Hello? Is this the Triple-A affiliate? Hey, this is The Show. Tell the kid to pack his bags and get up here. Fast.

It's not even August, but there are already plenty of players coming up from the minors who could give your fantasy squad the late-season boost it needs so desperately. Below is a look at some of the players you might want to take a flyer on.

Bucky Jacobsen, 1B, Mariners. Jacobsen is 28 years old and on his third organization, but he could be the kind of late bloomer who makes a name for himself down the stretch run of an otherwise dismal season. Seattle is playing for nothing, and it released John Olerud to make room at first for Jacobsen, who responded with two home runs in his first three games with the big club. He's going to get plenty of playing time the rest of the way, and he has proven he has nothing left to do in the minors - Jacobsen hit .312 with 26 home runs and 86 RBI in Triple-A.

Brandon Claussen, SP, Reds. Cincinnati called up Claussen earlier this week, and he looked outstanding Tuesday night, going seven innings and picking up the win against Milwaukee. Claussen, 25, came over from the New York Yankees in the trade for Aaron Boone, and he went 8-6 with a 4.66 ERA at Triple-A Louisville in 2004. More impressive, however, was his International League-leading 111 strikeouts and 47 walks. His strikeout potential might make him an attractive option, especially in keeper leagues.

HOT BOX

Pick him up: Jeromy Burnitz, of, Rockies. It's very doubtful you'll find Burnitz (.291-23-68) on waivers in bigger leagues, but see if another owner might be willing to deal him. The Rockies finally have their starting outfield intact, and Burnitz has been heating up, batting .350 with 11 RBI in his past 11 games coming into this week. Sit him down: Joe Mauer, c, Twins. His injured knee is acting up again, and he's back on the `isabled list. Doctors say the long-term outlook is good, but don't think the Twins won't make sure they baby Mauer the rest of this season. At the very least, he won't be back on the field until early August. Keep an eye on: Jose Lima, sp, Dodgers. Remember Lima Time? It has been awhile since those glory days in Houston, but Lima is doing what he has done the past few years - putting together a nice little run for a few weeks. He has won three of his last four decisions and is 9-3, though his ERA (4.08) and WHIP (1.28) aren't going to do you any favors. Still, if your team is in desperate need of wins, Lima bears a look.

Chad Allen, OF, Rangers. The 29-year-old Allen has been bouncing between Triple-A and the big leagues for some time now, but Texas called him up again this week. So far this year with the Rangers, he has hit .308 with a pair of doubles in 26 at-bats, but unless somebody else in the outfield gets injured, Allen might find it hard to see regular playing time.

Joey Gathright, OF, Devil Rays. The 23-year-old speedster was called up late last week by Tampa, and it's obvious he has the Triple-A thing down, batting .376 with 29 steals in 32 minor-league games this season. The biggest question is playing time. The Devil Rays have said they plan on using him regularly, but that means moving one of their starters - Carl Crawford, Rocco Baldelli or Jose Cruz - to designated hitter or the bench. Figure on Gathright being a change-of-pace outfielder who should play two or three times a week. Although Tampa already has tons of outfield talent in its minor-league system, it'll have to make room for Gathright with the big club if he proves he can get on base and use his speed.

Alex Graman, SP, Yankees. He got tattooed by the Devil Rays earlier this week, lasting one-third of an inning and giving up five runs. He was called up to take Mike Mussina's spot, but Graman will need to bounce back fast if he wants to stay in New York. If nothing else, fantasy teams in need of starting pitching help should keep an eye on him.

Jorge Cantu, 2B, Devil Rays. The 22-year-old Cantu is expected to get a long look the rest of the way as Tampa tries to decide whether he's ready to be a regular at the big-league level. He also can play third base and shortstop, so he should be able to find his way onto the field as the season wears on. His ability to hit for average and power in the minors is the reason Tampa is giving him a chance right now.

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John Nemo can be reached at nemofreelance@yahoo.com