One of the most important things to watch in Spring Training every year are position battles.  Watching the box scores daily and even monitoring statistically insignificant cumulative stats can help you pick a winner that will get the lion's share of at bats during the season.  Even though it doesn't normally impact fantasy baseball values, be sure to watch how players perform in the field.  In 'reality' baseball fielding matters and a good glove can earn more plate appearances.  

It's still early in the fantasy baseball season but here are 10 interesting position battles to watch as Spring Training gets underway.

Madison Bumgarner is one of the best pitching prospects in all of baseball and has the inside track at the fifth spot in the Giants rotation. 

Mike Jacobs and Daniel Murphy are set to lock horns to determine who will fill Carlos Delgado's shoes at 1B for the Amazing Mets. 

Brandon Lyon has a shot to unseat Astros' projected closer Matt Lindstrom. 

Jason Frasor finished 2009 as the Blue Jays closer but Kevin Gregg could make things interesting in Spring Training. 

"The House That Joba Built" will see Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain battle for the fifth spot in the Yankees' rotation while the other could become the heir apparent to first ballot Hall of Famer Mariano Rivera. 

Carlos Gonzalez has been anointed the starting left fielder for the Rockies but with only one proven big league season and a slew of other outfielder's in the mix he could be challenged. 

In deeper leagues watch closely to see if Scott Hairston can earn an every day job as one of the Padres' starting OFs. 

Willy Taveras has 60+ SB potential but after a disaster last year with the Reds finds himself down the depth chart, but still in the mix in the Nationals' outfield.  

Buster Posey was set to be the next stud catcher until the Giants resigned the aging Bengie Molina. 

The Marlins have Gaby Sanchez penciled in at 1B, if he falters Jorge Cantu could see more playing time at first, and Logan Morrison will be stalking them both. 

In the next installment of Fantasy Baseball for Beginners we will examine key injuries to follow throughout Spring Training.     

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