You know, we have been good and not used the "Bourn to Run" pun in a couple of weeks now, but he was indeed Bourn to Run. Bourn to Walk, though? Not exactly...

In this week’s article, we look at how the first year players are having an impact on fantasy 5x5 leagues as scorch the base paths around the league. In this article, we will look at who had the biggest impact on the stolen bases this past week.

Top Three

Michael Bourn (5): Bourn continues to show that he is an elite base stealer. He has swiped all five bags without being caught. The downside is that Michael Bourn continues to post a .208 batting average and a .296 on-base percentage.

Jacoby Ellsbury (4): With Coco Crisp on the shelf, it is all Ellsbury, all the time. Although he is only batting .250, Ellsbury was perfect last week in four attempts to steal bases. In addition, he has seven walks, which brings his on base percentage up to .482 for the week.

Carlos Gomez (4): Like Bourn, Carlos Gomez has been tearing up the base paths since the first pitch of the season. He too went without getting caught last week and like Bourn has a poor batting and on base percentage (.200 / .200).

The difference between these top three base-stealing threats is the number of strikeouts and walks. Ellsbury (1 strikeout, 7 walks) far exceeds Bourn (5 and 3) and Gomez (8 and 0) in plate discipline, therefore gaining an overall better prospect for keeper leagues, long term.

Best of the Rest

Melky Cabrera (3): Cabrera is showing why the team believes in him. He has stolen three bases in the past week and increased opportunities for his team with four walks and an on base percentage of .367. With the decline of Johnny Damon all but obvious, it is Cabrera who is stepping into the role of team speedster.

Rafael Furcal (3): Stealing three bases puts hope back into fantasy owners, dismissing years of injuries and disappointment. Furcal has been getting on base at an impressive clip, 50% of the time. You cannot ask for much more from your shortstop than to be quick on the base paths and consistent in getting there in the first place.

Matt Holliday (3): Is there anything this Rockies’ outfielder cannot do? Adding to his power, presence on the team, All-Star nominations and M.V.P. candidacy, this young outfielder is pleasantly surprising his fantasy owners with a trio of stolen bases, bringing him nearly one-third of the anticipated steals for him in a year, in one fantasy week.

Ian Kinsler (3): Another young player who can turn on the jet boosters when necessary. Ian is expected to steal bases, but more importantly, he is expected to do so without injury. Everyone from the Texas fan base to his fantasy owners are praying that he does not have continuous issues like one of his peers, Howie Kendrick who has speed potential but cannot stay on the field long enough to prove it.

Hanley Ramirez (3): How quickly a player can rise to All-Star status. As Sox Nation rejoices for the likes of Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell, they will ache every time they see Hanley Ramirez’s statistical line. Hanley has a rare talent of speed and power that many clambered over during draft day. They were smart to do so as he continues to show improvements in every area of the game.

Honorable Mentions: San Francisco Giants' Fred Lewis (2), New York Mets’ Jose Reyes (2), and St. Louis Cardinals’ Skip Schumaker (2).