420 
2B	Ian Kinsler		630
2B	Kelly Johnson		400 
3B	Garrett Atkins		1150
3B	Mark Teahen		750
SS	Jose Reyes		1610 
SS	Hanley Ramirez		1100
OF	Matt Holliday		1410 
OF	Manny Ramirez		1390
OF	Willy Taveras		860
OF	Barry Bonds		830 
OF	Magglio Ordonez		820 
OF	Shane Victorino		560
DH	David Wright		1550
DH	Prince Fielder		910 

SP	Ben Sheets		1220 
SP	Roy Halladay		1140
SP	John Lackey		1040 
SP	C.C. Sabathia		1040
SP	Josh Beckett		1000
SP	Felix Hernandez		840
RP	Francisco Cordero	1260 
RP	Takashi Saito		1200
RP	Joe Borowski		1110 
RP	Matt Capps		600

Total Salary for Week 13: 	24450

Diamond Challenge - 2nd Season

We haven't burned a single move here, but with our offense starting to look in trouble, we need another bat. Despite the possibility that plenty of owners probably will add him this week after DC officials propped him, Corey Hart remains too good to skip with his 8 homers, 8 steals, and 19 RBI this month. Even with an expected upcoming slump from Hart, we need another bat with Morneau, Upton, and Hardy all hurting, and Tim Lincecum no longer warrants a roster spot on our squad given that he won't double this week and might not start until the second half.

SP(6)
Johan Santana: Fri:@DET(An.Miller)
Roy Oswalt: Thu:COL(A.Cook)
John Smoltz: Wed:WAS(M.Bowie)
Jake Peavy: Sat:@LAD(B.Penny)
John Lackey: Mon:KC(J.Thomson); Sun:@BAL(J.Guthrie)
C.C. Sabathia: Mon:OAK(C.Gaudin); Sat:TB(J.Howell)
Jeremy Bonderman: Mon:TEX(K.Loe); Sat:MIN(K.Slowey)
Daisuke Matsuzaka: Wed:@SEA(R.Feierabend)
Dan Haren: Tue:@CLE(C.Lee); Sun:@NYY(A.Pettitte)
Tim Hudson: Mon:WAS(J.Bergmann); Sat:@FLO(B.Kim)
Cole Hamels: Fri:NYM(J.Maine)
Randy Wolf: Thu:@ARI(L.Hernandez))
Jon Papelbon: 3 Road at ATL; 3 Road at SD.

With saves still a free-for-all here, Papelbon remains active to join our five doubles.

Youkilis subs for the hurting Morneau, Kendrick replaces the slumping Kelly Johnson, and new addition Corey Hart allows us to keep Brian McCann benched next to B.J. Upton and J.J. Hardy.

Rotohelp.com(8th lg; 52nd div; 338th overall)
Week 13: June 25-July 1

C	Victor Martinez		1310 
C	Russ Martin		680
1B	Prince Fielder		910 
1B	Kevin Youkilis		580
2B	Ian Kinsler		630 
2B	Howie Kendrick		520
3B	Mike Lowell		1070
3B	Mark Teahen		750
SS	Jose Reyes		1610
SS	Hanley Ramirez		1100
OF	Vladimir Guerrero	1880
OF	Matt Holliday		1410 
OF	Grady Sizemore		1380
OF	Magglio Ordonez		820 
OF	Ken Griffey		790
OF	Shane Victorino		560 
DH	Alex Rios		1000
DH	Corey Hart		430

SP	John Lackey		1040 
SP	C.C. Sabathia		1040 
SP	Jeremy Bonderman	980 
SP	Dan Haren		940 
SP	Tim Hudson		880
SP	Jon Papelbon		900
RP	Francisco Cordero	1260
RP	Takashi Saito		1200 
RP	Jose Valverde		1100
RP	Al Reyes		750

Total Salary for Week 13: 	27520

Internet Challenge

While we planned to add Magglio Ordonez for Rocco Baldelli, Dempster's injury necessitates the purchasing of a closer, so we'll add Matt Capps for Baldelli while keeping Corey Hart on the back burner for now.

SP(6)
Johan Santana: No start.
Roy Oswalt: Thu:COL(A.Cook)
Ben Sheets: Mon:HOU(J.Jennings)
Jake Peavy: No start.
Brandon Webb: Wed:LAD(D.Lowe)
Greg Maddux: Wed:@SF(M.Cain)
Josh Beckett: No start.
Daisuke Matsuzaka: Wed:@SEA(R.Feierabend)
Dan Haren: Tue:@CLE(C.Lee)
Rich Harden: 4 Road at CLE
Felix Hernandez: Tue:BOS(K.Gabbard)
Matt Cain: Wed:SD(G.Maddux)
Jon Papelbon: 3 Road at SEA

Oswalt, Sheets, Webb, Dice-K, Haren, and Felix all look solid, so while we also need saves, we'll gun for wins and strikeouts for the moment. Capps obviously replaces Dempster.

With Bard and Upton effectively useless, Hafner slumping, and Manny in Seattle, we see no reason to make a chance on offense.

Rotohelp.com(9th lg; 226th overall)
Week 13a: June 25-June 28

 
C	Victor Martinez		1310 
C	Brian McCann		880 
1B	Ryan Howard		1420
1B	Prince Fielder		910
2B	Ian Kinsler		630
2B	Kelly Johnson		400 
3B	David Wright		1550
3B	Mark Teahen		750
SS	Jose Reyes		1610 
SS	Hanley Ramirez		1100
OF	Matt Holliday		1410 
OF	Alex Rios		1000
OF	Willy Taveras		860
OF	Barry Bonds		830 
OF	Delmon Young		750
OF	Shane Victorino		560 
DH	Albert Pujols		2050 
DH	Bill Hall		900

SP	Roy Oswalt		1550 
SP	Ben Sheets		1220 
SP	Brandon Webb		1130 
SP	Daisuke Matsuzaka	950
SP	Dan Haren		940 
SP	Felix Hernandez		840 
RP	Francisco Cordero	1260
RP	Takashi Saito		1200
RP	Joe Borowski		1110 
RP	Matt Capps		600

Total Week 13a Salary:		29720

Fantasy Baseball & Fanball.Com Cap Challenge (aka Budget Baseball)
(Same rules = same rosters and moves for both teams)

Despite the risk involved with picking up a Pirates' closer, we trust Matt Capps' skills, and considering he costs less than half of someone like J.J. Putz, we'll add Capps and cut the injured Ryan Dempster.

SP(6)
Johan Santana: Fri:@DET(An.Miller)
Roy Oswalt: Thu:COL(A.Cook)
John Lackey: Mon:KC(J.Thomson); Sun:@BAL(J.Guthrie)
Jake Peavy: Sat:@LAD(B.Penny)
Josh Beckett: Sat:TEX(K.Loe)
C.C. Sabathia: Mon:OAK(C.Gaudin); Sat:TB(J.Howell)
Ben Sheets: Mon:HOU(J.Jennings); Sat:@CHC(S.Marshall)
Chris Young: Fri:@LAD(H.Kuo)
Cole Hamels: Fri:NYM(J.Maine)
Jon Papelbon: 3 Road at SEA; 3 Home vs TEX.

With our purchases dwindling, we don't mind that we can't add Bonderman or Haren this week. We'll run Beckett and Hamels with Papelbon and the three doubles.

On offense, Joe Mauer merely subs for Brian McCann, who doesn't warrant playing over Josh Bard given their respective salaries. Ryan Howard effectively replaces Garrett Atkins, Brandon Phillips kicks Ian Kinsler to the bench, and then Barry Bonds deploys for Nick Swisher, who joins McCann, Atkins, Kinsler, Adrian Gonzalez, Stephen Drew, B.J. Upton, and Rocco Baldelli out of the lineup.

Rotohelp.com(FB: 7th lg; 791st overall)
& Rotohelp.com(FC: 11th lg; 1634th overall)
Week 13: June 25-July 1

 
C	Joe Mauer		1890 
C	Josh Bard		1010
1B	Albert Pujols		3890
1B	Prince Fielder		1850 
2B	Chase Utley		2850 
2B	Brandon Phillips	1160
3B	David Wright		2900  
3B	Mark Teahen		1980
SS	Jose Reyes		2460 
SS	Hanley Ramirez		2150
OF	Grady Sizemore		2760 
OF	Matt Holliday		2730 
OF	Barry Bonds		2560 
OF	Delmon Young		1500
OF	Magglio Ordonez		1770 
OF	Willy Taveras		1460 
DH	Ryan Howard		3240 
DH	Chris B. Young		1000 

SP	John Lackey		2790
SP	Jake Peavy		2730 
SP	C.C. Sabathia		2490
SP	Ben Sheets		2030
SP	Cole Hamels		1450
SP	Jon Papelbon		1950
RP	Takashi Saito		2200
RP	Joe Borowski		2100
RP	Jose Valverde		1880
RP	Matt Capps		1000

Total Salary for Week 13:	59570

Today's Fantasy Rx: We traditionally wait as long as possible to submit All-Star ballots since we strongly believe that players deserve the extra few weeks or even days to improve their stats, but to give everyone more time to vote, we opted to post our recommended voting list today. Our general method of selecting our team involves a few steps. First, objective analysis, largely based upon the VORP data available at Baseball Prospectus. Second, subjective analysis, where we narrow the list using more traditional statistics. Finally, as we compile our preferred 30-man squads, we insure representation for every team, as well as adjusting our voting preferences to support only candidates with at least a realistic shot of winning a starting job given the current vote totals.

Our Recommended All-Star Ballot

	
POS	AL			NL
1B	D.Ortiz			P.Fielder
2B 	P.Polanco		C.Utley
SS	D.Jeter			J.Reyes
3B	A.Rodriguez		M.Cabrera
C	J.Posada		R.Martin 
OF	V.Guerrero		B.Bonds
OF	M.Ordonez		M.Holliday
OF	I.Suzuki		A.Rowand

ARod remains the only person to receive our vote in each of the past three seasons, though Jeter, Ichiro, Utley, and Reyes repeat from 2006. We don't like endorsing Polanco, but with Robinson Cano looking like the only alternative, please vote for Polanco. If the most deserving second basemen, Brian Roberts and B.J. Upton, were elected to the team, Polanco would sub for Upton as an injury replacement anyway. Thirteen of the remaining players on our ballot possess good chances to win, and since Bonds deserves to start for a variety of reasons, voting for Holliday and Rowand at least deprives Carlos Beltran and Alfonso Soriano of votes they don't merit. While Holliday appears an obvious choice and we won't chide anyone for voting for Griffey over Rowand, serious fans who respect both baseball and the rule of law should include Bonds on every ballot cast.

You have until Thursday, June 28th at 11:59 PM(EDT) to vote as many times as possible here. ("As many as times as possible" means as many friends and family members you either can convince to vote or let you vote for them, multiplied by twenty-five ballots per person. While the process will likely take up to an hour per person to submit all the votes, every vote certainly counts now with some starting positions very much in question. Please vote as often as your schedule (and the rules) allow.