[b]Slow start--should I worry?[/b] Experts please weigh IN!

[rx99674]

I play in a 12-player mixed league, 6X6 format (standard 5X5 + Walks + IPs).

C Brian McCann
1B Justin Morneau
2B Alfonso Soriano
SS Jose Reyes
3B Chipper Jones
CI Nick Swisher
MI Felipe Lopez
OF Vlad Guerrero
OF Barry Bonds
OF Preston Wilson
OF Matt Holliday
OF Jose Guillen
Util Frank Thomas
Util Edwin Encarnacion
Bench Dimitri Young
Bench Delmon Young

SP Ben Sheets
SP Andy Pettitte
SP John Lackey
SP Joe Blanton
SP Zach Duke
RP Derrick Turnbow
RP Mike Gonzales
RP Todd Worrell
P Kelvim Escobar
P Justin Verlander
Bench Scott Baker
Bench Joel Piniero

[rx99674]

Can someone please tell me what they think?

[Inukchuk]

I'm no expert, but I'll tell you what I think. There are some guys who you shouldn't worry about too much (Soriano, Reyes, Vlad, Turnbow). Barring injury, you know what you're getting with these guys.

You also have a few guys that have a nasty history of injuries (Chipper, Thomas, Sheets) to keep an eye on. If healthy, they're good plays, though.

I would be a little leery that you have a good amount of question marks and unestablished guys on the team, like McCann, Morneau, Swisher, Bonds, Preston, Holliday, Guillen, Edwin, Blanton, Duke, Gonzalez, Verlander, Baker. Chances are, they won't all dud, but they probably won't all turn out great, either.

My advice would be to just watch their progression. Any team can be salvaged this early in the season. Don't worry too much, but keep a sharp eye on the waver wire and trade landscapes. Again, I'm not a pro, but I have overcome early season slumps to go from worst to first simply by being realistic. If you honestly think a player is bombing, and have legitimate reasons to think they are done, don't be afraid to trade or even drop them. Otherwise, be patient. Baseball stats are very consistent from year to year. Good luck!