Odds & Ends

Injuries:

• This one hurts.  Rafael Furcal will hit the DL with a lower back strain, after missing five games due to the same injury.  He was off to an amazing start, giving many fantasy owners great hope for the season.  Chin-Lung Hu is an internal option to replace him, though Luis Maza [MiLB Value $17.47] was mentioned as someone to take Furcal's active roster spot.
• John Smoltz is throwing again.  Recovering from rotator cuff and bicep tendon inflammation, he threw 45 pitches from 60 feet.  He'll throw from 90 feet on Wednesday, and is aiming for a return to the Braves later this month.
• Sean Casey was activated from the DL by the Red Sox, who DFA'd Julian "I Fought the Bullpen Phone and the Bullpen Phone Won" Tavarez to make room.
• Pedro Martinez is going to throw a simulated game against minor leaguers on Wednesday.  Martinez is returning from a strained left hamstring sustained in his season debut on April 1.

Transactions:

• The Pirates demoted John Van Benschoten, and will bring up "a pitcher" before tonight's game.

Misc.:

• That was quick.  Eric Gagne says he's ready to close again, only two days after he stated he didn't deserve to close out games.  Ned Yost didn't specifically commit to giving him the ball in the 9th, though.
• NBJ's got plugged on the Fantasy Baseball Gurus Show, an excellent internet radio program with Todd Farino, Patrick DiCaprio, and RC Rizza.  They raised a good question about my position reviews and MiLB Reviews, asking how the $ values are calculated.  All the $ values are calculated solely based on a players season-to-date production; there are no "projections" factored in on the values.  Although the methodology of calculating rotisserie values is complex enough to write a book about it, my valuations are loosely based on Art McGee's theories.  I encourage y'all to check out Patrick's site, The Fantasy Baseball Generals.  I also added a link to his site under "Fantasy Baseball Links" on this site.