Prior, a one time fantasy icon is battling Wade Miller for the final spot in the rotation

For Worse

1. Chicago Cubs Fifth Starter (Mark Prior versus Wade Miller)
Flash back to the early part of this decade when Prior was considered one of the best pitchers in the game and a fantasy favorite. At the same time, Miller was averaging 14 wins a season for Houston. With that said, this battle between two players under 30 seems ridiculous. What truly is ridiculous is considering either pitcher for your fantasy roster. Prior will have to hold off Miller this spring if he wants a rotation spot in 2007. But if the truth be known, both pitchers will likely be on the disabled list by May.

2. Minnesota Twins Fifth Starter (Matt Garza versus Scott Baker and Sidney Ponson)
Twins fans will tell you that Garza is the frontrunner for the fifth spot, but after leaving his Monday outing with a sore neck, the word on the street is that he will begin the season on the farm. Baker has given up 13 hits in 3 1/3 innings this spring, so unfortunately for the Minnesota faithful, it appears the thinner Ponson will begin the season as the fifth starter. Only punch-drunk AL-only owners will get in the ring with the much-traveled Ponson.

3. Oakland A's Outfield (Mark Kotsay versus Milton Bradley and Bobby Kielty)
Kotsay was expected to be pampered this spring, creating a complex platoon situation for the Athletics. But now that Kotsay will undergo back surgery and is expected to be out 8-12 weeks, Bradley will start in center and Kielty in right. Milton and Kielty are AL-only concerns, but due to the patchwork necessary in the A's outfield, first baseman Dan Johnson is primed for a better start to the '07 season. Unlike last year when Johnson started the season 0-for-27, he need not look over his right shoulder into left field because Oakland doesn't have the depth to send Nick Swisher back to first base.

4. Philadelphia Phillies Catcher (Rod Barajas versus Carlos Ruiz)
Finally, two names that truly sound like they could be a lightweight bout on the under card of a headline act in Vegas.  Barajas vs. Ruiz. In reality, this is one of many positional battles that means little to fantasy managers. The catcher position is deep in the National League and neither backstop will have any real value on draft day outside of leagues that start two catchers. The Philadelphia front office has already decided that the rookie Ruiz will be on the active roster for Opening Day, but expect Charlie Manuel to go old school and ease Ruiz into playing time and eventually a full-time platoon with Barajas.

5. Los Angeles Dodgers Fifth Starter (Chad Billingsley versus Mark Hendrickson, Brett Tomko and Hong-Chih Kuo)
The Dodgers rotation is set one-through-four, and like most teams during spring training the battle for the final spot will come down to March production. Billingsley was impressive on the surface last year and is the favorite to begin the season as the final piece to the rotation puzzle. Kuo and Tomko have scoreless March streaks going, making both serious contenders to the favorite Billingsley. What does this mean for fantasy owners? Nothing for those in the know. NL-only owners might gamble with L.A.'s fifth starter in situational starts, but most will ignore the battle completely.

Honorable Mention

Devil Rays Closer: Fantasy owners are offering Seth McClung too much attention this offseason. Sure, he's a big hard throwing right-hander who could offer saves in short-handed AL-only leagues, but his 1.83 WHIP and blown saves are damaging regardless of the format. Dan Miceli and Shawn Camp will vulture enough saves to make McClung irrelevant this season.

Devil Rays Fifth Starter: Considering the choices among Edwin Jackson, J.P. Howell, Jason Hammel, Brian Stokes and Jae Kuk Ryu, do even AL-only managers really care?

Royals Starting Rotation: The "K," a stadium that's been hitter-friendly since making changes to the ballpark dimensions, has a cast and crew of Zack Greinke, Brian Bannister, Todd Wellemeyer and even Jorge De La Rosa fighting it out for the fourth and fifth rotation spot. Yawn.

Remember, reactive approaches can only get you so far. Proactive approaches are what will make you a legend. "It don't mean a thing if you don't win that bling."