ESPN Fantasy Games editorial staff analyzes the fantasy ramifications.

FANTASY ANGLE

Graham Hays Pedro Astacio-Scott Elarton deal: Einstein proved that space and time are relative, and Pedro Astacio may soon prove that 315 feet in Houston are every bit as dangerous to fantasy rotations as 5,381 feet are in Denver. Astacio's fantasy owners have long wished the pitcher would be freed from the mile-high confines of Coors Field, in turn allowing them to use him as more than a home/road platoon player. The long-awaited trade came on Tuesday, but the cozy confines of Enron Field promise to perpetuate Astacio's nomadic rotisserie existence. The Astros landed Astacio, 31, in exchange for Scott Elarton and a player to be named later. Doom and gloom aside, Wade Miller and Roy Oswalt prove that while Enron is no pitcher's paradise, it's a far better fantasy farm than Coors. Enron ranks second in most runs-per-game, but it's nearly three runs behind pace-setting Coors. Even more encouraging, Enron ranks just seventh in most visitor's runs-per-game. Much of that "success" comes from manager Larry Dierker utilizing a deep bullpen, deeper still after the deadline acquisition of Mike Williams. Astacio may land on the waiver wire in many leagues, as owners react with initial despair to news that their pitcher moved from the worst pitcher's park in baseball to ... the second-worst. Don't hesitate to take advantage of such panic attacks. Astacio's fastball will move with impunity amidst the sea-level air of Houston and he'll quit having to adjust his approach depending on the color of his jersey. It won't lead to Cy Young totals, but his numbers will be better than Rick Reed, Sterling Hitchcock or any other deadline-deal pitcher. Scott Elarton Pitcher Colorado Rockies   2001 SEASON STATISTICS IP W SV BB K ERA WHIP 109.2 4 0 49 76 7.14 1.596 Scott Elarton has allowed 26 home runs in just over 109 innings, and Colorado's spacious outfield won't do much to keep those balls in the park. A prime fantasy sleeper before the season, Elarton struggled through injury and ineffectiveness before the Astros shut him down after a six-run disaster against Cleveland on July 16. I'd like to say Elarton can buck the odds and get his game turned around, but where is the basis for optimism? He should return from a strained biceps tendon in time to pitch again this year, but the combination of injury and altitude won't do wonders for his curveball. Montreal's half of the Urbina-Ohka deal: Okha Tomo Ohka made an early splash in fantasy leagues before fading from the scene and heading to Class-AAA Pawtucket. The 25-year-old right-hander had two wins and a 2.28 ERA after five April starts but was in the minors after just two more appearances. Responding poorly, at least on the field, to the demotion, Ohka posted a 2-5 record and a 5.57 ERA for the PawSox. Injuries to the big club necessitated a recall in July, but Ohka's woes continued, allowing a staggering 22 earned runs in just 17 innings. Montreal may be able to provide him with a more stable spot in the rotation, but Ohka has problems beyond opportunity. He's a finesse pitcher who doesn't always have the best command, leaving too many 90-mph fastballs in the strike zone. NL-only owners may want to watch his progress, but Ohka is not a top fantasy prospect. Rich Rundles is a 20-year-old left-hander who receives little attention despite posting amazing numbers in a brief pro career. The 6-5 Rundles is 7-6 with a 2.43 ERA, 94 strikeouts, and 10 walks in 19 starts for Class-A Augusta. The former third-round pick began his career with Boston's Rookie League team in 2000, posting a 2.45 ERA with 32 strikeouts and 10 walks in 40 1/3 innings. The Boston Herald listed him in the honorable mention section of this season's Red Sox farm system All-Star team. Brandon Funston Boston's half of Urbina-Ohka deal: A little over a month after a deal with the New York Yankees fell through, Ugueth Urbina was finally dealt to Boston. His move is most significant for Montreal's Scott Strickland in the fantasy realm. Strickland should be an immediate pick up in all leagues as he likely assumes the Expos' closer role. He proved worthy of the job last season when he saved eight games in nine opportunities to close out the 2000 season. Guillermo Mota might be the Expos long-term solution in the closer role, but he has experienced tendinitis in his throwing shoulder and the Expos are likely to treat him with kid gloves for a while. Boston has never appeared sold on Derek Lowe as its closer. Prior to last season they looked for another closer so they could move Lowe into the starting rotation. Of course, that didn't happen and Lowe went on to close 42 games. However, Lowe was moved temporarily out his closer role twice in the first month of the season because he was struggling. Not coincidentally, Lowe's July ERA was 5.27 and it is likely that Boston's move to acquire Urbina was not to just simply add quality depth to the bullpen but, instead, to bring in an experienced closer should Lowe continue to falter. Manager Jimy Williams expirements with line-ups more than anyone in the league, so don't be surprised if Urbina posts as many saves, if not more, than Lowe down the stretch. In any event, Urbina probably still deserves a spot on ML-universe rosters, at least until there is some clarity in his role. Mike Williams for Tony McKnight: Headed to Houston, Mike Williams has suddenly become the fantasy baseball equivalent of a penguin's wing. In other words, he's useless. Williams joins Octavio Dotel and Mike Jackson as high-profile right-handed setup men to closer Billy Wagner. Only a few have turned such a situation into fantasy-worthy numbers, and Williams isn't likely to join this select class of middle relievers considering his competition and hitter-biased Enron Field. Thank Williams for his 22 saves as you show him the door in ML-universe and NL-only leagues. Mike Fetters Pitcher Pittsburgh Pirates   2001 SEASON STATISTICS IP W SV BB K ERA WHIP 29.2 2 1 13 26 6.07 1.551 Editorial Update: August 1 Despite initial thoughts that Josias Manzaniollo may inherit the Pirates closer role, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review is reporting that Mike Fetters will lay claim to the job. Said manager Lloyd McClendon: "He's capable of closing games, he has a track record, and he won't be overwhelmed by any situations." McClendon, when asked directly if Fetters would take over the job said, "In all likelihood." Tony McKnight, the prospect acquired from Houston in exchange for Williams, should get an opportunity to join the Pirates' rotation. McKnight, no doubt, impressed Pitt brass with seven innings of two-run ball in his last outing as an Astro, a 12-3 victory over the Bucs on Saturday. He's started three games this season, posting a 4.00 ERA. However, he's not a strikeout pitcher and considering his youth and the fact that he's suddenly playing for a cellar-dweller, McKnight isn't likely to be consistent enough to make an impact in NL-only or ML leagues over the final two months of the season. Sleeper: Kris Foster -- The O's acquired minor leaguer Kris Foster in the deal that sent Mike Trombley to LA. He throws 95 MPH and had 12 saves for AAA Las Vegas and just four walks and 17 K's in 21 IP, while not allowing a home run. At 26, it's likely that Baltimore had a reason for acquiring him, and it probably wasn't to bolster their Triple-A pitching staff. Trombley's gone to LA, Buddy Groom is more ideal in the set-up role and Ryan Kolmeier and B.J. Ryan crashed and burned as closers, meaning Foster has a legit shot at the role in a trial basis down the stretch. Ronnie Allen Matt Lawton-Rick Reed deal: The Twins followed the old baseball adage that good pitching beats good hitting by trading away their best outfielder Matt Lawton to the Mets for Rick Reed, the poor man's Greg Maddux. By moving to New York, Lawton will no longer have to bat out of position in the three-hole, where he hit in the Twins' lineup most of the time. Built for speed and having a penchant for getting on base via the free pass, Lawton is perfectly suited to bat leadoff, a spot Mets manager Bobby Valentine will undoubtedly use him exclusively. Any other year, batting ahead of Mike Piazza and Edgardo Alfonzo would appear to be a fine situation to fall in to. However, with the exception of Piazza's good but not great season, the Mets are struggling offensively as a whole and are dead last in the NL in batting average (.248), slugging percentage (.383), on-base percentage (.321), home runs (94), runs (399) and, lastly, RBI (379). Based on those facts, touching home plate could prove difficult for Lawton on a consistent basis, and driving in runners could become a trying accomplishment. Nonetheless, he's still a valuable commodity, both at the plate and on the basepaths, and I'm thinking about making a waiver run for him on my third place NL-only team, which has Calvin Murray and Mark Kotsay in the starting lineup. I have to believe the Twins have another trade up their sleeve. Matt Lawton was their best offensive threat, and the Twins can't expect to make a playoff run with Jacque Jones in left, Torii Hunter in center and a mixture of Brian Buchanan and Chad Allen in right field. Rumors floating around the trade path have the Twins interested in acquiring Cincinnati outfielder Dmitri Young. The trade deadline is over, but they could still snag him later in a waiver-wire deal. Rick Reed Pitcher Minnesota Twins   2001 SEASON STATISTICS IP W SV BB K ERA WHIP 134.2 8 0 17 99 3.48 1.010 Trailing the Cleveland Indians by less than a handful of games, the Twins needed to fortify their starting rotation for the final two months of the season. Though they have been shaky since the All-Star break, the trio of Eric Milton, Joe Mays and Brad Radke are a solid group of starters. Rick Reed will replace Adam Johnson in the rotation, and should throw well in Minnesota. Reed induces the groundball at a similar rate to Brad Radke's and shouldn't be affected by the speedy Metrodome turf too much. I have an AL-only squad that's hurting for starts and dead last in wins, but not too far out of the hunt. If I grab Reed and mix in some spot starts, I believe there's a chance to finish in the middle of the pack in wins and possibly make a run at the league title.