Infield Chatter is a weekly look at the trends, rumors and news that will affect your Fantasy draft strategy.

Last season, Marlon Anderson and Bo Hart became unexpected and inexpensive quality middle infielders in Fantasy leagues. This year, only one of them is going to be useful to many owners.

Anderson, trying to build on some moderate success with Tampa Bay last season, and Hart, trying to prove he can be an effective full-timer, are battling for the second base job in St. Louis. Brent Butler has an outside shot at gaining some playing time if both falter during the spring.

Hart is known for his defense, and impressed the Cardinals with his aggressive approach to hitting last season. But he must be more patient at the plate, and he struggled to get on base many times late in 2003. If not, he might be returned to a utility role. Hart was hitting over .360 entering the All-Star break last year, but he didn't contribute much in the other categories after beginning to play regularly in June.

Anderson has more experience and finally started to play at a respectable level last season. He improved as a selective hitter last year, and became more proficient as a base-stealer. He could become the leadoff hitter St. Louis currently lacks.

Anderson, who beat out Brent Abernathy last spring in Tampa Bay, could also play some outfield in an effort to keep him in the lineup often. Hart stole only three bases in nearly 300 at-bats last season, so Fantasy owners should hope for Anderson to prevail, because he'll give them speed in addition to a decent batting average.

Neither player projects to be anything more than a good middle-infield option in mixed leagues or an adequate fill-in on NL-only rosters. The Cardinals could also pull their leadoff hitter from an uncertain pool of left-field candidates.

Kerry Robinson and So Taguchi are considered the frontrunners of a crowded field that also includes Ray Lankford and Greg Vaughn. Robinson has yet to prove he can hit consistently, and Taguchi is noted more for his defense. Robinson could be the answer at leadoff if he can win the job outright. Shortstop Edgar Renteria would seem to be the best option to hit first right now, but he prefers to hit lower in the batting order and is currently penciled in as the team's No. 6 hitter. There is also a possibility he could hit second.

Miles not far away?

Colorado also has a battle for their second base job, between speedy but always mediocre veteran Damian Jackson and prospect Aaron Miles. Whoever wins the job will get a lot of attention from Fantasy leaguers simply because they play their home games at Coors Field.

Miles is certainly the more appealing Fantasy option of the two. He has great promise as a contact hitter, and he is aggressive and confident as a base-stealer. Even if he doesn't sew up the job in the spring, it could be just a matter of time before he wrests the position away from Jackson.

Switching Sox?

In Boston's exhibition opener on Thursday, Manny Ramirez hit third and Nomar Garciaparra fourth, a switch for both from their customary spots. Manager Terry Francona is experimenting with using the hitters in those slots for the regular season.

"Nomar hits a lot of doubles," manager Terry Francona told the Providence Journal. "The more we can let Manny hit with runners on base, the better off we'll be."

If the move becomes a permanent switch, it could slightly affect Garciaparra's RBI production. He'll have fewer opportunities to drive in runners from the top of the order. Ramirez, a classic power hitter, could see his RBI totals climb back near 120 as he drives in hitters from the top of the lineup a bit more often.

Sliders

  • Jay Gibbons is moving to No. 6 in the revamped Baltimore batting order, and could produce much better numbers in a less prominent spot. "Six this year is a lot better than five last year," Gibbons told the Baltimore Sun.
  • Raul Mondesi started in left field in Thursday's exhibition game, the first time he had played the position in 11 years. He might play there early in the year as Jason Bay continues to recover from shoulder surgery, and he could also see some playing time in center this season.
  • Pedro Astacio and Orlando Hernandez, both recovering from shoulder problems, remain unsigned and neither pitcher might contribute much in Fantasy leagues this season. Astacio might not be ready to pitch in the majors until May, although he has drawn some interest from Arizona recently. Hernandez has reportedly topped out 80 mph in recent workouts, and the Yankees have not reported any recent progress in possibly pursuing him.