Recently, the FOXSports.com fantasy team reconvened to partake in another draft. We celebrated the end of spring training and conducted the experiment to mark the changing fantasy landscape. Call it erosion or the dreaded "temperamental shift," but the draft board looked a lot different the second time around.

I circled back with some of our invited guests for quick hits on the stars & flops of spring training. I asked for a brief hit on what caught their respective eyes this spring.  My own ramblings can be found as part of the FOXSports.com Fantasy Baseball Draft Guide and throughout the pages of FOXSports.com

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Eric Stashin of rotoprofessor.com

<h3> Buying into: </h3>

<b> Nick Adenhart </b> - I know, he had a pathetic 9.00 ERA in three major league starts last season, and an even more concerning 5.76 ERA in 145.1 Triple-A innings.  Still, the talent is there (3.65 ERA at Double-A in '07) and thanks to a rash of injuries, so is the opportunity.  He opens the season as #3 in the rotation, with potential starts against Oakland, Seattle and Minnesota over the first two weeks.  We'll know very quickly if the talent will shine this time around, but I'm confident he can put it all together.

 <b> Corey Hart </b> - He is one of the players that I love for 2009.  He's been a 20/20 player each of the past two seasons and the potential of being moved to second in the order should lead to significantly more runs scored.  Granted, it will come at a loss of RBI opportunity, but he still could exceed 80.  He's got the total package and while he's been very good already, 2009 could be greatness.  I think 30/30 could be a stretch, but he will be on the border come September.

 <h3> Not buying: <h3>

<b> Jayson Werth </b> - I know he's a hot sleeper choice this season, but his history brings.  He gets hurt every season and was actually dealing with issues with his groin and shoulder during Spring Training.  Additionally, his HR/FB last season was 21.1% to go along with just 16 doubles.  Those are certainly not signs to make me believe that the power he showed was sustainable.  I'll let someone else take the gamble, buying into 2008 and his hot spring training, to me it's just a matter of time before he stumbles.

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Ryan Hallam from Fighting Chance Fantasy (www.fightingchancefantasy.com)

Spring Training is just about over. It is a very interesting time.  On one hand we explain away a guy who is struggling by explaining that these games don't count.  However, at the same time, fantasy owners comb spring training box scores for information on who is up and coming and who is going to struggle.  There are only two reasons to watch spring training games.  One is for young players looking to make an impact.  The other is we just love baseball!  It is the only baseball around in March, and we haven't seen a game since October.  What else are baseball fans supposed to watch?

Is this the year that Alex Gordon lives up to the hype?  He is having one of the best camps of anyone.  Though 24 games, Gordon is hitting .338 with six homers, and has driven in 14 runs.  He has also kept his strikeouts under control with only 14 whiffs this spring.  It is looking like 2009 might be his breakout year.

Kevin Slowey is one of the more popular sleepers this year, and he is stock with a great spring.  Slowey has a 2.21 ERA and 20 strikeouts in 20.1 innings.  He has only allowed five runs in five starts, and he has only walked one guy this spring, and that is vintage Slowey.  He will will win at least 15 games this year, and strikeout near a batter an inning.

After returning from the World Baseball Classic injured, Kevin Youkilis hasn't looked good.  In nine games he has hit just .208, with only one homer and five RBI.   But don't put too much stock into this.  Youkilis had some ankle and Achilles problems this spring, and I'm sure he wasn't pushin himself in the exhibition.  He will be fine this year, and should be able to repeat last year's performance.

On the pitching side, Zack Greinke has been pretty awful, but expect a big year from him.  He still has been getting the strikeouts this Spring (20 in 23 IP), but his ERA was nearly 10.00.  I really don't put much stock in veteran pitching statistics in spring because many times the pitcher is generally working on something during their outings.  Expect Greinke to be among the top ten pitchers in fantasy this year.

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Lawrence Barreca of fantasyfootballmaniaxs.com

It's been a strange, strange week. Naturally, we're all reeling from the continuing drama of the markets and the seemingly daily doom-and-gloom reports. OK, everybody except Sean Young evidently. You remember her, right? She showed up dressed like Cat Woman on a talk show, assuming she was going to win the role that eventually went to Michelle Pfeiffer. It was a slow news day here in LA when they grabbed sound from her. I really need to keep my quips ready, as the sight of my dome on the site ought to send the tabloids to my area looking for a comment any day now. Seriously, "No Way Out" was 20 years ago.

The week included more misery in the sporting world (check the video section and my Blog) for some A-Rod rants and some other news I'd just as soon forget. Additionally, the trades told of the demise of my favorite station out here in LA. How can I write a "Duds" column without the inspiration of Adam Carolla ranting about the Mayor, Governor and Burbank police?

But I digress. I found some peace and comfort in the text message I received about Ken Griffey, Jr.'s return to Seattle.

The old saying is "you can't go home again." Griffey, Jr. will test that theory with his return to the Mariners after a nine-year absence. The team needed to inject some life following last year's debacle, and baseball needs a feel-good story. Sorry, Josh Hamilton and Evan Longoria's Rays are old news now.

Earlier in the week, there had been a report about Mike Sweeney having been moved from what was Griffey, Jr.'s original spring locker. That fueled speculation about the future Hall of Famer's imminent return.

ARod's admissions thrust Griffey, Jr. back into the spotlight. Don't you want him to be the "clean one," the "chosen one?" I'm hoping to see that big smile on his face opening day. You remember it from the historic 1989 Upper Deck rookie card. It's that kid-like smile that keeps us coming back to the game each spring.

No matter how big the scandal or the forthcoming fallout (there's still another 103 names out there, folks), the game we loved as a child calls us back. The simple battle of a pitcher and catcher still captures our imagination.

We remember the legendary voices of men such as Harry Carey and Jack Buck while we eagerly anticipate the next call of Vin Scully.

It's been a tough off-season, to be sure. Sports figures have taken a beating, and it's now proven that no enterprise is immune.

That first big fly from Griffey, Jr. will help to start the healing.

OK, so the use of the devil here is probably too much, but most accounts of the ongoing steroid controversy in Major League Baseball puts this class of substances somewhere between Dr. Evil and Jason Voorhees (nice opening, eh?) on the villain scale. Greg Dulli's lyrics just seemed appropriate here.

I was intrigued by the comments of former wrestler and Minnesota governor Jesse Ventura this weekend. He called for Bud Selig to undergo the same type of scrutiny and legal dissection that was exacted on WWE boss Vince McMahon over a decade ago. While some will draw a hard and fast line between pure sport and "sports entertainment," as the WWE branded itself so famously, I'm no sure that there isn't a very blurry, hazy connection between the two.

After all, baseball has always been tabbed "America's pasttime." That seems to indicate its existence as an entertainment vehicle or diversion, doesn't it?

Before the hate mail begins to pile up in my inbox, let be known that I am still as enamored with this game as I was when I first sat the bleachers of Old Comiskey Park, watching the likes of Ron LeFlore, Wayne Nordhagen give way to Harold Baines, Greg Luzinski and Carlton Fisk. Working the strike zone, laying down a well-time bunt, playing first-to-third ball and managing a bullpen still hold great value to me. Unlike many people I talk to, I can still watch a full ballgame on the edge of my seat. Whether it's Red Sox-Yankees or Giants-Pirates (even on non-Lincecum days), my DVR is always stacked with games.

But, with that said, I also recognize the "Wow!" factor. Those old "chicks dig the longball" ads said what everyone was thinking. Most folks aren't too keen on spending big money to watch a 2-1 game. Hockey changed its rules to address low-scoring contests. Soccer has never caught on, and the lack of goal scoring has to be at least a small part of the equation. Although low-scoring baseball games move quickly, fans want action.

Baseball fans are the same people who keep getting these inane action movies keep getting greenlit?

We've heard Selig call out ARod and the others who tested positive as "shaming the game." I suppose that's true. We'd like to think that everything is above board with regard to our games and its players. We'd like to think that everything is above board with our politicians (uh, Blago) and our financial system (pick a bank, any bank or just take Madoff) and a host of other institutions (how about all of the "off the books" wages in restaurants, fields, construction, and so on?). Why would anybody believe that Bud Selig, Major League Baseball management and Donald Fehr and the players' union would walk away from the bicep-bloating, record-shattering performances that kept the turnstiles moving?

I've read indictment after indictment about everybody on the game's payroll. Selig, Fehr, GM's and players. I get it. But, if we're going to cast stones, we at least need to toss a ball off of the wall and let it hit us, too.

As consumers of the game, we collectively turned a blind eye to the monster numbers. We attributed the offensive explosion to myriad factors: smaller ballparks, a "live ball," better conditioning, diluted pitching, tighter strike zones and many other reasons. We kept the turnstiles moving, bought jerseys (and alternate jerseys and caps - the red Yankees hat in your closet), trading cards, attended autograph shows and watched the toteboards roll over.

I can speak first-hand of two events during that crazy summer of 1998 that speak directly to the frenzy. First, I attended the June game in which Sammy Sosa set a new single-month record for home runs. I was in Cooperstown over that Labor Day weekend and watched a live update of the giant scoreboard put up near the entrance to track the exploits of Sosa, McGwire and Griffey, Jr. I was in the right-center field bleachers at Fenway when a buzz poured through the crowd with news of McGwire's record blast. The man received a five-minute standing ovation, confusing the hell out of the players on the fied, even though his game was being played some 1,400 miles away!

The game needed heroes. We found them in the Midwest that summer. It didn't matter that they looked like "Super Heroes" without the tights. We turned a blind eye and celebrated a new era of the game we loved as kids. Bigger, stronger and faster players who accomplished amazing feats. Jose Canseco's 40/40 season was a thing of wonder. The home run totals for former slappy hitters made us shake our heads, but we chalked them up as anomalies.

Players have descended upon Arizona and Florida for the next round of spring training. Despite the misery generated by ARod's confession, Tejada's mess and the finger-pointing going back and forth, I'm excited. There are countless young players seeking to break through in 2009. We'll eagerly await the repeat effort of last year's darling Tampa Bay Rays.

We'll also be keeping our eyes open. I likened the steroid scandal to the housing mess and the litany of political and financial debacles that dominate the news. All have the same element in common. People at the top ignored cracks in the system, and we as consumers just went with the flow.

I just have one question. ARod was just one of over 100 names to come back positive on this report.

I turn back to the wrestling world and invoke the words of former NFL player, wrestler and "Bull Run" host, Bill Goldberg - "Who's next?"

As a kid, I didn't spend a whole lot of time worrying about my kicks. My focus was limited to strapping on the shoulder pads, trying to determine whether my mouthpiece would make it through the final game of the season and whether the opposing lineman was ever going to figure out that his toes gave away his first step. I went through decal sales to help buy equipment, pep rallies and was honored to wear the first air helmet. Of course, I was the first only because they needed to buy a larger size to accommodate my already-swollen dome.

Our team moniker was "Raiders" despite the fact that our jerseys were green and gold. We were told which color shoes to wear (the coaches' sons were granted immunity, of course) and so long as they fit, you were good to go. However, I remember distinctly the "P-O-N-Y" on the back of my cleats. Perhaps I wore the same model as this future NFL legend ...

  Needless to say, I was intrigued when I received a call inviting me down to San Diego to check out Pony headquarters and watch the design process in action. The email was simply titled "Back in the Game," which has now been used as the marketing tag and call to action. My curiosity was piqued. After all, who didn't have one or more of the classic Pony posters on the wall?

 The brand has a storied past Willie "Pops" Stargell, Reggie Jackson, "Chocolate Thunder" Darryl Dawkins, the original L.T., Lawrence Taylor, and Muhammad Ali all wore the classic logo in the 70s and 80s. Pony held an event earlier this year to celebrate the release of a limited edition shoe that was made to the exact specifications worn by dunk champion Spud Webb.

Pony was riding high. Top athletes and celebrities were wearing the shoes in the 80s, and sales were being rung up to the tune of $750 million per year. And then, the brand seemingly disappeared. The company was sold in the mid-90s, and the brand identity was changed. The product line changed to include more athletic apparel and the look and feel of the product changed drastically. Note the classic Chevron logo on the Webb graphic above. The shoes designed in a partnership with Snoop Dogg bear no resemblance or connection to the former designs.

I remember reading the newswire press release with the "Back in the Game" tagline, and I was most interested in seeing the process and product line. It didn't take me long to accept the invite and load the CD player for a road trip to San Diego. Just a stone's throw away from PETCO Park and the Tony Gwynn statue (OK, a stone's throw for that NFL legend pictured above), I walked up to a graffiti-laden rolling metal garage door. The art was fantastic, and you could see the name "MOSS" in the design. I'll elaborate on the Moss connection in a minute, as my invite referenced the budding relationship with NFL superstar Randy Moss.

Upon entering the offices, I was met with a tremendous image that screamed "genius at work." At least, I'm comparing the workspace to my own office, as there were shoeboxes strewn about and footwear seemingly stacked to the ceiling. There were shells of shoes, blueprints and a line of designers working to tweak designs and refine lines under the direction of Kyle Pulli, who once ran the basketball operations at Adidas. In early 2007, the company added Kevin Wulff, a former Nike executive, as CEO. Benjamin Woo, another former Nike executive, is the marketing director. Clearly, this trio knows the marketplace and the challenges and opportunities available to Pony.

One of the first questions I asked Mr. Woo concerned the decision to sign Randy Moss as the face of the rebirth of Pony. Clearly, the "Back in the Game" slogan applied perfectly to Moss's record-breaking performance with the Patriots in 2007. I asked him whether there had been any reservations about signing Moss given the past struggles in Oakland and some of the criticism in the press. He responded with tales of meetings with Moss, citing his character, straightforward approach and his dedication to youth football. The "MOSS" line of cleats offered by Pony includes a durable, affordable entry-level Molded Rubber Cleat.

During my discussion with Mr. Woo, he also showed me the cast from which Moss's game cleats were made. The imprint of Moss's foot got the "Jurassic Park"-like (cue music) scientist part of me wondering if I could begin the cloning process and create an unmatched receiving corps. I was also surrounded, so as to not be able to sprint out the door with this treasure.

Those thoughts vanished instantly as I was presented with a final Moss cleat for inspection. Pull and Woo then proceeded to tell me of the bonuses ingrained in each shoe of the new Moss, Perform, Play and Vintage lines that were being introduced. Moss's cleats and the shoes in that line hearken back to the Pro Bowl receiver's pastimes, such as fishing. All of Pony's shoes have distinct patterns and images included on the tongue that warrant a closer look, as they reveal the design features of a particular shoe.

These are called "elements" in the discussion of the product, but are commonly called "the shoe's DNA" by Pulli as we sit in a conference room surrounded by shoes. With each shoe he pulls from the rack, Pulli reads off the particular "elements" inherent to that model and describes the application (basketball, running, walking, cross-training). A leaf in this world indicates "light-weight construction" to reduce fatigue. The image of a three-cushion couch indicates that three different foam densities have been used in the shoe's construction to, well, cushion impact. There's even a tree to indicate the use of environmentally-friendly materials.  

Pulli then flips me a shoe that has seemingly no weight at all. I wrote of a light-weight shoe in the preceding paragraph. He proceeds to tell me that the shoe I was holding weighs a mere five ounces. As it was a prototype, I was encouraged to try the shoe on for a walk around the office. It was a stark contrast from the gym shoes I walked into the office wearing, a much lighter option. They certainly wouldn't be your choice for a game of hoops or other high-endurance event, but that's what the other lines are built to accomplish. I later weighed my shoes, which came in at 17 ounces. No wonder my calves are so swoll.

Pulli and his team spoke of the need to recall the positive brand associations of the past while utilizing innovative technologies and design (the "elements") to appeal to the entire spectrum of consumers, from those buying for fashion purposes to those seeking to dominate the asphalt. The team expects to compete on a large scale with their former employers in short order as consumers become more aware of the product lines and feature sets.

One person already putting the Pony design to work is Moss, who toed the corner of the end to pull down a touchdown pass with one second remaining against the Jets. You won't see the Pony logo on his shoes, as the league has but a few approved footwear suppliers. As such, players wearing products of non-approved entities must tape over conflicting logos. Rest assured that when you next watch Moss torch an opposing cornerback that the "elements" are in motion and that Pony is undeniably "Back in the Game."

I'll be watching the next stage of the Pony comeback eagerly, as Wulff and his team work to expand the product line, its brand awareness and immersion in the sports culture. It's a tough task against Phil Knight's juggernaut, to be sure, but everyone counted Moss out before Week 1 of the 2007 NFL season, too.

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By the way, the player pictured in the old-school photo is none other than Brett Favre.

You can find out more about the Moss line here .

 The games of Week 12 began with a wintry contest in Pittsburgh. Reality has set in for football fans, who are breaking out the parkas as they plan their tailgates. Those balmy 60-degree days are now a distant memory in many cities, and the impact on game-play will be immense.

We'll undoubtedly see wind and precipitation wreak havoc on one or more games this weekend, and fantasy owners need to start reconsidering their allegiance to certain members of their squads as the weather turns. Of course, we're also being careful to mind the schedules for these final weeks of the playoff push. After all, you just might be able to pull off a deadline deal to steal a playoff-week superstar and unload a player ready to run the gauntlet.

Keep your eye on the pages of FOXSports.com for more commentary on this late-season strategy point. For now, let's turn back to the field to update the injury notes as of early this Sunday morning.

We begin in Pittsburgh, where that 27-10 win over the Ocho Cinco-less Bengals did come at a price.

Willie Parker struggled early in Thursday's game against the Bengals, amassing just 37 yards on 14 carries. The argument of "well, he softened up the defense for Mewelde Moore's later success" doesn't hold much water in the fantasy realm. Parker left the game in the third quarter after aggravating his knee injury on the sloppy field. He'll be evaluated this weekend, per The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette .
Impact: The extra days of rest should help Parker get back on track for the Week 13 match-up against the Patriots. It goes without saying that Mewelde Moore (96 total yards in relief of Parker) should be owned and available to be dispatched if the team decides to give Parker another week to recover.

Santonio Holmes left Thursday's contest in the second half after sustaining a concussion. Holmes had been active in the passing game, amassing 84 receiving yards on five catches before departing.
Impact: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette says that coach Mike Tomlin expects Holmes to be "fine" (his words) and that he should be available for Week 13 against New England given the extra days between games. Holmes's involvement in the passing game against the Bengals was encouraging, bolstered by the return of Heath Miller as another viable threat for Ben Roethlisberger.

Brian Westbrook missed practice again on Friday and has been listed as "questionable" on the injury report for Sunday's game against the Ravens, per The Philadelphia Inquirer . Westbrook has been spotted limping around Philly's practice facility as he battles knee and ankle injuries. Andy Reid told reporters that he expects Westbrook to be available for duty.
Impact: We've seen Westbrook pull back his civilian clothes and human frailties to post Superman-like numbers in the past, and no one should be surprised to see him suit up for today's game. However, the 26th-ranked Philadelphia running attack isn't likely to gain much traction against the stout Baltimore run defense and favorite Haloti Ngata on the defensive line. Yes, the Giants ran wild last week, but this isn't Tom Coughlin's three-headed monster. Correll Buckhalter will likely see significant playing time even with Westbrook available. Fantasy owners should avoid this situation altogether.

The Washington Post advises that running back Clinton Portis has been limited in workouts this week, and Jim Zorn called his superstar runner a game-time decision. Ladell Betts has been available in practices this week, and the team is confident of his ability to shoulder the load against Seattle.
Impact: Portis will be worked out before this afternoon tilt, but fantasy owners would be wise to have another option at the ready. If you have a healthy play on your roster with a strong match-up in the early games, I'd opt for the other player. Portis is expected to be available, but his workload is not guaranteed. John Czarnecki of FOXSports.com tells us that Portis will start this game barring a late setback.

Steven Jackson and coach Jim Haslett are engaging in a war of words regarding the quadriceps injury sustained by Jackson, per The St. Louist Post-Dispatch . Jackson naturally refutes any talk by Haslett about his training camp holdout leading to the injury, citing the violent nature of games and the "freak" nature of such maladies. Regardless, Jackson has been declared "out" once again as he continues to gather information from experts regarding the injury and why his leg has been unresponsive to treatments.
Impact: Antonio Pittman, who rambled for 95 yards in place of Jackson last week, will get the start once again today against the confusing Chicago defense. He's a tough play, but should amass enough touches to warrant RB3 status, even with Kenneth Darby pilfering a portion of his workload.

Rookie tailback Felix Jones has been placed on injured reserve because of a toe injury sustained while rehabbing his hamstring injury, per The Dallas Morning News . Fantasy owners are somewhat mournful of the loss, but at least they won't have to wait for a game-day surprise each week and can explore other options.
Impact: Tashard Choice now serves as the No. 2 tailback going forward, but that doesn't mean much with ultra-back Marion Barber putting this team on his shoulders. Choice is worthy of a pickup as an insurance card, but owners needing a possible plug-in play for suspect match-up options or dinged-up tailback need look elsewhere.

According to the New York daily news, Giants running back Brandon Jacobs has been listed as probable for today's tilt against the Cardinals. Jacobs declared himself ready for action.
Impact: Fantasy owners need to have Derrick Ward or Ahmad Bradshaw at the ready with the slim possibility that Jacobs is unable to answer the bell. The fact that this is a late game complicates matters if you haven't insured the selection of Jacobs. Even if Jacobs is available this weekend against Arizona, I still anticipate that Ward plays a prominent role in this contest.

The paper also advises that coach Tom Coughlin talked to reporters after Friday's workout, stating that players need to be in the "right frame of mind" to get back on the field. Plaxico Burress spent all of Friday's session on a stationery bike, thereby making him a bystander for all of this week's practices.
Impact: Burress's issues with the coaching staff have been well-chronicled, and Coughlin's comments seemed to be pointed squarely at his veteran receiver. Burress told reporters that the hamstring injury prevented him from participating in workouts. However, the team will make a game-time decision on his availability. This smacks directly of the 2007 season, when Burress rarely found his way to the practice field but always appeared set to dominate the red zone. The numbers haven't been dominant in 2008, but he still sees enough looks to warrant a WR3 play if cleared. Domenik Hixon would be an interesting plug-in option if Burress is deactivated.

The Times-Picayune reports that running back Reggie Bush missed Friday's practice in its entirely as going through a limited workout on Thursday. Bush will be a game-time decision against the Packers. The fact that this is a Monday night game certainly helps.
Impact: Fantasy owners holding one of the backups in New Orleans have the luxury of waiting until Monday for Bush's status. If Bush is cleared, then he warrants a RB2 slot because of his receiving prowess. However, he's still going to cede a sizable number of touches to Deuce McAllister (probable after having his knee drained earlier this week) and Pierre Thomas. I believe that Thomas ultimately logs a heavy workload in this contest, whether Bush is available or not. He's a Flex start against the Green Bay run defense regardless of Bush's status.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution says that wide receiver Roddy White has been tabbed "questionable" for today against the fifth-ranked Carolina pass defense because of a lingering back injury. However, White returned for Friday's practice, and will play in this game barring a huge setback.
Impact: White has caught five or more passes in eight consecutive games. Although this is certainly a stiff test (White had four catches for 59 yards in the first meeting), we're also watching a much different Atlanta offense than we saw in Week 2. Taken further, the Falcons are much different team at home, and Matt Ryan has grown immensely. He's worthy of a WR2 or WR3 slot, but owners should temper expectations.

Brady Quinn fractured his index finger during Monday's thrilling win over Buffalo and has been cleared by the medical staff to play against Houston, per The Cleveland Plain Dealer .
Impact: Despite the injury, Quinn is a solid sleeper play this weekend against the Texans, a defense that has been susceptible to the big play and has experienced difficulty sustaining a pass rush. Obviously, Quinn's value is tied directly to the availability of Kellen Winslow, who sustained a shoulder injury in the win over Buffalo when he was tossed to the turf. Winslow has been out of practice this week, but has not yet been ruled out of the game.

The Indianapolis Star advises that reigning Defensive Player of the Year Bob Sanders has been downgraded to "out" against the Chargers in tonight's huge match-up. Cornerback Kelvin Hayden is expected to play.
Impact: The absence of Sanders is welcome news to owners of LaDainian Tomlinson as he works to dominate the putrid Indianapolis run defense. The Chargers haven't been running the ball nearly as effectively as they have in the past, but this is the Colts. This also opens up the passing game for Philip Rivers downfield.  

Lock it down to FOXSports.com for all of the latest player and team news as the countdown to kickoff approaches. John Halpin, John Juhasz and Roger Rotter will dispense lineup advice, and you can find me on the airwaves of http://msn.foxsports.com/radio>> FOX Sports Radio from 7am-9am PT (10am ET-12pm ET).