I'm probably gonna catch some s**t from my fellow Razzball Originals, but I caved and entered a draft. After dropping out of the Razzball Originals League, I hadn't planned on playing any fantasy baseball this year... but I was convinced by the league that I won last year to re-join. So there... give me my lashings please, then take a look at my team and tell me what you think.

To minimize the time I spend this year on this stuff, I've joined forces with a friend who drafted with me last night. This is a 12 team h2h 5x5 (with QS instead of wins) league with the following categories: C, 1B, 2B, SS, 3B, CI, MI, 4-OF, U, 5-SP, 2-RP, 5 Reserves, 1-DL. We had the 8th pick, and had the plan on taking Fielder first, and then Holliday in the second. Fielder was taken 5th, and Holliday 13th, so we had to improvise and go with Howard and Wright. From there, we focused on stocking up our offense until the 7th round.

The clear issues with this team are batting average and starting pitching, and perhaps SS. Beyond Gallardo and Hamels, we figured we'd take our chances with starters and hope for something good to happen on the wire early in the season. Also, after missing on Reyes and Jeter early, we passed on shortstops until the 16th round when we took EverCab. Without looking at our batting average, we're very pleased with our offense and the relative balance we'll have at almost every position. We'll be very competitive at 4 offensive categories every week.

Starting Pitching should be an issue, and that's one place where we need at least one upgrade via trade. That could come from Price maybe, Chapman when he arrives or Feliz if he's stretched into a starter.

The Andre3000 Dawsons
Active Batters
C -- Wieters, Matt C BAL
1B -- Howard, Ryan 1B PHI
2B -- Phillips, Brandon 2B CIN
3B -- Wright, David 3B NYM
SS -- Cabrera, Everth SS SD
MI -- Stewart, Ian 3B COL
CI -- Wood, Brandon 3B ANA
OF -- Cruz, Nelson R. RF TEX
OF -- Gonzalez, Carlos LF COL
OF -- Sizemore, Grady CF CLE
OF -- Werth, Jayson RF PHI
UT -- Rasmus, Colby CF STL

Active Pitchers
SP -- Price, David SP TB
SP -- Gallardo, Yovani SP MIL
SP -- Garza, Matt SP TB
SP -- Hamels, Cole SP PHI
SP -- Slowey, Kevin SP MIN
RP -- Bell, Heath RP SD
RP -- Gonzalez, Mike RP BAL

Reserve Batters
Sizemore, Scott 2B DET

Reserve Pitchers
Chapman, Aroldis SP CIN
Correia, Kevin SP SD
Feliz, Neftali RP TEX
Morales, Franklin RP COL


Any ideas for trades? Should we shop someone like Ian Stewart or CarGo for a Billingsley or Baker-type? Any other advice?

Of course you can't stay away from fantasy baseball totally. I agree with your assessment of your team. I'd see if Stewart could get Bills or Baker, in that order.

What about Jered Weaver? Does Stewart for Weaver work?

It's fair, don't think Weaver has the upside.

Would you drop Scott Sizemore, Franklin Morales or Kevin Correia for Ian Kennedy?

Eh, don't think it's a move that needs to be done immediately.

I was just offered A.J. Burnett for Stewart. Do I take it, or do I hold out for more?

Burnett was drafted by me around 175, Stewart goes for around 100. I'd want more.

The Originals are reserving comment.

For now.

I'm holding Pork Burn back as we speak. But I can't hold him back forever!