We have eight players signed up for the Times-News Challenge. They are: Ron Kilburn, Meadville; Ryan O'Neil, Seneca; Dave Kelly, Harrisburg; Stan Zelepsky, Erie; Rob Seib, Titusville; Ted DuShole, Erie; John McDonald, Erie; and Ron Loader, Erie.
If you want to be considered for the league, e-mail me at rick.green@timesnews.com by 3 p.m. today.

If you're like me and got Dodgers shortstop Rafael Furcal at a discount hoping for a quick return, you might have to wait a little longer.
Furcal is eligible to return from the DL on Saturday, but that might not be the case.
You should make alternate plans until a return date is firm.

Chris Carpenter owners got a scare Wednesday when it was reported he would skip his next start because of tightness in his elbow.
Carpenter says it feels much better, allowing his owners to return to normal fantasy baseball mode.
Hopefully this will be the last scare for Carpenter this season.

By now, everyone is excited about the 10-strikeout performance by Daisuke Matsuzaka on Thursday.
First, it was against the Royals.
Second, before everyone anoints Matsuzaka as the next Cy Young, let's see what he does against a better lineup. Then, let's see what he does a second time around the league.
Matsuzaka might be great, but I'd hold off on paying top dollar for him until I see more.

In the early days of fantasy baseball, it was easy to ignore the first week of stats.
Usually, it was done by hand, after USA Today published on a Tuesday or Wednesday, so a little more than a week had gone by and owners couldn't panic because of a bad night.
Fast-forward to today, however, owners can make daily transactions and see statistics updated by the batter.
All of this can make a fantasy baseball owner want instant results.
So the worst thing to do is make a quick reaction to a player having a bad couple of games.
Here's what Bill Konigsberg of the Associate Press had to say:

Don't look at box scores.
At least for the first few weeks of April, studying box scores only can lead to regrettable decisions. No two-homer opening game can significantly alter Edgar Renteria's inevitable .290-15-70, 15 stolen-base season; no 0-for-5, four-strikeout debut for new Pirates first baseman Adam LaRoche will make him any less likely to drive in 100 runs.
First-week performances carry no more weight than those of any other week. Players have good weeks and bad weeks, and paying close attention in early April will cause overeager owners to make bad trades.
Just ask those who traded for Tigers first baseman Chris Shelton last year.
After four games, Shelton was hitting .688 with five homers. He became the fastest player in American League history to reach nine homers, after 13 games. Suddenly, owners were offering players like Richie Sexson for a piece of Shelton's breakout season.
Shelton then tanked; he was in the minors by Aug. 1.
Sexson, who hit two homers last April, finished the year with 34 — 18 more than Shelton.
So don't give up Jimmy Rollins, a notorious slow starter, for Renteria, regardless of what the first week brings. You'll be sorry.
If you're dying for an April box score fix, check out where players are batting in team's lineups. That's much more telling than early-season numbers.

It appears the Giants like Armando Benitez's chances this season as the team's closer.
Maybe they're trying to raise his stock to trade him. Maybe they really believe it.
I don't.
Stay away from Benitez. An implosion will happen soon.

Alex Gordon, one of the favorites to win the AL Rookie of the Year award, didn't start Saturday.
If someone in your league has dropped Gordon, who has gone 1-for-15 with six strikeouts in his first four games, pick him up.
It's way too early to drop him.
Keep this in mind when making a decision on Gordon: He has faced Curt Schilling, Josh Beckett, Daisuke Matsuzaka and Justin Verlander in his first four games.
That's a rough start for anyone.

No doubt some fantasy leaguers are scrambling to pick up Lee Gardner after he picked up a save for the Marlins on Sunday after Jorge Julio imploded yet again.
Here's what Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez told mlb.com after the game:

Gonzalez said he pulled Julio for a couple of reasons. Foremost, the manager said, was because he logged 31 pitches the night before. Julio is not expected to pitch Monday when the Marlins face the Brewers at home.
But on Tuesday, if there is a save situation, Gonzalez intends to go with Julio.

... Brad Lidge.
There's no surprise he lost his job and Dan Wheeler is the next in line.
The big surprise is Lidge lost his job before Jorge Julio.
My money was on Julio, who is just about out of a job anyway.
He's my choice for the next to go.

From the files of injured closers, Eric Gagne is scheduled to return to the big leagues Friday.
Rangers manager Ron Washington said he would use Gagne in the closer's role.
Akinori Otsuka would lose his job -- until Gagne gets hurt again.
If you have room for Otsuka on your roster or as a reserve, he's still worth having as Gagne insurance.

The Florida Marlins started the season trading for Jorge Julio to be their closer.
Today, he's a middle reliever.
After a rough start, Julio will work on things in a relief role, hopefully to limit the damages to the Marlins' staff and fantasy leaguers' staffs.
Henry Owens would be the choice to get the saves. There's also Kevin Gregg, Matt Lindstrom and Taylor Tankersley, who is expected to rejoin the staff.
Who will be next to lose their role as closer??

This time, B.J. Ryan is out of a job.
He has blown two saves so far, but his elbow has him on the DL.
Ryan gave up four runs in the ninth Saturday to the Tigers and now has a visit planned with Dr. James Andrews.
In the meantime, pick up Jason Frasor as the replacement for Ryan.

Blue Jays closer B.J. Ryan is expected to be out 4 weeks to 6 weeks.
Jason Frasor still is in line to be the closer. He was not used in a save situation Sunday because he pitched the day before.

In other Jays news, Reed Johnson will be out 2 months for surgery for a herniated disc in his lower back. Adam Lind is a guy to check out in AL only leagues.

Alfonso Soriano, one of the top picks in fantasy drafts, is expected to go on the DL with a hamstring injury.
This opens an opportunity for Felix Pie, one of the Cubs' top prospects.
Pie was called up and is expected to play center today.
It might be a short stay, or Pie could do really well and stick. He's worth taking a chance on, and, at worst, finding a home on your reserve list.

The Phillies moved their ace, Brett Myers, to the bullpen.
Myers will be a candidate to pitch in the seventh or eighth innings.
This shouldn't come as a complete surprise. Earlier this spring, Myers said he would move to the bullpen if it would help out the team.
Obviously, Myers owners can't be pleased and will have to scramble to replace him.
The Phils will move Jon Leiber into the rotation.

Mariners ace Felix Hernandez left Wednesday's game after only getting one out.
The Associated Press reported:

Hernandez recorded just one out and was charged with three runs. The Mariners said the 21-year-old phenom left "for precautionary reasons" and would be re-evaluated Thursday.
After Hernandez threw a 2-1 pitch to Justin Morneau in the first, he grimaced, turned away from home plate and immediately signaled for plate umpire Ed Rapuano to halt the game. The right-hander then motioned for trainer Rick Griffin and manager Mike Hargrove to come out of the Mariners dugout. After Hernandez briefly squatted behind the pitching rubber, Hargrove summoned long reliever Jake Woods out of the dugout to replace Hernandez.

Hernandez owners need to cross their fingers on this one.

The Mariners might have dodged a bullet with King Felix.
The Associated Press is reporting Hernandez will miss at least two starts.
From the AP:

Mariners medical director Dr. Ed Khalfayan said Thursday that the 21-year-old right-hander will not throw for five days, then will play catch.
"I think 10 to 20 days is a reasonable estimate," Khalfayan said when asked when Hernandez might again pitch in a game. That's as good a news as you can get from an elbow injury."
If Hernandez continued to pitch with the strain, he could have stressed elbow so severely he would have required elbow-ligament replacement surgery.

Hernandez isn't out of the woods, but it could have been worse.

If you're looking for some pitching help, the Yankees plan to call up rookie Philip Hughes for Thursday's game.
As with all rookies, there's risk involved. But -- there is upside.
Hughes is 2-1 with a 3.94 ERA in Scranton. In 16 innings, he has 17 strikeouts and four walks.

Ben Sheets lasted three innings in his last start.
From the Associated Press:

Sheets left Wednesday's game against the Chicago Cubs after three innings because of a strained right groin.
In the bottom of the third, Sheets reached down to tag out Ryan Theriot at third base after the Cubs player tried to advance on an overthrow.

If you like picking top prospects, today's your chance.
The Angels will bring up Brandon Wood.
Wood has 58 home runs and 199 RBIs in his past two minor league seasons and is one of the top prospects in baseball.
He strikes out a lot, but he has plenty of power.
If you're in a keeper league, he's one to target.

It looks like Mariners pitcher Felix Hernandez is on track to pitch May 4 or May 5.
Hernandez left a start April 18 after just two outs.
This could be a big break for Hernandez owners. Keep those fingers crossed.

The Atlanta Braves are looking for a closer.
Bob Wickman was placed on the DL today with a bad back.
Mike Gonzalez and Rafael Soriano figure to pick up the saves.
If I had a choice between the two, I'd go with Gonzalez, but it likely won't be an exclusive closer's role for him.

We have eight players signed up for the Times-News Challenge. They are: Ron Kilburn, Meadville; Ryan O'Neil, Seneca; Dave Kelly, Harrisburg; Stan Zelepsky, Erie; Rob Seib, Titusville; Ted DuShole, Erie; John McDonald, Erie; and Ron Loader, Erie.
If you want to be considered for the league, e-mail me at rick.green@timesnews.com by 3 p.m. today.

If you're like me and got Dodgers shortstop Rafael Furcal at a discount hoping for a quick return, you might have to wait a little longer.
Furcal is eligible to return from the DL on Saturday, but that might not be the case.
You should make alternate plans until a return date is firm.

Chris Carpenter owners got a scare Wednesday when it was reported he would skip his next start because of tightness in his elbow.
Carpenter says it feels much better, allowing his owners to return to normal fantasy baseball mode.
Hopefully this will be the last scare for Carpenter this season.

By now, everyone is excited about the 10-strikeout performance by Daisuke Matsuzaka on Thursday.
First, it was against the Royals.
Second, before everyone anoints Matsuzaka as the next Cy Young, let's see what he does against a better lineup. Then, let's see what he does a second time around the league.
Matsuzaka might be great, but I'd hold off on paying top dollar for him until I see more.

In the early days of fantasy baseball, it was easy to ignore the first week of stats.
Usually, it was done by hand, after USA Today published on a Tuesday or Wednesday, so a little more than a week had gone by and owners couldn't panic because of a bad night.
Fast-forward to today, however, owners can make daily transactions and see statistics updated by the batter.
All of this can make a fantasy baseball owner want instant results.
So the worst thing to do is make a quick reaction to a player having a bad couple of games.
Here's what Bill Konigsberg of the Associate Press had to say:

Don't look at box scores.
At least for the first few weeks of April, studying box scores only can lead to regrettable decisions. No two-homer opening game can significantly alter Edgar Renteria's inevitable .290-15-70, 15 stolen-base season; no 0-for-5, four-strikeout debut for new Pirates first baseman Adam LaRoche will make him any less likely to drive in 100 runs.
First-week performances carry no more weight than those of any other week. Players have good weeks and bad weeks, and paying close attention in early April will cause overeager owners to make bad trades.
Just ask those who traded for Tigers first baseman Chris Shelton last year.
After four games, Shelton was hitting .688 with five homers. He became the fastest player in American League history to reach nine homers, after 13 games. Suddenly, owners were offering players like Richie Sexson for a piece of Shelton's breakout season.
Shelton then tanked; he was in the minors by Aug. 1.
Sexson, who hit two homers last April, finished the year with 34 — 18 more than Shelton.
So don't give up Jimmy Rollins, a notorious slow starter, for Renteria, regardless of what the first week brings. You'll be sorry.
If you're dying for an April box score fix, check out where players are batting in team's lineups. That's much more telling than early-season numbers.

It appears the Giants like Armando Benitez's chances this season as the team's closer.
Maybe they're trying to raise his stock to trade him. Maybe they really believe it.
I don't.
Stay away from Benitez. An implosion will happen soon.

Alex Gordon, one of the favorites to win the AL Rookie of the Year award, didn't start Saturday.
If someone in your league has dropped Gordon, who has gone 1-for-15 with six strikeouts in his first four games, pick him up.
It's way too early to drop him.
Keep this in mind when making a decision on Gordon: He has faced Curt Schilling, Josh Beckett, Daisuke Matsuzaka and Justin Verlander in his first four games.
That's a rough start for anyone.

No doubt some fantasy leaguers are scrambling to pick up Lee Gardner after he picked up a save for the Marlins on Sunday after Jorge Julio imploded yet again.
Here's what Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez told mlb.com after the game:

Gonzalez said he pulled Julio for a couple of reasons. Foremost, the manager said, was because he logged 31 pitches the night before. Julio is not expected to pitch Monday when the Marlins face the Brewers at home.
But on Tuesday, if there is a save situation, Gonzalez intends to go with Julio.

... Brad Lidge.
There's no surprise he lost his job and Dan Wheeler is the next in line.
The big surprise is Lidge lost his job before Jorge Julio.
My money was on Julio, who is just about out of a job anyway.
He's my choice for the next to go.

From the files of injured closers, Eric Gagne is scheduled to return to the big leagues Friday.
Rangers manager Ron Washington said he would use Gagne in the closer's role.
Akinori Otsuka would lose his job -- until Gagne gets hurt again.
If you have room for Otsuka on your roster or as a reserve, he's still worth having as Gagne insurance.

The Florida Marlins started the season trading for Jorge Julio to be their closer.
Today, he's a middle reliever.
After a rough start, Julio will work on things in a relief role, hopefully to limit the damages to the Marlins' staff and fantasy leaguers' staffs.
Henry Owens would be the choice to get the saves. There's also Kevin Gregg, Matt Lindstrom and Taylor Tankersley, who is expected to rejoin the staff.
Who will be next to lose their role as closer??

This time, B.J. Ryan is out of a job.
He has blown two saves so far, but his elbow has him on the DL.
Ryan gave up four runs in the ninth Saturday to the Tigers and now has a visit planned with Dr. James Andrews.
In the meantime, pick up Jason Frasor as the replacement for Ryan.

Blue Jays closer B.J. Ryan is expected to be out 4 weeks to 6 weeks.
Jason Frasor still is in line to be the closer. He was not used in a save situation Sunday because he pitched the day before.

In other Jays news, Reed Johnson will be out 2 months for surgery for a herniated disc in his lower back. Adam Lind is a guy to check out in AL only leagues.

Alfonso Soriano, one of the top picks in fantasy drafts, is expected to go on the DL with a hamstring injury.
This opens an opportunity for Felix Pie, one of the Cubs' top prospects.
Pie was called up and is expected to play center today.
It might be a short stay, or Pie could do really well and stick. He's worth taking a chance on, and, at worst, finding a home on your reserve list.

The Phillies moved their ace, Brett Myers, to the bullpen.
Myers will be a candidate to pitch in the seventh or eighth innings.
This shouldn't come as a complete surprise. Earlier this spring, Myers said he would move to the bullpen if it would help out the team.
Obviously, Myers owners can't be pleased and will have to scramble to replace him.
The Phils will move Jon Leiber into the rotation.

Mariners ace Felix Hernandez left Wednesday's game after only getting one out.
The Associated Press reported:

Hernandez recorded just one out and was charged with three runs. The Mariners said the 21-year-old phenom left "for precautionary reasons" and would be re-evaluated Thursday.
After Hernandez threw a 2-1 pitch to Justin Morneau in the first, he grimaced, turned away from home plate and immediately signaled for plate umpire Ed Rapuano to halt the game. The right-hander then motioned for trainer Rick Griffin and manager Mike Hargrove to come out of the Mariners dugout. After Hernandez briefly squatted behind the pitching rubber, Hargrove summoned long reliever Jake Woods out of the dugout to replace Hernandez.

Hernandez owners need to cross their fingers on this one.

The Mariners might have dodged a bullet with King Felix.
The Associated Press is reporting Hernandez will miss at least two starts.
From the AP:

Mariners medical director Dr. Ed Khalfayan said Thursday that the 21-year-old right-hander will not throw for five days, then will play catch.
"I think 10 to 20 days is a reasonable estimate," Khalfayan said when asked when Hernandez might again pitch in a game. That's as good a news as you can get from an elbow injury."
If Hernandez continued to pitch with the strain, he could have stressed elbow so severely he would have required elbow-ligament replacement surgery.

Hernandez isn't out of the woods, but it could have been worse.

If you're looking for some pitching help, the Yankees plan to call up rookie Philip Hughes for Thursday's game.
As with all rookies, there's risk involved. But -- there is upside.
Hughes is 2-1 with a 3.94 ERA in Scranton. In 16 innings, he has 17 strikeouts and four walks.

Ben Sheets lasted three innings in his last start.
From the Associated Press:

Sheets left Wednesday's game against the Chicago Cubs after three innings because of a strained right groin.
In the bottom of the third, Sheets reached down to tag out Ryan Theriot at third base after the Cubs player tried to advance on an overthrow.

If you like picking top prospects, today's your chance.
The Angels will bring up Brandon Wood.
Wood has 58 home runs and 199 RBIs in his past two minor league seasons and is one of the top prospects in baseball.
He strikes out a lot, but he has plenty of power.
If you're in a keeper league, he's one to target.

It looks like Mariners pitcher Felix Hernandez is on track to pitch May 4 or May 5.
Hernandez left a start April 18 after just two outs.
This could be a big break for Hernandez owners. Keep those fingers crossed.

The Atlanta Braves are looking for a closer.
Bob Wickman was placed on the DL today with a bad back.
Mike Gonzalez and Rafael Soriano figure to pick up the saves.
If I had a choice between the two, I'd go with Gonzalez, but it likely won't be an exclusive closer's role for him.