Today's Fantasy Rx

Welcome to our weekly LPR rankings, our primary method of identifying highly skilled and consistently effective pitchers. While we have not changed this system since last season, feel free to refer to this key for a complete description of the codes. We have included the five most recent 2007 QA scores for each starter, along with the 10 most recent QA scores for each reliever, tabulating all data through July 4th. Pitchers with no QA scores have not pitched this year, so do not roster any of them unless you see someone ready to return to the majors from the minors or the DL.

1
23ABX - C.C. Sabathia(44554)
2ABCX - Jeremy Bonderman(42535)
2ACX - John Lackey(25053)
3ACX - Josh Beckett(52354)
ABCXYZ - Kelvim Escobar(44440)
AXY - Dan Haren(44423)
AX - Jeremy Guthrie(55444)

Despite a couple of mediocre appearances, Haren makes his first appearance up here, displacing both Joe Blanton and Erik Bedard. However, Sabathia and Guthrie remain the safest bets here at the moment, followed by Escobar, Bonderman, and then Beckett, Haren, and Lackey.

23abcxyz - Mariano Rivera(4454533443)
2abcxyz - Akinori Otsuka(5434443242)
2abcxy - J.J. Putz(4355355344)
abcxyz - Joe Nathan(4532544455)
abcxyz - Bobby Jenks(5352433443)
axy - Joaquin Benoit(3323554555)
ax - Hideki Okajima(3443453555)
ax - Matt Guerrier(4435532332)

The busiest week of the season for AL relievers results in Rivera and Benoit reaching the top rank for the first time this year, Nathan reclaiming a spot, and continued solid performance from the other quartet of late-inning options. Only Guerrier really worries me as his recent struggles soon could send him following Joel Peralta back down this list.

2
3ABCYZ - Roger Clemens(54024)
ABCXYZ - Johan Santana(33445)
C - Jose Contreras(02222)

Though few pitchers seem worse bets than Contreras right now, Santana appears ready to embark upon his normal second-half dominance while Clemens increasingly looks like a borderline ace after his overly-publicized slow start.

3abcyz - Justin Duchscherer(2344443251)
abcxyz - Chad Bradford(3303544444)
abcxyz - Scot Shields(4433433443)
BYby - Francisco Liriano
bcyz - Mike MacDougal(4312334342)
aby - Dennys Reyes(1352444443)
bxy - Alan Embree(5454445303)
Mike Myers(5450043402)

3
ACXYZ - Roy Halladay(35433)
BCZ - Felix Hernandez(34534)
Bcz - Julian Tavarez(44402)
CZ - Andy Pettitte(24320)
C - Matt Clement
Y - Kevin Millwood(03343)
Z - Bartolo Colon(03033)

abcxyz - Huston Street(5335344245)
abcz - Todd Jones(4434541545)
x - Aaron Fultz(0333352534)

A
BXby - Fausto Carmona(55305)
BCX - Erik Bedard(34552)
BCZ - A.J. Burnett(45400)
BY - Mike Mussina(44444)
X - Justin Verlander(44344)
X - Joe Blanton(34543)
Javier Vazquez(33444)
Jake Westbrook(50453)
Gil Meche(44042)

B
X - Joe Saunders(34233)
Y - Curt Schilling(52340)
Cha Seung Baek(43330)

C
Z - Rich Harden(535)

abx - Scott Downs(3445403043)
Victor Zambrano(153323)

X
Y - James Shields(43235)
Daisuke Matsuzaka(33345)
J.P. Howell(33330)

Yes, Dice-K appears on a roll, but good luck trying to acquire him from an owner who likely massively overpaid in the draft for the honor of owning the 26-year-old.

Y
Luke Hudson(0)

a
Shaun Marcum(23234)

bcxyz - Francisco Rodriguez(3545355432)
bxy - Jon Papelbon(4433454435)
bxy - Pat Neshek(5432434535)
bxy - C.J. Wilson(0455532335)
cxz - George Sherrill(3544445305)
cxz - Rafael Betancourt(4254414453)
cxz - Eric Gagne(3434313534)
cxz - Al Reyes(5344140330)
cyz - Macay McBride(4053354441)
xyz - Justin Speier(5345335345)
bx - Rafael Perez(5234445514)
by - Javier Lopez(4043414444)
cx - Octavio Dotel(5455243524)
cz - David Riske(1143344543)
b - Shawn Camp(2514454044)
x - Joakim Soria(5444434434)
x - Lenny DiNardo(3344525423)
x - Jeremy Accardo(5203451342)
z - Chris Ray(2423323345)
z - Jason Frasor(3434253202)
Santiago Casilla(4434450434)
Casey Fossum(4243242404)

b
y - Joe Kennedy(12030)

cyz - Kyle Farnsworth(2333542544)
cyz - Juan Rincon(4332254503)
cyz - Matt J. Miller(03)
cz - Kiko Calero(0503534531)
yz - Fernando Rodney(4322422324)
y - Wes Littleton(443432143)
y - Jon Huber(42425)
y - Scott Feldman(0232432331)
y - Joe Nelson
z - Mike Burns
Joel Pineiro(3522444442)
Fernando Cabrera(4144324234)
Luis Vizcaino(3333344334)
Tom Mastny(3323324311)
Craig Breslow

c
xz - Tim Byrdak(4433330343)
yz - Mike Timlin(3542430344)
x - Bobby Seay(2453333345)
z - Jay Witasick(3142225343)
z - Chris Reitsma(1333343035)
z - Ron Villone(4320133343)

x
y - Sean Green(5342543535)
Jamie Walker(4043435353)
Frank Francisco(4332434442)
Kyle Snyder(1334543343)
Jay Marshall(3004334143)
Chris Bootcheck(3343135233)
Sean Henn(3334133324)

y
Brian Burres(41302)

Joe Borowski(2434224434)
Zach Miner(413532)
Craig Hansen

z
Manny Delcarmen(43433434)
Ron Flores(4142333101)
Jose Capellan(15233223)

1 - K/9 of 6.0+, BB/9 of 3.0-, H/9 of 9.0-, HR/9 of 1.0-,
     and G-F of 1.0+ in 25+ IP in 2007.
2 - K/9 of 6.0+, BB/9 of 3.0-, H/9 of 9.0-, HR/9 of 1.0-,
     and G-F of 1.0+ in 25+ IP in 2006.
3 - K/9 of 6.0+, BB/9 of 3.0-, H/9 of 9.0-, HR/9 of 1.0-,
     and G-F of 1.0+ in 25+ IP in 2005.

QA score for starts: up to 5 total points, one for each statistical goal, to any starter who pitches at least 5 innings and fulfills the following skill qualifications: K>=IP-2, BB<=IP/3, H<=IP, HR<=1, and G-F>=1.00. Any starter who does not reach at least one of the required statistical goals or fails to pitch 5 innings earns a 0 QA score. Scores of 5 and 4 qualify as DOMinant outings, a 3 is DULl, and anything below 3 ranks as a skill DISaster.

QA score for relief outings: up to 5 total points, one for each statistical goal, to any reliever who retires at least one batter and fulfills the following skill qualifications: K>=IP, BB=0, H<=IP, HR=0, and G-F>=1.00. Any reliever who does not reach at least one of the required statistical goals or fails to retire a batter earns a 0 QA score. Scores of 5 and 4 qualify as DOMinant outings, a 3 is DULl, and anything below 3 ranks as a skill DISaster.

Starters must pitch in five games before earning any of the following DOM or DIS ratings. Relievers must appear in no less than 10 games before earning DOM/DIS consideration.

A - QA score of 4 or 5 in at least 50% of 2007 starts
B - QA score of 4 or 5 in at least 50% of 2006 starts
C - QA score of 4 or 5 in at least 50% of 2005 starts

X - QA score below 3 in no more than 20% of 2007 starts
Y - QA score below 3 in no more than 20% of 2006 starts
Z - QA score below 3 in no more than 20% of 2005 starts

a - QA score of 4 or 5 in at least 50% of 2007 relief outings
b - QA score of 4 or 5 in at least 50% of 2006 relief outings
c - QA score of 4 or 5 in at least 50% of 2005 relief outings

x - QA score below 3 in no more than 20% of 2007 relief outings
y - QA score below 3 in no more than 20% of 2006 relief outings
z - QA score below 3 in no more than 20% of 2005 relief outings

We'll continue tomorrow with this week's NL LPR article.

Internet Challenge

SP(6)
Johan Santana: No start.
Roy Oswalt: Sun:NYM(D.Williams?)
Ben Sheets: No start.
Jake Peavy: No start.
Brandon Webb: Sat:@CIN(H.Bailey)
Greg Maddux: Sun:ATL(K.Davies)
Josh Beckett: No start.
Daisuke Matsuzaka: Sun:@DET(N.Robertson)
Dan Haren: Fri:SEA(Jef.Weaver)
Felix Hernandez: Sat:@OAK(R.Harden)
Matt Cain: No start.
Jon Papelbon: 3 Road at DET.

With a need for strikeouts and six surprisingly solid starts, we see no reason not to sit Papelbon.

On offense, with Upton and Kinsler sidelined, Bill Hall possibly seriously hurt, and Willy Taveras still hobbled, deploying Alex Rios and Hafner for Hall and Prince Fielder comprise the extent of our moves. Fielder remains a good play, but he heads to Washington in a slump while Hafner heads to Toronto looking better by the day.

Rotohelp.com(7th lg; 194th overall)
Week 14b: July 6-July 8

 
C	Victor Martinez		1310 
C	Brian McCann		880 
1B	Ryan Howard		1420
1B	Travis Hafner		1380
2B	Howie Kendrick		520
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	Manny Ramirez		1390
OF	Barry Bonds		830 
OF	Delmon Young		750
OF	Shane Victorino		560 
OF	Corey Hart		430
DH	Albert Pujols		2050 
DH	Alex Rios		1000

SP	Roy Oswalt		1550 
SP	Brandon Webb		1130
SP	Greg Maddux		1040
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 14b Salary:		29960

Today's Fantasy Rx: Several minor moves could create some fantasy opportunities for AL owners, but no one truly jumps out at me as a necessary target. Boston both promoted and demoted Jacoby Ellsbury, likely limiting his fantasy utility for a few more months. Also, Mike Napoli's injury brings back Jeff Mathis to the majors, and despite his increasing trouble at the plate, Mathis still owns decent batting skills.

On the pitching side of the ledger, the Yankees' promotion of Edwar Ramirez brings a possible future closer to the Bronx; definitely target Ramirez for a couple of bucks even if Joe Torre appears unlikely to give him much work in the near future. Detroit's acquisition of Jose Capellan adds a needed hard-thrower to the volatile Tigers' bullpen. Lastly, the injury to Al Reyes temporarily makes Gary Glover the Rays' closer, however Glover lacks the skills to thrive in that role, making Shawn Camp a slightly better short-term investment. Unfortunately, neither pitcher appears particularly likely to see many save opportunities before Reyes' likely return in two weeks.