Hello all. I am glad to have found such a wonderful community dedicated to Fantasy Baseball that doesn't berate and belittle realtive newcomers such as myself. I have been doing Fantasy Baseball since 2005 with a bunch of my friends. The league is not deep at all (as Grey has already keenly pointed out) at eight teams but there is a suitable explanation. The league was started amongst four of us after a heated discussion regarding who would be better at turning around the sinking ship that the Buccos have been riding for the better part of each of our existences (all around 23 years old). So, this is how our league was born. That said here is my team:

C- Brian McCann
1b-Justin Morneau
2b-Ian Kinsler
ss-Jose Reyes
3b-Chipper Jones
of-Jermaine Dye
of-Grady Sizemore
of-Shane Victorino
util-Mark DeRosa
util-Hunter Pence
bn-Andre Ethier

sp-Dan Haren
sp-Derek Lowe
sp-Javier Vazquez
sp-Edinson Volquez
sp-Clayton Kershaw
sp-Kevin Slowey
sp-AJ Burnett

rp-Joel Hanrahan
rp-Joe Nathan
rp-Huston Street
rp-Frank Francisco

As was posted in the Comments before I wanted to know who should be dropped for a shot at Harang. I opted for Hanrahan (changed from Kershaw) but there is still time (Waiver ends tomorrow) to change it.

Also, I am going to offer Jones + DeRosa for Aramis Ramirez as well.

Any other suggestions would be awesome.

Some more background: I won the league in 2006, it's second year in existence. One year I had to do autodraft because I was studying abroad in London and they had the draft at like 3 am London time and I had class the next day at like 8:00. I have been pretty competitive the other two years finishing second and third.

Cool, good to have you commenting! I think in a league as shallow as yours, you're better off dropping Kershaw than Hanrahan. (Not that I don't like Kershaw better than Hanrahan, but four closers in your league is more helpful than a starter that may not be owned as Harang wasn't. Overall, you drafted well, I like your offense especially. Your pitching is not as good (starters especially). You might actually look to trade for a top starter down the road a bit.... Say trade McCann for the best guy you can get. I wouldn't be that yet though.

See, in our draft, one guy basically took the top six pitchers with his first six picks and everyone elses pitching relfects it. He has CC, Lincecum, Hamels, Santana, and someone else I can't remember. Needless to say his hitting is pretty weak.

Just to be 100% sure, you endorse the Chipper + DeRosa for Aramis (with a subsequent Felipe! pickup) deal if I can pull it off?

Thanks again.

Sure, I'd want Aramis there.

I'm getting worried about my SP's. Slowey got hit around . I'm one to panic at the most miniscule of problems. My pitching needs serious work. Who would be a good candidate to try and swap for a real ace. The guy with the leagues top 6 has essentially no offense at all. But would McCann for an ace fly? or even be the right move?

And just for general discussion here is my team for a 10-team, traditional 5x5, H2H, keeper (Note: I inherited this team):

c-Brian McCann
1b-Joey Votto
2b-Mark DeRosa
3b-David Wright
ss-Derek Jeter
of-Alonso Soriano
of-Manny Ramirez
of-Justin Upton
Util-Jorge Cantu
bn-Conor Jackson, JJ Hardy, James Loney

dl-BJ Upton

sp-Roy Hallady
sp-Johnny Cueto
sp-Adam Wainwright
sp-Randy Johnson
sp-Jered Weaver
rp-Joakim Soria
rp-Brian Fuentes
rp-JJ Putz
rp-Scot Shields

dl-Scott Baker

After one week I am in 5th.

Any suggestions for improvement would be lovely.

Great signature math -- ha! Your team looks kinda weak for a 10 team league. You have some holes in your hitting and your pitching sorta falls off after Wainwright.

Ok, after the performances by Kershaw last night and Nelson Curz thus far, should I:

Drop Slowey (whom I don't know/care much for) and pick up Kershaw (whom I like mostly because he's NL and I prefer NL to AL for pitchers)

and/or

Drop anyone on my squad (listed in sig) for Nelson Cruz?

I mean, is there much of a difference between Slowey and Kershaw? I understand Kershaw is young and that he can go either way but it isn't like Slowey is an established vet right? whom I can look at and know what I'm getting?

I'd go from Slowey to Kershaw and DeRosa to Cruz.

Ok. I traded Chipper and DeRosa for Aramis. I have one spot open. Do I go with Cruz or Felipe Lopez?

I'm leaning Lopez because of his 2b, ss, 3b, and of eligibility. He fits perfect into this team but still awaiting sage Grey advice.