Fantasy Player's Edge

May 25, 2008


Roster Shuffle:

Clayton Kershaw makes his big league debut today vs.
the Cards. He's certain to draw priority waiver attention
in top leagues.

The big Padres righthander Chris Young will be out for
more than the standard DL of 15 days with multiple
facial fractures from a line drive hit by Pujols. Late
June would be the earliest that he would return with
some accounts having him out of action until the All
Star break. The Edge wonders what the impact of
this trauma will have on his psyche.

Pedro Martinez has returned to Florida and will throw
a bullpen session today. Pete's talking about returning
on Wednesday to face the Marlins. People around him
say he looks good. We'll all find out soon enough.

Bartolo Colon has 2 starts this week as he goes against
the Mariners in Seattle on Monday. He'll be on a 90-95
pitch count which is plenty to get through 6 innings for
a W.

Joba Chamberlain threw 40 pitches, 22 for strikes, in
a 2 inning stint yesterday. Hopefully he'll stretch out
over 50 in his next outing on his way to the Yankees
rotation.

Rafael Soriano could actually be activated today.
He should be their closer for one day until Smoltz
arrives tomorrow. Smoltz had a solid rehab outing
for Mississippi and is on his way back to Atlanta.

Fausto Carmona was placed on the DL with a hip
problem. He'll miss at least 2 turns.

Sources close to the Cubs say Alphonso Soriano's legs are
still troubling him, especially, on the bases. The way he's
been hitting it seems that no one has been paying much
attention to the issue. Be aware that this could cause a
bit of trouble going forward so it's important that a back
up plan be in place now in case he goes down unexpectedly.

Speaking of wheels, Chone Figgins sat for the 3rd consecutive
game. The official word was that he was given the day off.
Let's see, 15 day DL, play one game and take off three. Oh
yeah that makes perfect sense. They'll either have to start
Chone by Monday or put him back on the DL until he can play
everyday.

Ryan Church missed another start as well, still suffering from
some form of head trauma in a collision on Wednesday trying
to break up a double play.

Andruw Jones has been placed on the DL which is a positive
for owners of any of the remaining Dodgers OF's.

Hank Blalock could be activated today or Tuesday. He was
rehabbing a hamstring when diagnosed with carpal tunnel
of all things.

Paulie "Cashews" Konerko will be relegated to pinch hitting
for a few days due to a sore right hand. Adjust accordingly
until he returns full time.

First Troy Tuolwitzki, now Clint Barmes is headed to the DL
with a sprained right knee. The Rockies are down to their
3rd option at SS. Fantasy owners are a bit more fortunate
and should look to Vizquel or Jack Wilson for a spot play
until Tulo returns to active duty.

Brad Hawpe hit the DL with a strained hamstring. The
time off may do Hawpe some good as he's been scuffling
to find his rhythm at the plate.

Another Rockies player, Garrett Atkins sat out with a
stiff neck. He's day to day.

Michael Barrett is returning to the Padres and will likely
be their primary option at C with Bard gone for 4-6 weeks.


Streamers: (tomorrow's probable starters available as free agents)

Use these players to gain advantage in wins and strikeouts.

Jason Bergmann- has returned from the minors impressively,
not allowing a run in 14 innings with 14 k's. 0-0, 1.50/.67 in
6 innings vs. the Brewers. The matchup against Sheets and
the inept Nationals offense implies that Jason has no margin
for error.

Bartolo Colon- the round one faces a long time foe in Seattle
at one of his favorite haunts. 8-1, 2.17/.98 over 71 frames
lifetime at Safeco Field. He's on a 90-95 pitch count which
is plenty to earn the W.


Spotties: (tomorrow's position players available as free agents)

Use these players to fill in for injured players and on off days.

Coco Crisp- Crispy burns Jarrod all the time. 10/21, 6 extras,
a homer, 4 ribeyes with only 2 k's vs. Washburn.

Scott Rolen- still has a little somethin'-somethin left for Tomko.
9/22, 3 mults, a blast and 3 rbi.


Start/Sit: (today)

Guide to using bench players when matchups are favorable.

Garret Anderson (start)- this Angel simply bedevils Contreras.
11/23, 2 extras, 4 rbi with only 2 k's.

Carlos Pena (start)- this all or nothing player gets a hot pitcher
that he can handle. 5/15, 2 jacks, 5 rbi and k vs. Daniel Cabrera.


Guide to sit starters when matchups are unfavorable.

Normally sit these players in Roto formats only.

Nick Swisher (sit)- perennial sitter runs smacky into Lackey.
4/37, with a gosh awful 14 k's.

Jim Thome (sit)- runs smacky into Lackey, that's today's
theme. 0/10 with 5 k's.


Studs and Duds: (a recap of yesterday's picks and pans)

Justin Duchscherer (stream)- W 8/ip/0e/1w/4k

Jason Marquis (stream)- ND 5.1ip/3e/10w/2k

Ty Wigginton (spot)- 2/3, run

Adam Kennedy (spot)- 0/5 (vs Lowe/Fri)

Raul Ibanez (start)- 0/5

Shane Victorino (start)- 1/5, run, stolen base.

Lance Berkman (sit)- 0/1, run

Torii Hunter (sit)- 2/5, run, stolen base (vs. Danks)


How To: (this section is devoted to the fundamentals of daily play)


Head To Head: Player's Edge(PE) vs. Opposition(OP):

Week 5: Sunday


Weekly Tot: R-H-RB-SB -BA/ W-SV-K ER-WH -SCORE

-------PE-21--4--26--2--.315/-5-4-48--3.63--1.28---5
-------OP-21--5--26--5--.274/-2-0-26--4.89--1.20---3

Offense: Lineups:

-----PE-----/----- OP

^B.Molina---------^Soto
^Teixeira---------^Morneau
^Roberts----------^Matsui
^Braun------------^Zimmerman
^Escobar----------- empty
^Griffey-----------^Holliday
^C. Young-------- ^McLouth
^Kemp------------^Quentin
Figgins------------^Sizemore
^Gomez------------C. Jackson
---------------------Hunter
---------------------Bruce
---------------------Tulowitzki (DL)


------PE------//-----OP
2/29-1-0-1-0 //7/30-3-1-2-1 (daily totals: H/AB,R,HR,RBI)

Pitching: Rotation-Closers

-----PE----/------OP

Harang------------F. Hernandez
Shields------------Carmona
Weaver-----------Cook
Cain-------------^Cabrera
S.Hill------------ ^Contreras
F. Cordero-------- Eveland
Saito--------------Volquez
Fuentes---------- Rasner
Wood-------------Saunders
Lilly--------------Smoltz-DL
Harden


-----PE--------//------OP
1W/0S, 8-0-5-6//0W/0S, 0-0-0-0 (day: W/S,IP,ER,WH,K)

Weekly Totals- Batting Avg. PE(57/181) - OP (45/164)
Weekly Totals- ERA (23/(57/9) - OP ERA (19/(35/9) -(er/(ip/9)
Weekly Totals- Whip (73/57) - OP WHIP (42/35) - (w+h/ip)
Weekly Starts(est/week to date) PE---3-----OP----2

^ -designates an active player on today's roster.

Daily Activity:

PE Glaus(drop)/Bergmann-Mon
OP Rasner(drop)/Jackson-Tues
PE Bergmann(drop)/Byrd-Tues
OP Jackson(drop)/Contreras-Tues
PE Byrd(drop)/Gorzelanny-Wed
PE Gorzelanny(drop)/Figgins-Thurs
PE Hill(drop)/Martinez-Sat
OP Olson(drop)/Cabrera-Sat
OP Scherzer(drop)/Rasner-Sat
PE Martinez(DL)/Bergmann-Sun

Strategy: PE Weaver threw 8 shutout innings allowing only 5
whip to earn a win yesterday. PE immediately made Cain, Wood
and Cordero inactive leaving only Saito active. A flawless inning
from Saito would have lowered PE whip to 1.26 but he did not
pitch. Cain's game was rained out and he's pitching today. OP
made 2 moves yesterday adding Daniel Cabrera and Rasner.
Cabrera starts today, is 6-0 vs. the Rays and a hot pitcher at
the moment. He's a formidable compliment to OP's other starter
Contreras. PE will sit all pitchers today and hope that either
Cabrera or Contreras has a rocky outing. Rasner starts next
week and has no bearing on this week's game. The thought
process behind PE benching all pitching is that if OP pitching
allows 1 earned run over 14 innings PE would still take the ERA
point 3.63 to 3.67. If OP pitching outperforms then OP deserves
the point. Pedro Martinez was picked up for Shawn Hill and then
promptly added to the DL to create a roster spot for Bergmann.
These moves are in preparation for week 9's challenge.

Week 9 OP features Pujols, Guillen, Justin Upton, Granderson and
Dunn on offense. OP has a simple 5 man rotation headed by Tim
Hudson, Gregg as the only closer and 2 set up relievers in Springer
and Corpas. Normally this would be an easy pitching match up but
this week's OP has 4 of the 5 starters with 2 start weeks giving OP
9 for the week. PE currently has only 7 starts on this week's roster.
Bergmann, without regard for his performance, will be waived for a
stream on Tuesday. That stream will either be used to activate Pedro
or another stream on Wednesday effectively bringing PE 's start total
to 9. PE's staff is superior on paper to OP's Hudson, Jimenez, Snell,
Moyer and Maddux with all except Maddux having 2 starts. PE
should control K's and Saves but unfortunately they don't play these
games on paper. OP has power with Pujols, Dunn, Uggla, Guillen and
Justin Upton. Granderson is the only reliable base stealer on the OP
roster. On offense OP has the potential to start 9 on Monday with PE
having 7 if Figgins can go. OP has roster advantages on Monday on
offense and early in the week with pitching starts. It's an uphill
battle right from the jump that should equalize on Wednesday
with pitching.


Game Keys: PE offense, using that term loosely, went a paltry
2/29 with a single run and rbi. Luckily, OP offense could only
muster a 7/30 with 3 runs and 2 rbi. OP did have the night's
only homer breaking the tie in that category. PE holds a 5-3
lead with Runs and RBI tied. PE has W and Saves won with
solid advantages in K's, ERA and BA. Essentially, PE is playing
aggressively for OP points in Runs, HR, RBI and passively
for WHIP. OP has a 3 steal lead that seems to be safe as PE
swipers have been dormant for 2 weeks. Roberts was rested
and Molina was rained out. Both should play today giving PE
a full team. Gomez will continue to start for Figgins. OP has
played all week without a SS and has 2 SP's today. PE has
benched all pitching. It's neck and neck going down the stretch.


Final Thoughts:

PE is in 3rd place, 5 games out of 1st and 1 game behind the
2nd place team heading into week 8.

The Player's Edge participates in many leagues but elected to
follow a team in a Public League to better approximate what might
be faced by a wide majority of players that use the Edge daily. This
team plays in a standard 5x5 scoring format and drafted 7th of 12
teams in a 21 round on-line live event in late March. We'll follow this
team throughout the entire 2008 fantasy campaign.


All Done!

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