OK, now the important question: Are you going to hit the wall in mid-August and wilt on me, just when my fantasy team needs you most? Huh?

If fantasy baseball managers had our way, we'd get to corner the Joe Mauers and Jason Bays of the world during spring training and find out whether they were going to be the rookies everybody wished they'd drafted in March.

And with the 2004 season coming faster than a pizza deliveryman to Karim Garcia's place, it's time to start talking fantasy baseball. This column will be coming to you every week, hitting on fantasy trends, player advice and more while answering your questions.

I want your queries, critiques, rants and whatever else you can muster, so e-mail me at: johnmnemo@yahoo.com during the season.

This week, we'll take a quick swipe at some of the rookie class of 2004.

Joe Mauer, C, Twins: The Twins sent All-Star catcher A.J. Pierzynski packing this winter to make room behind the plate for Mauer, the 20-year-old from St. Paul, Minn. Mauer is a fine hitter (.338 with 172 hits at two minor-league stops in 2003) but hasn't shown much power yet. Handling an entire pitching staff, dealing with the scrutiny of being a No. 1 overall pick (the Twins took him ahead of some guy named Mark Prior) and having no major-league at-bats would seem to indicate Mauer will be in for some serious growing pains. Still, he's all but assured of being the starting catcher on a team that has plenty of talent, so he's worth a spot on your roster in the later rounds.

Jason Bay, OF, Pirates: He played for the first time this week since undergoing offseason shoulder surgery, and he's expected to approach 20 home runs and 20 steals while contending for NL Rookie of the Year honors. He has a starting gig locked up, and he flashed his potential last season, lighting up the Cubs with a three-hit, two-home run, eight-RBI game in September. Especially in NL-only leagues, he makes for a decent backup.

Bobby Crosby, SS, Athletics: The 24-year-old handpicked to replace Miguel Tejada is doing just fine so far, batting .467 this spring and blasting a pair of homers earlier this week off Adam Eaton. OK, OK, it's only March, but you can't help but get excited about a guy who should win AL Rookie of the Year honors.

Kazuo Matsui, SS, Mets: The Japanese import projects to hit around .300 with 20 home runs and 20 or more steals in 2004. Obviously, there's some hesitation from fantasy owners, given nobody's seen him do anything in the major leagues that resembles what he did in Japan, but didn't people say the same thing about Ichiro?

Edwin Jackson, P, Dodgers: He's among the worst-kept secrets as a late-round sleeper pick, thanks to a strong showing in three starts (2-1, 2.45 ERA) with the Dodgers late last season. But he walked eight batters in his final start, so don't go jumping the gun and grabbing him too early. As with every rookie, you never know until you see him on the field.

Jesse Crain, P, Twins: Speaking of not knowing, most observers aren't figuring on Crain being a big factor in 2004, but a strong spring so far has the kid competing with veterans Joe Nathan and J.C. Romero for Minnesota's closer job. Crain, who has a fastball in the mid- to upper-90s and a wicked curve, made the jump last season from Single-A Fort Myers to Triple-A Rochester.

This season, he could find himself with the big club once camp breaks, though a more likely scenario would be a midseason call-up and a legitimate shot at the closer job in 2005. Then again, if he continues dazzling this spring, Crain might just merit a throwaway pick late in your draft.

Hot box

Pick him up: J.D. Drew, OF, Braves: Same old story (can he stay healthy?), but whoa, what a start this spring. The former Cardinal had six hits - including four homers - and 10 RBI in his first 10 at-bats of the spring.

Sit him down: Rick Reed, SP, Pirates: Even if he makes the squad as a fourth or fifth starter, this guy shouldn't be touched in fantasy drafts, unless you enjoy surly veterans who give up home runs like they're going out of style.

Keep an eye on him: Khalil Green, SS, San Diego Padres. The rookie shortstop has his hands full in battling Rey Ordonez for the starting gig, but his surprising power could put him over the top and in a San Diego lineup that can score some runs. He's worth a look.

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John Nemo, who writes a weekly Fantasy Baseball column for the Enquirer, can be reached at johnmnemo@yahoo.com

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