15 Burning questions

[thaklanksta]

I am breaking down 15 last minute position battles as I head into my draft this week. Obviously some of these are poor fantasy performers but this will help me late i the draft is my reason for caring.
Could use some insight by those who have one or care to give their take on each battle. Thanks in advance.

1)Shortstop for the Reds.
Lopez or Aurillia?

2)Outfield for the Cubs.
Patterson, Burnitz and ____?
Hairston, Hollandsworth? Duboius, Kelton?

3)Outfield for Pirates
Lawton, Bay and ____?
Tike, Grieve or Mackowiack?

4)Outfield for the Braves
Jones, ____ & _____?
Mondesi, Jordan, Langerhans?

5)Outfield for Phillies
Abreu, Burrell & _____?
Lofton(DL?) Byrd or Michaels?

6)Third base for the Brewers
Branyan or Helms?
Is this a platoon headache to avoid?

7)Outfield for the Marlins
Pierre, Cabrerra and _____
Connine or Encanarcion?

8)Backup catcher for the Dodgers?
Navarro or Ross.

9)Catcher for the D'backs
Koyie Hill or Chris Snyder?

10)5th starter for the Astros
Duckworth, Astacio or Redding?

11)Third base for Padres
Burroughs or Nady?

12)Setupman for the Mets?
Dejean hurt? Is Heredia going to be able to get the job done?

13)Nationals Outfield
Wilkerson, Guillen and _____?
Chavez or Sledge?

14)5th starter for the Reds
Hancock or Claussen?

15)Second base for the Reds
Jimenez or Freel?

[Soxcess11]

I unfortuneately am only sure about 2 of the questions but I guess that's better than none, Hollandsworth is definately the starting LF in Chicago along with Patterson and Burnitz, and Mondesi and Jordan are slated to start the season along with Andruw Jones in the Braves outfield

[Amazinz]

12)Setupman for the Mets?
Dejean hurt? Is Heredia going to be able to get the job done?

Dejean is day-to-day and it sounds like he'll be ready for opening day. He threw off flat ground today and will throw on the side tommorow.

[Dmville]

Reds SS 50/50.

Hollandsworth 75/25 playing time over Dubois

Braves OF--Jones, Jordan and Langerhans--I just think Mondesi is a headcase and will not be a good fit w Cox. Mondesi also has some hamstring troubles I believe. Ok, I admit it, the guy just bugs me.

Helms seems to be on the outside looking in. Scarily enough, Cirillo has had a good enough spring that he is in the picture for now to be on the 25 man. Branyan if you have to pick one, but try not to.

FL OF--If Conine shows health, Encarn sounds like trade bait.

Navarro already cut I believe

Koyie Hill slightly ahead from the 2 Dback blogs I read.

Burroughs--Not cuz he's that good, but cuz Nady hasn't been good enough to unseat him.

Claussen until Hudson comes back--Harang I think is the guy to grab there cheap/late.

[brandnew]

Mondesi is in RF to start the year.

Jordan and Langerhans should platoon, or share at bats, it depends on their respective play.

[wrveres]

1)Shortstop for the Reds.
Lopez or Aurillia?
2)Outfield for the Cubs.
Patterson, Burnitz and ____?
Hairston, Hollandsworth? Duboius, Kelton?
3)Outfield for Pirates
Lawton, Bay and ____?
Tike, Grieve or Mackowiack?
4)Outfield for the Braves
Jones, ____ & _____?
Mondesi, Jordan, Langerhans?
5)Outfield for Phillies
Abreu, Burrell & _____?
Lofton(DL?) Byrd or Michaels?
6)Third base for the Brewers
Branyan or Helms?
Is this a platoon headache to avoid?
7)Outfield for the Marlins
Pierre, Cabrerra and _____
Connine or Encanarcion?
8)Backup catcher for the Dodgers?
Navarro or Ross.
9)Catcher for the D'backs
Koyie Hill or Chris Snyder?
10)5th starter for the Astros
Duckworth, Astacio or Redding?
11)Third base for Padres
Burroughs or Nady?
12)Setupman for the Mets?
Dejean hurt? Is Heredia going to be able to get the job done?
13)Nationals Outfield
Wilkerson, Guillen and _____?
Chavez or Sledge?
14)5th starter for the Reds
Hancock or Claussen?
15)Second base for the Reds
Jimenez or Freel?

1) Aurilla since he is a veteran. Lopez has had many many opportunites and blew them all.

2) Platoon, Hairston will steal AB's from both Hollandsworth and Walker. Duboius and Kelton are young and Dusty has never been a fan of the young kids.

3) Tike. it was announced today

4) All four actually. don't count on Mondesi or Jordan to be healthy all season

5) Again, a platoon. Byrd seems to have done enough to at least save his job, temporarilly.

6) Yes, avoid the platoon headache here too.

7) another platoon, also worth avoiding. But since Pierre hasn't played all spring, they may seem full time work eventually.

8) Navarro is going to the minors. Ross might get released or traded. The back up is Bako

9) Snyder got hurt today, we will know tomorrow, but it looks like Hill had the inside track anyways.

10) All signs point to Duckworth.

11) Burroughs. Actually this is quite funny, Burroughs and nady are roomates, and alot of people around here think that Burroughs is out of a Job. Nothing could be futher from the truth. Its not a position battle by any means, Nady will just be resting Sean who has a bum knee.

12) Thats a tough one. "Amazinz" would know best here.

13) Endy, but here is another situation where he has been handed the job many times and fell flat on his face. Look for Sledge to un seat him

14) They are both just filling a spot till Hudson returns. Not even sure Claussen has been stretched out to be a starter.

15) Jimienez. Though there were indications from the Reds the other day that they might go to a platoon.


hope that helps.

[donny23]

Lofton and Byrd are both hurt right now so it appears Michaels starts opening day. When Lofton eventually gets back, the job likely is his, although Byrd will steal plenty of at bats

[donny23]

Byrd is not out of the running to start opening day actually according to rotoworld.

Marlon Byrd - OF - Phillies

Marlon Byrd's injured finger is healing better than expected.
''He's made significant progress,'' general manager Ed Wade said. There is still a chance that Byrd could be ready for Opening Day. Mar. 28 - 7:17 am et
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer & Daily News