Still many fantasy possibilities as MLB season looms on the horizon

Hello, again, fantasy team owners. As you may or may not know, there is only one week left until the baseball season kicks off. That's right, next Sunday, your fantasy team may begin a long season of building its dynasty. If you haven't drafted a team yet, you better get on it, and if you have, you can still work out some preseason deals. You didn't get the shortstop you wanted? Convince another team owner that you've got what they need. That's how this whole game is played.

While on spring break, I got to do a little close-up fantasy scouting, catching last Tuesday's Phillies-Reds game in Clearwater, Florida. Both of these teams boast some potential fantasy stars. While checking box scores from spring training games won't give you much insight on players' potentials, seeing them in person gives you a good idea of what they can do.

The Phillies-Reds game began with lots of excitement, as Philadelphia starter and potential ace Randy Wolf got rocked for six runs in the first inning. I wrote in a previous article that Wolf could be breaking out this season, but he did not look good in this start. His slider wasn't working and his fastballs were getting rocked. But don't give up on him too soon -- Wolf always has slow starts.

April has been Wolf's worst month in each of the past three years. If you drafted him, bench him until he shows you a solid performance. If you choose not to, let another owner get annoyed with him at the start of the season and then trade for him cheap come mid May, when he'll start to calm down.

For the Reds, starter Jimmy Haynes had a beautiful double with the bases loaded, driving in three, to go along with four and two thirds solid innings of pitching. Haynes isn't yet on the fantasy radar for starting pitchers, but he did manage 15 wins last season and had a decent K/BB ratio. Keep an eye on him.

Conspicuously absent from the Reds lineup was Ken Griffey Jr., who has been surrounded by lots of hype this spring training, hitting six homers with a .371 batting average. I still believe Griffey is a great hitter, but is injury prone making him too risky to draft before the seventh or eighth round. Adam Dunn continues to strike out way too much, whiffing twice last Tuesday.

For the Phillies, Bobby Abreu looks sweet and speedy, and I believe in Jim Thome. Reds closer Scott Williamson walked the bases loaded, and then gave up a first pitch grand slam to Thome, which tied the game. Some have said that Thome's numbers will drop off with the Phillies, but I say that NL pitchers won't phase him; he's still a top first baseman.

Now I'll field some write-in questions from fantasy players out there:

What's the deal with American League third basemen? I'm in an AL-only league, and I struggled with Troy Glaus' slump all through the second half last season only for him to turn it on in the postseason. Is Eric Chavez a better choice?

Glaus was certainly clutch in the playoffs, but he's terribly inconsistent. He's streaky and will get tons of RBIs and even some steals on occasion, but will slump. Chavez's average is higher and he won't strike out nearly as much, but he will not go deep as often either. You might even go for Toronto's Eric Hinske before Glaus, whose .275-25-84-13 rookie season was no fluke.

Johnny Damon isn't a big name, but he has big fantasy numbers. Someone's offering him for Bagwell, and I already have Ryan Klesko to play 1B. Should I bite?

While Bagwell has been one of the NL's best hitters over the past ten years, the truth is that at 35 (in May), Bags' numbers have been dropping off steadily over the past few years. Klesko's numbers last season were practically identical to Bagwell's, but you have to consider that Astros are up Jeff Kent and the Padres are down Phil Nevin. Still, Klesko's numbers shouldn't change since Nevin wasn't around much last year. With the Red Sox having rejuiced their lineup, Damon should lead the league in runs, which makes him very valuable. I say you should always ask for a throw in, but go ahead and pull the trigger.

Are there any rookie no names out there that could help out my fantasy team?

Some guys to keep your eye out for are pitchers Jeremy Bonderman and Rich Harden, infielders Mark Teixeira and Kevin Youkilis, outfielder Rocco Baldelli, and catcher Victor Martinez.

That's all for now. Get your team set. Baseball is here.