Reviewing rules on position eligibility

One of the bigger issues that owners have to deal with in the FBLG is position eligibility.

Unlike other fantasy baseball leagues, in the FBLG position eligibility is based on the current season.

In other words, players are eligible to play positions that they have played in 2011.

Week 1 of the FBLG season is March 31-April 3.

To set your Week 1 roster, you can use a player at any position that player has played during spring training.

For example, if I wanted to start Juan Uribe at second base in Week 1, I could.

However, for setting my Week 2 roster on Monday, April 4, Uribe would only be eligible at positions he played during Week 1 of the season.

Here's the rule on position eligibility:

A player is eligible to be played at any position that he has played at least five games at during the current season.

However, if a player has not played at least five games at any one position, he's eligible to be played at any position at which he's played at least one game at.

So if in Week 1, Uribe plays three games at 3B and one at 2B, I could play Uribe at 2B or 3B in Week 2.

But if by the start of Week 3, Uribe has played seven games at 3B and two games at 2B, Uribe would only be eligible at 3B for Week 3. He would need to play three more games at 2B to gain full-season eligibility there.

So keep this rule in mind while making your final roster decisions and before setting your Week 1 roster.

Injuries you need to be concerned about

Ian Stewart, 3B, Rockies: Strained MCL, bone bruise; expected to open season on DL; expected ready by mid-April; Ty Wigginton will fill in at third base

Aaron Cook, SP, Rockies: Broke his finger after shutting it in a door; he'll be out a month, then must start over to get ready; a late April return might be pushing it; Esmil Rogers is leading candidate to fill spot in rotation.

Mike Stanton, OF, Marlins: Strained a quad early in spring training; taking BP now; hoping to return to play final 7-10 spring training games to be ready for opener.

Jason Castro, C, Astros: Underwent surgery for torn ACL; likely done for season.

Jeff Keppinger, 2B, Astros: Offseason foot surgery; out of protective boot, but still not expected back until some time in May.

Jon Garland, SP, Dodgers: Suffered strained oblique; expected to miss 4-6 weeks; aiming for mid-to-late April return.

Zack Greinke, SP, Brewers: Expected out 4-6 weeks after suffering fracture ribs, which could cost him 3 starts in April.

Corey Hart, OF, Brewers: Recovering from  strained oblique; isn't expected to keep him out for opening day, but it's worth watching.

Jonathan Lucroy, C, Brewers: Will have pins removed from surgically-repaired finger on March 21; still hopeful to be ready for opener, but be wary.

Carlos Beltran, OF, Mets: On track to start season despite sore knee; worth keeping an eye on.

Johan Santana, SP, Mets: Recovering from shoulder surgery; aiming for late June or early July return.

Domonic Brown, OF, Phillies:  Expected back in mid-to-late April after suffering a broken hand.

Chase Utley, 2B, Phillies:  Continues to make progress from sore knee, but opening stint on DL appears likely.

Kyle Blanks, 1B-OF, Padres: Recovering from Tommy John surgery; won't begin playing in games in minors until late May at earliest; return to majors will be some time after that.

Adam Wainwright, SP, Cardinals: Had Tommy John surgery on elbow; done for 2011.

David Freese, 3B, Cardinals: Working his way back from ankle surgery; playing in games now; worth watching.

Stephen Strasburg, SP, Nationals: Recovering from elbow surgery; Chance he could return some time in 2011, but Nationals likely will take conservative approach.

2011 Relievers

1. Heath Bell (SD) 309
2. Carlos Marmol (Chi) 309
3. Brian Wilson (SF) 303
4. Francisco Cordero (Cin) 236
5. John Axford (Mil) 224
6. Leo Nunez (Fla) 212
7. Francisco Rodriguez (NY) 199
8. Jonathan Broxton (LA) 188
9. Ryan Franklin (StL) 187
10. Hong-Chih Kuo (LA) 170

2011 Starting Pitchers

1. Roy Halladay (Phi) 501
2. Adam Wainwright (StL) 477
3. Ubaldo Jimenez (Col) 453
4. Tim Lincecum (SF) 426
5. Chris Carpenter (StL) 398
6. Yovani Gallardo (Mil) 396
7. Cole Hamels (Phi) 394
8. Clayton Kershawn (LA) 393
9. Brett Myers (Hou) 388
10. Jonathan Sanchez (SF) 385
11. Ryan Dempster (Chi) 384
12. Tim Hudson (Atl) 381
13. Roy Oswalt (Phi) 377
14. Josh Johnson (Fla) 369
15. Mat Latos (SD) 369
16. Matt Cain (SF) 366
17. Cliff Lee (Phi) 355
18. Wandy Rodriguez (Hou) 336
19. Clayton Richard (SD) 335
20. Tommy Hanson (Atl) 331
21. Chad Billingsley (LA) 328
22. Randy Wolf (Mil) 327
23. Shawn Marcum (Mil) 326
24. Johan Santana (NY) 323
24. Bronson Arroyo (Cin) 323
26. Ian Kennedy (Arz) 316
27. Anibal Sanchez (Fla) 314
27. Jon Garland (LA) 314
29. Matt Garza (Chi) 311
30. Derek Lowe (Atl) 309
31. Jaime Garcia (StL) 308
32. Zack Greinke (Mil) 307
33. Hiroki Kuroda (LA) 301
34. Ted Lilly (LA) 300
35. Johnny Cueto (Cin) 298
36. Mike Pelfrey (NY) 294
37. Ricky Nolasco (Fla) 286
38. R.A. Dickey (NY) 278
39. Jon Niese (NY) 275
40. Livan Hernandez (Was) 270

2011 Outfielders

1. Carlos Gonzalez (Col) 527
2. Ryan Braun (Mil) 469
3. Matt Holliday (StL) 457
4. Jayson Werth (Was) 434
5. Corey Hart (Mil) 421
6. Hunter Pence (Hou) 414
7. Chris Young (Arz) 402
8. Shane Victorino (Phi) 393
9. Martin Prado (Atl) 391
9. Angel Pagan (NY) 391
11. Andrew McCutchen (Pit) 387
12. Matt Kemp (LA) 380
13. Andres Torres (SF) 376
14. Marlon Byrd (Chi) 373
15. Raul Ibanez (Phi) 372
16. Drew Stubbs (Cin) 366
17. Andre Ethier (LA) 361
18. Jason Heyward (Atl) 349
19. Jay Bruce (Cin) 346
19. Carlos Lee (Hou) 346
21. Jonny Gomes (Cin) 341
22. Michael Bourn (Hou) 337
23. Alfonso Soriano (Chi) 334
24. Garrett Jones (Pit) 333
25. Colby Rasmus (Stl) 330
26. Justin Upton (Arz) 329
27. Cody Ross (SF) 324
28. Ryan Ludwick (SD) 295
29. Dexter Fowler (Col) 280
30. Jose Tabata (Pit) 260

Notes: Normally a deep position, this year's list tails off dramatically down towards the bottom. ... Rockies' CarGo tops the list. Two things to note about this: 1) the wide gap between No. 1 and No. 2; 2) CarGo did this in 145 games. His 3.63 PPG was huge in 2010. ... Lots of younger players you might expect bounce-back year or big step forward: Ethier, Heyward, Bruce, Upton. ... And there are players not on this list who are worth considering: Mike Stanton, Jason Bay, Carlos Beltran, Logan Morrison, Nate McLouth

2011 Catchers

1. Brian McCann (Atl) 290
2. Buster Posey (SF) 278
3. John Buck (Fla) 269
4. Yadier Molina (StL) 237
5. Carlos Ruiz (Phi) 233
6. Geovany Soto (Chi) 217
7. Ryan Doumit (Pit) 207
8. Ivan Rodriguez (Was) 202
9. Ramon Hernandez (Cin) 190
10. Miguel Montero (Arz) 186
10. Rod Barajas (LA) 186

Note: The question at catcher, as it is most seasons, is when do you draft your catcher? Do make a reach, move early and get the cream of the catching crop, even if it's for a player who MIGHT score 300 in a season. Or do you just wait until Round 10, 11 or 12 and see what's left. One player not to overlook is Montero, who is a top 4 catcher who missed significant time last season with a knee injury. Also there are some younger catchers who are ready to become the No. 1 catcher on their team.

2011 Third basemen

1. David Wright (NY) 395
2. Casey McGehee (Mil) 377
3. Ryan Zimmerman (Was) 357
4. Chase Headley (SD) 328
5. Scott Rolen (Cin) 326
6. Placido Polanco (Phi) 325
7. Pablo Sandoval (SF) 303
8. Ty Wigginton (Col) 293
9. Aramis Ramirez (Chi) 272
10. Casey Blake (LA) 259

Notes: Wright and Zimmerman are the class of this position, with McGehee maybe a notch below because he doesn't have the same track record. After that, it drops off into a mass of uncertainty. Can Headley produce any more than he did in 2010? Are Rolen and A-Ramirez simply too injury-prone? Will Sandoval bounce back anywhere near 2009 form? What will be Wigginton's role on the Rockies? Is Chipper Jones even worth drafting? But there are some younger players who didn't break the top 10 who are worth considering (Chris Johnson of the Astros and Pedro Alvarez of the Pirates).

2011 Shortstops

1. Troy Tulowitzki (Col)  386
2. Hanley Ramirez (Fla) 374
3. Stephen Drew (Arz) 358
4. Jose Reyes (NY) 346
5. Alex Gonzalez (Atl) 343
6. Miguel Tejada (SF) 320
7. Yuniesky Betancourt (Mil) 294
8. Ryan Theriot (StL) 277
9. Jason Bartlett (SD) 257
10. Ian Desmond (Was) 254

Note: At first glance, it looks like this is a thin position. But when you consider that injuries limited three of the top four scorers to 142 games or fewer last season, the top scorers have more scoring potential. And there are three players who didn't make the top 10 because injuries limited their time on the field (LA's Rafael Furcal and Phi's Jimmy Rollins) or was a midseason callup (Cubs' Starlin Castro). Given those facts, there are a few 400-point potential players at shortstop and 10 solid 300-point potential players. But there are also players with inherent risks.

2011 Second Basemen

1. Rickie Weeks (Mil) 416
2. Dan Uggla (Atl) 405
3. Kelly Johnson (Arz) 392
4. Brandon Phillips (Cin) 390
5. Juan Uribe (LA) 311
6. Jeff Keppinger (Hou) 302
7. Chase Utley (Phi) 286
8. Neil Walker (Pit) 281
9. Orlando Hudson (SD) 281
10. Omar Infante (Fla) 279

Note: At first glance, this position looks very bleak. Topping the list is Weeks, who finally showed what he could do if he could stay healthy for a full season. Uggla, Johnson and Phillips are solid picks, but then the numbers drop off. Yet, several players had their 2010 numbers held down by injury. Pro-rated over a full season, Utley and Walker would have easily had finished with numbers of that of the top 4. Hudson and Infante would have been just a notch behind. Keppinger could find himself in a platoon with Bill Hall. Freddy Sanchez is also a top-10 2B if his numbers are pro-rated. Jose Lopez and Skip Schumaker are also worth considering.

2011 First Baseman

1. Albert Pujols (StL) 501
2. Joey Votto (Cin) 474
3. Aubrey Huff (SF) 423
4. Ryan Howard (Phi) 383
5. Prince Fielder (Mil) 378
6. Adam LaRoche (Was) 364
6. James Loney (LA) 364
8. Gaby Sanchez (Fla) 358
9. Lyle Overbay (Pit) 322
10. Ike Davis (NY) 319

Notes: First base used to be a very deep position, almost ensuring each FBLG owner of a quality player. But the trade of Adrian Gonzalez to the Red Sox and Adam Dunn's signing with the White Sox has thinned out the position. Pujols and Votto remain first-round players, with Howard and Fielder solid 2nd-rounders. Huff's lack of a track record may allow him to be a later-round bonus. Then comes a series of solid but unspectacular veterans (LaRoche and Loney), veterans looking for rebound (Carlos Pena, Todd Helton), or young players looking for a breakout (Sanchez, Davis). If Brett Wallace fails to win the job in Houston, Carlos Lee may be moved to 1B. Braves rookie Freddie Freeman is an intriguing option. Padres and Dbacks are looking at platoon situations.