Royals pitcher Gil Meche and other hurlers are off to encouraging stars in spring training.

Brandon Webb's recovery stalled, but other hurlers are on the comeback trail.

Twins outfielder Delmon Young has burned a lot of fantasy GMs the past few years. We keep expecting him to play up to his vast potential . . . and he confounds us by failing to fulfill those expectations. He is plunging on most draft boards as a result. But early spring returns are positive.

Each spring major league training camps are full of veteran players trying to stage comebacks from some problem or another. They are great X-factors for fantasy general managers. How, exactly, does one quantify medical recovery?

Judging from average-draft position analysis so far this year, fantasy GMs are placing way too much on a number of veteran pitchers. Big names and established reputations often fail to translate into pitching results.

Bad things often happen to young starting pitchers who take on huge workloads.

By moving on from the Yankees to the Tigers, Johnny Damon will loses a great deal of fantasy value. The Tigers will pay him $8 million this season to lead off and play left field. He will get as many at bats as he can handle. Detroit’s overall offense offers real potential this season.
But Damon is a year older now at 36. He moves out of the new Yankee Stadium, where the dimensions and wind currents favored his swing.