Nick Fruscello: This is Fantasy Friday and I am your fantasy sports expert, Nick Fruscello. We'll have to wait two weeks to see who's going to come out on top in this best of three series between the Yankees and Pirates after last night's rainout. Hope you all held onto your ticket stubs. Anyone that had Paul Maholm (only God would know why) on their team, got lucky last night because the Yankees looked like... well a $209 million dollar payroll team slapping around a mediocre pitcher. According to our paper Phil Dumatrait will pitch in the rematch. As a Yankees fan, here's hoping that Joba Chamberlin will get to do his best Nolan Ryan performance again. If it is these two, it should be a very good game. For you Yankees owners that are upset out last night's rainout, the Yankees have a doubleheader today against the Mets, so that should ease the pain of having your stats wiped out from last night.

disabled_list: I am having the worst year on my fantasy baseball team. Almost every single one of my players gets hurt and goes on the DL. Pujols, Wainwright, Peavy, Zimmerman, Pedro Martinez, Isringhausen, Borowski, Aybar. Then I have players who don't play; Milton Bradley, Hideki Matsui, Damon, Nady. I signed Cantu to cover for Pujols and he does NOTHING. I sign Fred Lewis to cover for Matsui and Damon and he goes 0-5 and then doesn't play for two games. Not really a question, more of a rant of my horrible luck. Thanks!

Nick Fruscello: You definately sound like you're having an injury bug season, which makes winning in the end that much better. You've been dealt a bad hand, but at the same time you have an impressive team and the end of the season is what matters most (assuming you're in a head to head league). Cantu is a good temporary replacement for Pujols, but fortunately for you Pujols is back now. Don't discard him just yet though, they have some games against the Nationals coming up next week and then they go to Colorado, the greatest hitters park in the league. As for Lewis, not a bad replacement, not great either. He sat the last two games because the Indians starting pitchers were lefty and he's currenty sporting a 175 average against them. Stay the course, your guys are getting healthy and you'll be a force to be reckon with.

MantleDiMaggioRuth: Hold or drop Hideki Matsui?

Nick Fruscello: I'd wait till this weekend. He's being re-examined by doctors today and if he's good, he'll DH, if not, its the DL. He's too good of a hitter to drop, so I'd wait just a bit longer and if he's still hurt, stash him on your DL spot.

MantleDiMaggioRuth: Trade Rich Harden now while his value is high and he's healthy?

Nick Fruscello: Harden is probably one of my favorite pitchers, but I would have to say trade him now while his value is high. He'll most likely get injured again and when he gets injured he gets injured badly. However, if you're a risk taker, he's a good one to take a risk on. If he could avoid the injury bug every year he would be by far the best pitcherin Major League Baseball.

MantleDiMaggioRuth: You think my Yankees will go after C.C. Sabathia at the trade deadline?

Nick Fruscello: If the Indians are too far out of it, I wouldn't put it past them. The Yankees could always use more pitching and CC would be a great addition. I know the Yankees really want to win a championship in their final year at Yankee Stadium, so I could see this move happening.

BiggerThanBig: Did you go to the rained out game last night?

Nick Fruscello: I was there, live and in living color. My six month old was with me on my lap enjoying the sights and sounds of his first game. We get to do it all over again in two weeks.

theWellHungarian: What's crackin Nick-- I took your advice last week & dumped Sheff ... He responds with 2 HRs coming off the DL. Also, I traded Chone for Adam Dunn. Did I get my pants pulled down in this deal. I'm desperate for HRs & RBIs & have plenty of SBs

Nick Fruscello: Hey man, what's up? HA! Well sorry about your luck there, but I wouldn't expect that to continue. The Tigers play in one of the most unfriendly hitter parks in the league, so you won't see too many homers out of him the rest of the way. If you need HR's and RBI's, trading Chone for Dunn is a good deal. Dunn will get around his usual 40 jacks and around 100 RBI's.

malkin71: How much is Fleury going to get? Brodeur makes around five million, so I would assume less than that.

Nick Fruscello: Yeah, I'd say somewhere in the ballpark of $4 million per. If the Pens are lucky, less than that. As long as they can get him long term for less than $5 mil, they're in good shape.

BiggerThanBig: I have been holding onto Aaron Harang but I am starting to think it is time to drop him. What do you think? Rich Harden is available. Should I go for him?

Nick Fruscello: Like I mentioned earlier, Harden COULD be the best pitcher in baseball, only problem is he always gets injured. But I guess having an injured pitcher is better than a guy that trashes your ERA. I would pick up Harden since he's on waivers and you really have nothing to lose, but I wouldn't drop Harang just yet. He's on pace for over 200 K's this year, which is pretty good. I really think he'll get traded at the end of next month and he'll be playing for a contender and his numbers will greatly improve.

malkin71: What are the chances of Hossa staying in Pittsburgh at this point? Smizik said slim to none. What do you think?

Nick Fruscello: I would say its about 60-40 towards Hossa leaving. Having him break off talks at a glance seems bad for the Pens, but I'm thinking his agent wants him to explore all his options. Hossa wants a long term deal, more than $7 million and to play for a contender. His agent probably wants him to see what's out there, maybe the Habs offer $8 million per for 6 years. I doubt it, but who knows. If someone doesn't put up a big offer, the deal he's looking for is still out there with the Pens.

SGL: Should I drop K. Matsui?

Nick Fruscello: Tough one. He just landed on the DL, but there really isn't that many good 2nd basemen out on waivers. If you're in a points league, drop him and pick up a subsitute till he gets back. I doubt people are going to be chomping at the bit to get him when he comes back. If you're in a head to head league, just hold onto him and wait for him to get back.

theWellHungarian: I know you got Big Z too ... I picked up Wandy Rodriguez (ugh) as his temporary replacement ... Let's hope this shoulder thing isn't long term

Nick Fruscello: Hey that's not too bad. Wandy is a pretty good strikeout pitcher. He mowed down the Rangers lineup last night. That's a pretty good find off waivers. Matt Cain was as good as it got in my league.

ajt123: Any of our recent pitching callups have any value in NL leagues only?

Nick Fruscello: I doubt it. I don't see any 2005 Zach Duke's showing up in the pitching rotation this year.

ajt123: Assuming we lose roberts, hossa, malone, orpik, dupuis, etc, who will be out there as a free agent to pick up?

Nick Fruscello: Well the good news if they lose all those players is they'll have some money to spend. Recently I read that the Pens have a growing interest in Brian Campbell. Maybe Shero read my chat from a few weeks ago. Getting Campbell would be a great way to cover up a lot of the holes that will exist if we lose all those players you mentioned.

BiggerThanBig: What is the best team name you have ever heard?

Nick Fruscello: The Titusville Rockets... great name and great high school football team up there.

MantleDiMaggioRuth: Putz is on the DL again. Will he bounce back in the second half or is he done?

Nick Fruscello: When a pitcher has this much trouble with his arm, its never a good thing. Plus, he's on one of the worst teams in baseball. Ax him.

ajt123: I read that there may an interest in campbell also, but he wants a salary near 7mi and 5 years. His house is for sale and he already informed management that he wants to play back east. Think we really have a shot? Sign Orpik, sign him, and maybe add a vaclav prospal for Sid, and we are right back in contention!!!\

Nick Fruscello: Yeah, around 6.5 to 7 per year. Gonchar won't be around for ever and this guy is just getting started. The last two Stanley Cup champs showed the world that you can never have enough defense. As for Orpik, the Pens can really do without him. For 3 mil, you could get a much better defenseman than him.

malkin71: What about wingers for Crosby?

Nick Fruscello: Crosby will make anyone on his line better. If he could make it work with Andy Hilbert and Colby Armstrong, it won't really matter who is on his line. Markus Naslund is a possibility, but I have a feeling his asking price will be too high.

Nick Fruscello: Well that's all for this week. Next Friday is Independence Day, plus I'll be on vacation, so there will be no Fantasy Friday, but it'll be back the following Friday, July 11th. Take care and have a great holiday!