Rate this very newbie team

[BritSox]

Standard Yahoo 5x5, 12 teams- my first fantasy team ever. I'd appreciate (in particular) advice on who to give the UTIL job to, and likewise the fifth starting spot. I'm also slightly worried about not having enough SB's.

C J. Lopez (Bal - C)
1B T. Helton (Col - 1B)
2B J. Kent (LAD - 2B)
3B E. Chavez (Oak - 3B)
SS M. Tejada (Bal - SS)
OF V. Wells (Tor - OF)
OF C. Lee (Mil - OF)
OF B. Wilkerson (Was - 1B,OF)
Util R. Palmeiro (Bal - 1B)
BN C. Izturis (LAD - SS)
BN E. Byrnes (Oak - OF)

SP B. Sheets (Mil - SP)
SP Ol. Perez (Pit - SP)
RP T. Percival (Det - RP)
RP D. Baez (TB- RP)
P K. Escobar (LAA - SP)
P J. Lieber (Phi - SP)
P B. Arroyo (Bos - SP)
BN N. Lowry (SF - SP)
BN D. Lowe (LAD - SP)
BN L. Hawkins (ChC - RP)

[thedude]

i would start Byrnes in the utl spot if you are worried about steals. You might be able to pick up a stolen base guy from WW like Reed. Ralphy just isn't the same hitter anymore. I would keep Arroyo as your 5th starter at least for now. he might loose his job when miller is healthy but for now he is a the best option.

[thedude]

Oh i forgot to add. besides the utl spot it is a very solid team especailly for someone new to FBB.

[Robert91]

You should start Hawkins as a closer for the cubs. You could also trade one of your pitchers to improve your offence. Overall, I really like your pitching, but your offence could use some help. Try finding a better second Util player cause I don't think either of them deserve it. If I would have to pick one, I would pick Byrnes.

[BritSox]

Cheers. If Hawkins looks like he'll be the/a regular closer i'll obviously start him. I think he was a steal for the last round. Funny you prefer the pitching to offence, i basically filled up on stud hitters at all lineup slots save OF while there were pitching runs going on and then started looking at pitching before remembering i had a util slot to fill.

[Gwyddbwyll]

I wouldnt be in a hurry to trade any of them. They are either high value ones you want to keep or low value ones that may be steals (but you wont get much now).

Unless he explodes, Palmeiro is probably not the answer to your U spot and there should be better guys than Byrnes.

Look for sleepers who went undrafted and jump on the hot guys and hope. Its no big loss if they dont pan out but I got Beltre and Mora this way last year. Reed is one, Giambi and Bagwell could pay off big in that Utility spot. Others are Broussard, Surhoff, Kearns, Freel

As you have Tejada, I'd dump Izturis. He's never going to play for you so you may as well as pick up another pitching sleeper. If you're unlucky and Tejada is injured, Izturis will probably still be there or there'll be someone like Eckstein.

[BritSox]

I've dumped Izturis and put a waiver claim in on Reed. (This is Jeremy Reed the M's outfielder right?) All the others you named were drafted save Surhoff. You really feel Reed will outperform Byrnes then? There seem to a couple of other guys with better hitting than byrnes, but there is no one else close to the steals save Baldelli, who is a similar player but slightly worse in all respects.

Oh and you were well right on the SS situation, both Eckstein and Greene are unclaimed.

PS I know this is a bit of a waiver question but Pat Burrelland Mike Cameron are unclaimed. Are either a better option than Byrnes?

[Gwyddbwyll]

Yeah, Mariners. Reed is a stud prospect.. like most young guys he'll have ups and downs.

Baldelli has more upside than Byrnes but he's injured for a long time so you didnt want him. I'd avoid Burrell and Cameron like the plague.. they'll kill you in average. Mench or Lawton might be available.. I'd just keep an eye on the fringe players in the first two weeks and take the hot one.

[beowulf]

bump

[JErik20]

Your offense is awesome. In fact, i may look to trade part of it for a starting pitcher, because i don't know where you are going to get any wins. Sheets and Perez are studs, but pitch for sorry teams. They both may get 200+ strikouts, and have ERA's under 3.20 and WHIP's under 1.20, and still only win 12 games each.

I would also get Hawkins in your starting lineup NOW

Erik