Surprisingly, there were not too many Game Notes of fantasy value today.  With that, I go to spend some time with the famn damily on this Father's Day.  Here's wishing all of you dads a happy Dad's Day and a win for your fantasy team.

"Kyle Lohse is 12-2 since last July 25, a major league best .857 winning percentage. He's pitched six or fewer innings in six of his victories this season."  No one will confuse Lohse for Cy Young, but he has been a solid fantasy pitcher despite seldom going past 6 innings.  An 8-2, 40 K/21 BB ratio, 3.77 ERA, and 1.21 WHIP makes Lohse a good addition to your team.

"OF Scott Hairston was scratched from the lineup due to a hyperextended left elbow. Black doesn't expect him to play in Sunday's series finale."  Hairston is part of a platoon of outfielders for the Padres.  As such, he doesn't see as much playing time as he probably deserves.  His injury comes just as he was starting to get his average up. Hairston is listed as day to day.

Normally I don't write about rehab progress, but Brewers fans should be aware that "Brewers RHP Eric Gagne (right shoulder) said he hopes to throw from the mound during his next session Sunday." Hide your baseball teams and hopes for a winning season for the Destroyer is at hand!

"With Arizona LF Eric Byrnes' return from hamstring injuries uncertain, Conor Jackson made his third start in left for Arizona on Saturday night. It was his sixth game in the outfield in four big league seasons." In two more games, Jackson should be available as an OF for most fantasy leagues.

"After the game, the Giants optioned LHP Patrick Misch to Triple-A Fresno. The move was made to make room for RHP Kevin Correia (1-3), who will be activated from the disabled list and start Sunday against Oakland LHP Dana Eveland (4-5) in the series finale."  Correia looked good in his rehab assignments.  It should provide hope to Giants fans.  Most fantasy owners, however, should take caution before placing back on your roster much less your starting rotation.  Correia has a 4.5 ERA with a 16 K/11 BB ration and 1.38 WHIP.  His value is primarily for NL-only leagues.

"Mariners reliever Mark Lowe threw exclusively out of the stretch Friday for the first time. He tossed two hitless innings with three strikeouts. "I like what I see," McLaren said. "There's no loss of velocity. It doesn't look like he rushes as much. With the windup, it looked like he was real quick." Lowe will be critical to the bullpen's success with closer J.J. Putz on the 15-day DL. Brandon Morrow now will do much of the closing work while Lowe will slip in the Morrow's role as the setup guy."  That's a long-winded note to remind you that Putz is on the DL and to pick up Morrow in case your are in desparate need of a closer.  Given the Mariners lack of wins, Morrow will have few save opportunities.

Game Notes sez Start 'Em! "Lee has hit safely in 20 of his past 24 games...Aramis Ramirez extended his hitting streak to six games...AJ Pierzynski extended his hitting streak to 10 games...Brewers LF Ryan Braun hit his 18th homer in the fifth. He has driven in a run in each of the last six games, giving him 52 this season."

Game Notes sez Sit'Em! "Jeff Larish's double in the fifth inning broke an 0-for-12 slump...Lyle Overbay snapped an 0-for-14 skid with his single off Marquis to lead off the fifth inning."

My daily spelunking of the MLB Game Notes for fantasy information...

"Rockies LF Ryan Spilborghs, who was hit with a pitch in the third inning, came out in the sixth. He has a bruised left wrist and will be evaluated daily." Spilborghs only became fantasy-relevant after all of the other injuries to the Rockies outfield. I would find it hard to believe that he would not play given this is his chance to shine in the Bigs.

"The White Sox reinstated INF Juan Uribe (strained right hamstring) from the 15-day disabled list and designated OF Dewayne Wise for assignment." The White Sox gave us a heads up about Uribe's activation yesterday. Then again, no one cares about DeWayne Wise except for Momma Wise. (0% ownership)

"Chipper Jones batted .417 in May with four homers." This just in: Chipper Jones is really, really good.

"Reds starter Josh Fogg gave up six runs in 3 1/3 innings, likely costing him a spot in the rotation again." In the event that Fogg finds himself back in the bullpen or in the minors, the Reds have Homer Bailey and Matt Maloney waiting in the wings. Bailey has been trying to pitch his way out of a wretched slump in Triple-A. Maloney is a strong minor league prospect who has had a good year so far.

"New York 2B Luis Castillo didn't start because of a strained left hip flexor, though he said the injury was actually located in his upper quad. Castillo, hurt in Friday night's game, said he was sore Saturday but didn't think he would be out long. He pinch-hit in the eighth and is day-to-day. Damion Easley started at second base." Castillo has stated he plans on playing tonight in the closer versus the Dodgers. Castillo owners should keep a close eye on him.

Still streakin'! "Jose Reyes pushed his hitting streak to 16 games. He has reached base safely in 31 straight...Shane Victorino has a 12-game hitting streak."

From the continuing saga of Rich Aurilia's kidney stones, "Aurilia missed his third straight game while waiting to pass a kidney stone. "I feel better today," he said after the game. "I'm going to try to play tomorrow."

"Padres LHP Shawn Estes broke the thumb on his throwing hand when he fell on the tunnel stairs between the team's clubhouse and dugout Friday night, then he was placed on the 15-day disabled list Saturday after X-Rays revealed the broken bone. The club activated RHP reliever Carlos Guevara, a Rule 5 pitcher, from his rehab assignment at Portland to take Estes' roster spot. Guevara missed much of spring training with groin and hamstring injuries." Estes had little to no fantasy value to begin with. Guevara for his part is nothing more than a borderline middle reliever.

"Brian Moehler's six strikeouts were a season-high" in a 5 inning, 6 hit, 4.54 EA losing effort. One percent of fantasy cares about that stat. I think that's still too many.

"Phillies C Carlos Ruiz left the game with a bruised left hand after getting hit by a pitch. X-rays were negative." I wasn't able to find anything further about Ruiz. I would assume he's day to day.

"Arizona 1B Conor Jackson had an MRI exam on his right quad and didn't play. He's likely to miss three to five days." Jackson has had a tough go of it lately. The rest should do him some good. My advice would be to keep him reserved for next week.

Proof that baseball can be played in under three hours. "At 1:52, it was the shortest game in Chase Field history, topping the previous record by two minutes." The League should send a memo to the Yankees and Red Sox.

Veering off of the Game Notes theme, I wanted to congratulate Ken Griffey, Jr., Manny Ramirez, Jay Bruce, and the Kansas City Royals. The Royals snapped their 12 game losing streak by beating last year's Cy Young winner CC Sabathia. I know Sabathia is having a rough year, but a win is a win is a win...especially when you are struggling.

I may not like the off-field behavior of the Man-Child Manny Ramirez or the way he can be lazy in the outfield, but I cannot deny the man can hit a ball. His numbers might indicate he was part of the steroid generation, but he continues to produce and "be Manny."

Finally, a tip 'o the proverbial baseball hat to Ken Griffey, Jr. and Jay Bruce. On a night where each could have made history, each man tried to shine the spotlight on the other. Griffey hit his 599th dinger while Bruce hit the first of his career in walk off fashion. Its been a tough road to 600 for Griffey and the glory has been distracted by the injection of Bruce into the Reds lineup. Bruce told the media afterward that Griffey would have hit the walk off since he was up next. Its nice to see a good story coming out of Cincinnati.

For games played on Thursday, May 29, here's the fantasy value I gleaned from the Game Notes.

"Ryan Theriot reached base four times." (3 AB, 2 R, 2 H, 2 BB) If this is a slump, I'll take it. I originally picked up The Riot for a roto league for his average. I have to say I have not been disappointed.

The Braves relief appears to be in fine hands. Current closer "... Manny Acosta struck out all four batters he faced." While "Rafael Soriano pitched a scoreless ninth after being activated from the disabled list Wednesday night. Soriano had missed 45 games with right elbow tendinitis, and said he felt good after the outing." Tomes of fantasy posts have been made about whether or not John Smoltz will return to the Braves bullpen. Personally, I think the competition is now between Acosta and Soriano.

"Since moving to third in the White Sox batting order 15 games ago, Quentin has 19 RBI." Like I need another reminder that I was late picking Carlos Quentin off the waiver wire.

"Padres RHP Chris Young, whose nose was broken by a line drive by Albert Pujols on May 21, was scheduled to see a doctor Thursday afternoon. Manager Bud Black said the main concern is with a small fracture in Young's skull. Black also said Young probably will need surgery to straighten his septum." I think a late June return is wishful thinking on the part of the Padres. I would not be surprised to see Young lost for the season.

"Eight times in the past 10 years Kansas City has endured losing streaks of nine or more games." Whenever I thought the Tigers sucked especially hard, I would just look to the Royals and thank my lucky stars I didn't root for them. Its a shame what they are going through after such a promising start under new manager Trey Hillman. Too bad they are playing like the Royals again.

"Jose Reyes singled twice and has reached base in 29 consecutive games." Nice to see Reyes finally rewarding the fantasy owners who stuck with him.

"Lance Berkman leads the majors with 150 total bases and 57 runs." Freak.

"Michael Bourn stole his major-league leading 24th base." If this guy had a better OBP (.279) , he would be a roto must have rather than a liability. Bourn is owned in only 60% of CBS leagues.

"Arizona has three of the five players with the most strikeouts in the NL -- Justin Upton (64), Mark Reynolds (63) and Chris Young (57)." Koske Fukudome should give these guys a lesson about learning the strike zone.