Infield Chatter is a weekly in-depth look at trends and rumors that will affect your Fantasy Baseball strategy.

Early in the season, some players who became quick disappointments were discarded by Fantasy owners. A few of them have recently started to regain respect and are showing signs of improving. With many key players falling victim to injuries and depth always a concern, here are some players who can fill holes for you after putting some poor play behind them:

Jason Phillips, N.Y. Mets: Because he qualifies at catcher in most leagues, Phillips' sudden, yet brief, resurgence has made him an immediate pickup in many leagues. He is demonstrating better pitch recognition and bat speed during his past few games.

B.J. Surhoff, Baltimore: Surhoff hit only .231 in April with three RBI. But he has come alive as of late, as he has 14 hits in his past six games. Surhoff also has eight runs scored during that span.

Jay Payton, San Diego: Skepticism reigned among Payton's owners in April as he immediately failed to allay concerns that he wasn't a product of Coors Field during the last season-and-a-half. Payton has turned it around recently, though, and he has hit .354 with 13 RBI during the month of May.

Reed Johnson, Toronto: He hit .247 in April and went hitless in his first four games in May as many owners figured he was just a late-season fluke last year. Johnson, however, has 13 hits in his past seven games and recently enjoyed a 10-game hitting streak.

Jerry Hairston Jr., Baltimore: A broken finger shelved him early, and Hairston only had a pair of steals entering play on May 29. In his last three games, though, Hairston has quickly shed some rustiness. He has eight hits, six RBI and three steals in his past three games and it looks like it is finally a good idea to activate him again.

John Olerud, Seattle: The veteran batsman hit just .229 in April, and now speculation has increased that Olerud might be dealt away as the disappointing Mariners undergo an overhaul. He hit safely in 19 games during May and could be valuable performer again if he is traded into the right situation.

Randy Winn, Seattle: His average stands at just .242 after a terrible start this year. Yet Winn is starting to hit more consistently as of late, and there's always the potential for more steals and runs scored if he keeps getting on base. Like Olerud, he could be traded into a better situation.

Carlos Pena, Detroit: He has always frustrated Fantasy owners with his inconsistency. Yet a recent six-hit, five-RBI outing suggests Pena could be on the verge of another hot streak. He has driven in eight runs in his past four games, and could be good for a short statistical ride in AL-only leagues.

Tony Batista, Montreal: While his RBI chances are going to be limited on the Expos, Batista has been working hard on refining his approach at the plate lately. Eight hits, including a pair of homers, in his past seven games, suggests Batista can still be a very serviceable corner infielder.

Edgardo Alfonzo, San Francisco: Alfonzo's days of driving the ball for consistent run production are certainly gone. Yet he still has a good batting eye, as his eight hits and four RBI in the past week. Alfonzo is always good to have around in case of injuries or other emergencies.

Scott Engel is the 2003 champion of the Krause Publications Experts League.