Its a Yahoo! 5x5 (HR, AVG, RBI, R, SB-W, K, ERA, WHIP, SV). I had the 2nd overall pick out of 10 teams.

 

C- Javy Lopez

1B- Albert Pujols

2B- Bret Boone

SS- Nomar Garciaparra

3B- Aramis Ramirez

CI- Troy Glaus

MI- Juan Uribe

OF- Lance Berkman

OF- Pat Burrell

OF- Jeromy Burnitz

OF- Luis Gonzalez

OF- Aaron Rowand

UTIL- Justin Morneau

BN- Dallas McPherson

DL- Mike Cameron

 

SP- Pedro Martinez

SP- Carl Pavano

SP- AJ Burnett

SP- Kevin Millwood

SP- Brad Penny

SP- Joel Pineiro

SP- Jamie Moyer

SP- Jaret Wright

P- Ugueth Urbina

CL- Joe Nathan

CL- BJ Ryan

CL- Bob Wickman

Wow. Thanks a lot guys.

The outfield seems to be the weakest part, but otherwise it looks like a great team. Wickman and Nathan will be solid closers.

I'm guessing Pujols was your first rounder. Your strength seems to be Pujols-Ramirez-Lopez, those will be your big ballers.

 

I'm not sold on Boone this year, Nomar will be hit or miss, Burrell, Burnitz, and Gonzalez all need to rebound hard for those to work, and McPherson needs to really change things up. He's been stinking up the joint last I read. I like the Morneau pick, and I love the Rowand selection. He should thrive under Ozzieball, though not sure if that will equate into fantasy success.

 

Your starting staff reminds me of the riddler - question marks everywhere. Looks like you took high odds and went in high risk/high reward with no second thoughts. Pedro was a homer pick, looked solid today but I don't think he wins more than 15 because his pen is horrendous and he might not hold up later on. But he's the one reliable arm there, as far as guaranteed solidity is concerned. Pavano is a huge question mark with a lackluster D and the AL, as is Jaret Wright. Neither have powerful stuff and will rely on a weak Yankee D for outs. AJ is a great pick, I think he'll do well, but he's hit or miss with the elbow issues. Millwood is consistent - in the fact that he's mediocre. But he's not a bad pickup for a little while, he usually starts off well. Moyer and Piniero are part of a weak staff and I don't advise keeping them too long - first sign of trouble, dump them.

 

The pen is very strong. Great picks with Nathan and Ryan, I bet you stole BJ without anyone knowing. If Ugy gets traded to someone like the Mets he could end up being a huge steal as well if you can live with the semi-high ERA, and Wickman is a solid four guy for the pen.

 

It's a strong team but one built on a lot of things bouncing your way. I'd advise looking into dealing Pujols if he gets off to a sick start and the rest of your team doesn't for a three or four player package, improving your debt and removing some of those question marks. However, if you get some breaks, the division is yours for the taking.

My advice - you're going to pick up some of the reliever categories with the guys you have in the pen, mostly Saves. It seems you have to have alot of starters, so dump these high risk guys for people you know are going to be between 3.75 and 4.25 on the ERA scale whose innings aren't too high, so the relievers will have a greater weight on your ERA totals besides the Saves. Also, try to pick up high K guys to help the pen win that stat.

 

On O you really don't have much to distinguish from others, so see if you can hunt down Carl Crawford type hitters - high Average, high Steals. That wins two categories and if you keep the Pujols-Ramirez-Lopez combo that should be enough to win at least Homers or RBIs more often than not.

Thanks a bunch Juankster and Taxingted. I appreciate your insight a ton.

 

I had a bunch of keepers from rounds 13 to 20, specially pitching (Pavano, Penny, AJ, Wright), so all i did early was lock up Pedro to anchor them, and didnt take another SP till the later rounds, where i picked up Millwood, Pineiro, Moyer in rounds 23, 21, and 27 respectively. All i need from them is the occasional W with a few Ks.

 

As far as hitting goes, I really wanted to keep Glaus, knowing that if he stayed healthy, hed be huge. I know its a big "if", but im still hoping. Yes, the Pujols-Ramirez-Lopez trifecta is the heart here, but i have a feeling about Nomar, i mean after all its NOMAR. Given he stays healthy, hes an MVP candidate, no questions asked. I also think Bret Boone will rebound to his .300 30HR 110RBI days now with Ichiro again in front of him, but now with Beltre and Sexson behind him. The Berkman pick was taken cause he was available in the 9th, so i couldnt pass up on him. He'll be back in late April, and id rather pick him up in the 9th, knowing for a fact he'll be back then, rather than some people taking Bonds in the 3rd-4th, and not knowing when hes ever gonna play again. The rest of my OF picks were filler picks, mostly taken in the late, late rounds. As you can see i completely threw the SB category out the window, going for more pop.

 

I did steal Ryan under everyones radar, good call on that one. I have a feeling that guy could be Gagne-like as far as K dominance goes. Nathan was a keeper, and Wickman i found lying around in round 25. The Urbina pick was purely just because he might get traded, and if anything hes a great set up guy. Found him in the 26th.

 

Well guys, thanks again for your help, and Juanky, Ill consider some of your advice and trade options as the season rolls on. Much appreciated.