Spring training battles: Who is fighting for PT?

There are one million and one stories and events to follow on the sporting landscape right now. The NCAA Basketball regular season is winding to a close. We’ve got boxing women in Texas hoops, the Olympics afterglow, Favre on Leno, the stretch runs for both the NHL and NBA seasons, the 19th or 20th iterations of our NFL mock drafts and the opening of NFL free agency. Don’t tell me that you’re not tapped into the rumors, conjecture and speculation surrounding your favorite team.

Oh, and in Arizona and Florida, the first sounds of cracking bats and popping gloves have us giddy. We’ve begun to tweak those initial rankings, as information about the rehabilitation efforts of would-be fantasy heroes comes to light or the holes in the games of would-be breakthrough players are exposed.

In this latest installment of my run through the fantasy baseball universe, I’m taking a look at some of the positional battles on tap as we head toward the glory of opening day. My calendar has April 4th circled. Doesn’t yours?

The Rangers are trying to determine how to split the workload between Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Taylor Teagarden. Teagarden has always been considered the better game-caller, but his .217 batting average and 38.4 percent strikeout rate leaves you wanting. Saltalamacchia was our great hope for the next breakout star at catcher. He hasn’t been able to translate his potential into a full-time role and dominant numbers. Like Teagarden, Saltalamacchia is prone to a ridiculous strikeout rate (34.3 percent).

Ron Washington also needs to make a decision in the back of the rotation. Brandon McCarthy is the longest-tenured big leaguer up for the role, but the expectations placed upon him as a member of the White Sox have never been met. He, Derek Holland and Matt Harrison all have issues with their walk rates that need to be addressed.

I would be remiss if I ducked out of Texas without giving a nod to Neftali Perez. It appears that he’ll be used as the bridge to Frank Francisco, but fantasy owners would love to see his strikeout punch moved to the rotation or into that closer role. Start the letter-writing campaign if you’re a Rangers fan.

The Braves are reportedly looking at a workload split in the closer role between Billy Wagner and Takashi Saito. For his part, Wagner came to camp with the velocity on his fastball. Still, Saito, the former Dodgers closer, offers a right-handed alternative and Bobby Cox the ability to limit Wagner’s innings.

Atlanta also has a logjam in the outfield to sort out this spring. We’ve obviously been hearing a ton about the potential and prodigious drives off of the bat of 20-year-old super prospect Jason Heyward. Chipper Jones told reporters that he would be surprised if the sweet-swinging slugger wasn’t in the mix when the Braves broke camp. Still, Bobby Cox may decide to get him additional at-bats in the minor leagues before giving him the call.

Jordan Schafer, who batted .204 in 50 games last season, didn’t play himself into the job, and Melky Cabrera will get extra looks following his arrival in Atlanta as part of the Javier Vazquez deal. Fantasy owners want to see Heyward, and I don’t blame them. Schafer and Cabrera don’t have me convinced that you shouldn’t just let him take cuts out of the gate.

Chris Tillman is expected to win the No. 5 spot in Baltimore’s rotation this spring. He’s been affected by back spasms in the first week of camp, but Tillman isn’t expected to miss much time, if any. If Tillman should falter this spring, Jake Arrieta might be next in line for a promotion. Arrieta is a big-time strikeout artist who fanned nearly one batter per inning between Class-AA and Class-AAA last season.

Knuckleballer Tim Wakefield has been in the news because of his mentoring/tutoring of a young female pitcher. Right now, he’s the odd-man out in the battle for a job in the back-end of the rotation. Clay Buccholz, who has appeared in 32 games in the past two years is first in line for the job. He won seven of 16 starts last season, but his 1.38 WHIP is somewhat problematic.

The Cubs expect Ted Lilly to return to the rotation toward the end of April at the latest. He teams with Carlos Zambrano, Ryan Dempster and 13-game winner Randy Wells at the front of the rotation. Offseason acquisition Carlos Silva is slated to compete with Sean Marshall and former Notre Dame football star Jeff Samardzija (sorry, that’s still his moniker) for the final slot.

Also on the North side of Chicago, Xavier Nady is looking to relegate Kosuke Fukudome to pinch-hitting and spot starts. Nady missed all but seven games last season because of elbow surgery and has demonstrated more pop than we’ve seen from Fukudome in his two major league seasons.

The Reds have a huge number of options in the outfield to go alongside spring sensation Drew Stubbs and Jay Bruce. Wladimir Balentien is joined by Chris Dickerson, Laynce Nix and newly re-signed Jonny Gomes. Gomez definitely has power if given regular at-bats, but he strikes out a ton.

Cleveland recently signed Russell Branyan to assume the everyday first base slot. That leaves powerhouse slugger Matt LaPorta and Michael Brantley to fight for at-bats in left field. Fantasy owners are clamoring to get LaPorta at-bats and find some power numbers, but the situation will play out in the next three weeks.

Houston is looking at fire-baller RHP Felipe Paulino for the fifth spot in the rotation. He’s set to square off against veteran Brian Moehler, who pitched to a terrible 5.47 ERA last season. If Paulino can improve his control, he may become a nice late-round option for fantasy owners.

The Marlins are evaluating Logan Morrison and Gaby Sanchez for the starting first base job with Jorge Cantu moving across the diamond to third base. Sanchez batted .289 with 16 home runs and 56 RBI in 85 games for Triple-A New Orleans last season.

The Angels continue to struggle with the possible promotions to full-time roles of Howie Kendrick and Brandon Wood. Maicer Izturis has appeared at second base, third base and shortstop in the past, and his role will determine whether Kendrick or Wood is left on the bench. Fantasy owners are curious to see Wood receive everyday at-bats to determine whether his minor league power will transfer to the big leagues.

The Dodgers are set at the front of the rotation. Eric Stults, James McDonald, Charlie Hager, Russ Ortiz, Ramon Ortiz and Josh Towers are all battling for the final spots in the rotation. Hage, the knuckleballer, offers a change of page, but Stults or McDonald likely wins the role, provided that they can curb their walk rates.

One of the more hotly contested roles to be decided in camp concerns the fifth slot in New York. Phil Hughes or Joba Chamberlain will win the job, with the other working in late relief in support of Mariano Rivera. Chamberlain’s high strikeout potential has fantasy owners optimistic that he wins the job, but he’ll have to improve on his bloated (no pun intended) WHIP.

There are two closer roles to watch as spring training kicks into full gear.

In Houston, Matt Lindstrom and Brandon Lyon will battle for the job. Lindstrom’s velocity is the stuff of legend, but straight balls fly straight out of the yard. Lyon has been in the closer role in the past, but has never held it down. Lindstrom is the top option right now, as Lyon has yet to throw after having a cyst removed from his shoulder.

Kevin Gregg comes into Toronto’s camp as the closer ahead of Scott Downs and Jason Frasor. Gregg was the closer for a spell in Chicago before Lou Piniella turned to Carlos Marmol last season. Downs and Frasor pitched in the closer role last season and offer tremendous strikeout-to-walk ratios.