MLBTR Originals

Here's a look at the original reporting and analysis from the MLBTR writing team this week..

• Ben Nicholson-Smith spoke with Carlos Villanueva about his role with the MLBPA.
• Earlier in the week, Jason Frasor told Ben that he was on board with the changes to the CBA.
• Dan Mennella looked at closers with 2013 options with a very preliminary look at whether they will be picked up.
• Mike Axisa asked MLBTR readers how the Yankees should go about replacing Mariano Rivera in 2012 and more than 57% of you said that the club should turn the job over to David Robertson rather than giving it to Rafael Soriano or making a trade.
• Dan brought us the interesting and little-known story of Herb Washington.
• Ben brought us updates on converted relievers that have been brought into starting roles.
• This week's edition of Baseball Blogs Weigh In included items on Rivera, Huston Street, and Albert Pujols.
• Check out the transcript of our weekly chat hosted by BN-S.
• Mark Polishuk described Bryan LaHair as having "quality sleeper potential" in a column for Roto Authority back in January, but didn't expect him to blossom into a trade candidate.
• Here's a refresher on our commenting policy.  Play nice, everyone.  We're also looking for folks to help us enforce our rules as moderators.
• More than 51% of MLBTR readers believe that Johnny Damon will prove to be the best minor league DH signing over Hideki Matsui, Manny Ramirez, and Vladimir Guerrero.