NEWS YOU NEED NOW

• mark before It’s going to be closed for at least three weeks. The Cubs placed Prior on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to Aug. 1. 11, with rotator cuff tendonitis. Although Prior is not in any pain, a recent MRI showed that Prior has tendinitis. Any surprise here?
• troy glaus who has had a great season so far, hurt his knee while hitting a pitch from Brad Radke this weekend. The status of the severity of the injury has not yet been reported. Fantasy owners need to watch for any results to Glaus’s knee.
• Brian McCannThe rookie catcher for the Atlanta Braves has continued his excellent July by hitting .447 with three home runs and 11 RBIs in 10 games this month.
• alfonso soriano on Sunday he hit his 200th home run off the Mets’ Steve Trachsel. Soriano already has six home runs in August and now has 38 on the season, one shy of his career high of 2002. He could end the year with 50 home runs and 40 steals. Soriano, a free agent after the season, is owed a big salary for 2007.
• Braves activated third base chipper jones off the 15-day disabled list. Jones started at third base and batted third on Sunday.
• ichiro suzuki he is hitting .143 (7-for-49) in August. He hasn’t walked once this month either, and his last RBI was on July 22. Ichiro hasn’t had a problem since he joined the Mariners. Suzuki is still a mandatory start.
• willy aybar he has a broken left hand and will go on the disabled list. Aybar hurt his hand in his first game with the Braves on July 30, but was able to play through the pain until he left Friday’s game. Aybar probably won’t return until the rosters are expanded.
• carl crawford he can be moved to third in the batting order according to Tampa Bay Devil manager Joe Maddon. Maddon said of Crawford, “He could certainly be a solid third hitter.” Maddon went on to say, “He has all the ability to do that: power, RBI potential, and look at his numbers with runners in scoring position, they’re very good. He can be almost anything; he’s that talented.” If Crawford moves to third, that could mean an increase in RBI but the possibility of fewer steals.
• scott rolen once again he is having back spasms. Rolen was held out of the three-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates this weekend. Rolen is scheduled to make his return this Tuesday, but Fantasy owners should keep an eye on how Rolen feels.
• Braves placed LHP horacio ramirez on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to August 1. 8, with a partially torn ligament in his left middle finger. Ramirez, once a promising pitcher, has spent a lot of time on the disabled list this year.
• twins stoned outfielder rondell white on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to August 1. 10, with a left hamstring strain. White, who was hot after coming off the disabled list a month ago, will have to wait until at least the 25th before he can return to the lineup.
• I told the owners of Fantasy to watch roger clemens he has a great second half of the season, and he’s not disappointing so far. After his win this week, his record is now 4-4, and with the Astros playing well, look to Clemens to continue his winning ways.
• An MRI showed that francisco liriano he has a chronic mild strain of the ulnar collateral ligament, and a clinical examination revealed weakness and stiffness in the shoulder that is causing the pain in the forearm near the elbow. His status for the rest of the season is uncertain. Liriano, who led the league in ERA this year, is likely to be out for the year. A budding superstar or a Mark Prior fight?

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who shot

mark of rose he has been a utility player his entire career, and playing for the Texas Rangers this year he has played 1B, 2B, SS, 3B and all three OF positions. The difference this year, compared to previous years, is that DeRosa is producing like an everyday player. Whether he’s playing in that excellent offensive lineup the Rangers have, or he’s playing more regularly, DeRosa is enjoying the best offensive season of his career. But that doesn’t make you a Who’s Hot award winner. DeRosa hit 4 HRs, had 15 RBI, scored 7 runs and hit .414. this week. Not bad numbers for a utility player. With stats like that, it’s a must-start in the coed and AL-only leagues.

who is not

Jorge Posada he had the worst week of any hitter in the majors this week. Posada, who didn’t have a hit all week, produced just 1 RBI for his Fantasy Owners. There’s nothing worse than one of the best offensive catchers in the game with a .000 batting average in a week for his team. With games against the Baltimore Orioles, and then a 5-game series against the Red Sox, Posada has a chance to snap out of this horrible slump. Fantasy owners, don’t worry, Jorge will be back. ***

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start them

1. jermaine dye He has a 10-game hitting streak heading into Sunday’s game, in those 10 games, he posted 6 multi-hit games. With a four-game series against the Kansas City Royals, one of the worst pitching staffs in the majors, Dye will continue his hitting. Since the All-Star break, Dye has led the way for the Chicago White Sox with a .346 batting average. Dye is an obligatory starter this week, with seven games.
2. mark of rose, our Who’s Hot Player of the Week, has found his power shot, and his fantasy owners are enjoying his recent power boost. Look at DeRosa’s schedule for the week first, and a fantasy owner might be reluctant to start DeRosa. But, don’t be scared off by the Angels or Tigers pitching staff, the way DeRosa has been killing the ball, is a must start for all Fantasy owners.
3. john rivera has found a home with the Angels. In recent weeks, fantasy owners have caught Rivera’s eye. His power numbers have increased, and with a .301 batting average, Rivera is now a mandatory start in every Fantasy League. This week, Rivera heads to Texas and then he will be at home against the terrible pitching staff of the Seattle Mariners. If Rivera is on the wire of exemption from him, snatch him now.
4. matt holiday he is enjoying another fantastic season with the Rockies. Holliday is at home earlier in the week against the Arizona Diamondbacks, where he is hitting .362. At the end of the week, Holliday heads to the Big Apple to take on the New York Mets. Holiday is hitting .317 this month, with 2 HRs and 5 RBI. He looks for Vacations to enjoy a great week.
5. Rob QuinlanA relative unknown to Fantasy Owners, he has been cherished all over the field of late. Quinlan is enjoying a seven-game hitting streak and is hitting .423 in August. Like Juan Rivera, Quinlan will feast with the pitching staffs of the Texas Rangers and Seattle Mariners.

feel them

1. brad wilkerson he is one of the few hitters for the Texas Rangers not hitting this year. Wilkerson, who is hitting a horrible .162 since the All-Star break, has seen his playing time dwindle and has given it up to Mark DeRosa. Wilkerson should be on the waiver wire of most leagues, and this once-promising outfielder should be on yours, too.
2. check jones He has a difficult schedule this week. With games against the Houston Astros and St. Louis Cardinals, I don’t see Jones producing much. Since the All-Star break, Jones has been hitting a treacherous .212 average. On the bright side, Jones has already hit three HRs this week. But, with games against two solid pitching staffs, Jones should spend the week on his bench.
3. hank blalock he’s been struggling all season against lefties (.220), and this week he’ll face three of them. With games against the Angels and Tigers this week, Blalock will face two of the best pitching staffs in the American League. If he has other options at third base, he may want to fill in for Blalock until next week.
4. adam kennedy It’s off to a horrible start in August. Hitting just .231, Kennedy, the Angels’ soft-hitting second baseman, has seen his value fade, and fast. Once a solid Fantasy second baseman, Kennedy finds himself dropping around the waiver wire. If he has Kennedy on his fantasy roster, it’s time to move on and get someone who isn’t challenged offensively.
5. Geoff Jenkins he’s having one of his worst seasons since 2002. With just 10 HRs up to this point, Jenkins has been a bust. Fantasy owners might think Jenkins will get a break facing the Pittsburgh Pirates, but Jenkins will have to face two lefties if he starts. After facing off against the Pirates, Jenkins receives a gift and takes on the pitching staff of the Houston Astros. If he has Jenkins on his team, I’m sorry to say, he’ll probably be last in his league. Trust me when I say there are more reliable outfielders in your league.