Spring training is about rookies fighting for jobs and rehabbing veterans fighting for their baseball lives. It's also about key battles for starting positions. We've isolated 11 key battles to watch this spring. Click on the team logos to the left to see the players who are battling for that position and ESPN.com's analysis. And then check back on a regular basis to see who has the edge.

CHICAGO CUBS: CENTER FIELD

COREY PATTERSON HT: 5-10 WT: 180 lbs Age: 21 Bats: L MOMENTUM:  Patterson is a five-tool talent with a huge upside. But is he ready to skip Triple-A and produce in the majors? Could be a year away. 2000 AA Stats AVG HR RBI OPS .261 22 82 .829

DAMON BUFORD HT: 5-10 WT: 180 lbs Age: 30 Bats: R MOMENTUM:  We're still searching for something that Buford does well. The Cubs aren't going to win, so why not go with Patterson? 2000 Stats AVG HR RBI OPS .251 15 48 .714

NEW YORK YANKESS: LEFT FIELD

SHANE SPENCER HT: 5-11 WT: 225 lbs Age: 29 Bats: R MOMENTUM:  Spencer is still unable to play. Alfonso Soriano, off to a 12-for-21 start, is getting time in LF. He could win the job. 2000 Stats AVG HR RBI OPS .282 9 40 .790

GLENALLEN HILL HT: 6-3 WT: 230 lbs Age: 36 Bats: R MOMENTUM:  Hill mashed the ball after joining the Yankees (.735 slugging), but will he earn regular playing time in LF or DH? 2000 Stats AVG HR RBI OPS .293 27 58 .936

NEW YORK METS: RIGHT FIELD

TIMO PEREZ HT: 5-9 WT: 167 lbs Age: 24 Bats: L MOMENTUM:  For all the postseason hype, Perez only hit .250 in the postseason and hacks at everything. Still, the job is his to lose. 2000 AAA Stats AVG HR RBI OPS .357 6 37 .904

DARRYL HAMILTON HT: 6-1 WT: 192 lbs Age: 36 Bats: L MOMENTUM:  Hamilton was sidelined most of last year with a toe injury. He wants a trade if he won't start. His wish may be granted. 2000 Stats AVG HR RBI OPS .276 1 6 .720

HOUSTON ASTROS: SHORTSTOP

JULIO LUGO HT: 5-10 WT: 165 lbs Age: 25 Bats: R MOMENTUM:  Lugo played well as a rookie, but the Astros don't seem sold on him. But he's a far better hitter than Jose Vizcaino or Adam Everett. 2000 Stats AVG HR RBI OPS .283 10 40 .777

JOSE VIZCAINO HT: 6-1 WT: 180 lbs Age: 33 Bats: B MOMENTUM:  Vizcaino hasn't been a regular since 1997, but now that he's won a World Series ring, he's a Proven Winner, unlike Lugo. 2000 Stats AVG HR RBI OPS .251 0 14 .611

ATLANTA BRAVES: FIRST BASE

RICO BROGNA HT: 6-2 WT: 203 lbs Age: 30 Bats: L MOMENTUM:  Early word is that Brogna will platoon with right-handed-hitting rookie Wes Helms. Brogna was mentioned in one Sheffield rumor. 2000 Stats AVG HR RBI OPS .232 2 21 .635

GEORGE LOMBARD HT: 6-0 WT: 212 lbs Age: 25 Bats: L MOMENTUM:  Lombard's foot problems could lead to season-ending surgery, meaning B.J. Surhoff will remain in left field and Brogna at first. 2000 AAA Stats AVG HR RBI OPS .276 10 48 .804

PITTSBURGH PIRATES: SECOND BASE

WARREN MORRIS HT: 5-11 WT: 179 lbs Age: 27 Bats: L MOMENTUM:  Morris had a terrible sophomore year, dropping from 15 HRs to 3. Morris, Meares and Enrique Wilson will battle for SS/2B. 2000 Stats AVG HR RBI OPS .259 3 43 .684

PAT MEARES HT: 6-0 WT: 187 lbs Age: 32 Bats: R MOMENTUM:  Meares has looked comfortable at defense in the early going and swatted a home run in his first start at 2B. 2000 Stats AVG HR RBI OPS .240 13 47 .686

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS: THIRD BASE

RUSS DAVIS HT: 6-0 WT: 195 lbs Age: 31 Bats: L MOMENTUM:  You can say this about Davis: he's consistent. Of course, that's consistently mediocre at the plate and bad in the field. 2000 Stats AVG HR RBI OPS .261 9 24 .741

PEDRO FELIZ HT: 6-1 WT: 180 lbs Age: 23 Bats: R MOMENTUM:  Feliz hadn't hit much before swatting 33 HRs in Triple-A. He needs to improve his plate discipline, but he starts out ahead of Davis. 2000 AAA Stats AVG HR RBI OPS .298 33 105 .908

SAN DIEGO PADRES: CATCHER

BEN DAVIS HT: 6-4 WT: 215 lbs Age: 24 Bats: B MOMENTUM:  The Padres are now indicating the Davis is their man. It's time for the former No. 1 pick to prove he can hit at the big-league level. 2000 Stats AVG HR RBI OPS .223 3 14 .635

WIKI GONZALEZ HT: 5-11 WT: 203 lbs Age: 26 Bats: R MOMENTUM:  Gonzalez is a solid defensive catcher who struggled in his first full season. Hee may be stuck as Woody Williams' personal caddy. 2000 Stats AVG HR RBI OPS .232 5 30 .656

BOSTON RED SOX: PITCHER

DAVID CONE HT: 6-1 WT: 200 lbs Age: 38 Throws: R MOMENTUM:  Cone altered his delivery in his second spring start, coming more over the top and looked impressive. We'll see. 2000 Stats W-L IP SO ERA 4-14 155 120 6.91

TOMO OHKA HT: 6-1 WT: 179 lbs Age: 25 Throws: R MOMENTUM:  Ohka pitched very well in his 12 starts last year, but some question his stamina and stuff. Still, a 3.12 ERA speaks for itself. 2000 Stats W-L IP SO ERA 3-6 69 40 3.12

CLEVELAND INDIANS: DESIGNATED HITTER

RUSS BRANYAN HT: 6-3 WT: 195 lbs Age: 25 Bats: L MOMENTUM:  Branyan is the ultimate all-or-nothing slugger. Given 500 at-bats, he'll fan 200+ times, but could hit 40 home runs. 2000 Stats AVG HR RBI OPS .238 16 38 .871

WIL CORDERO HT: 6-2 WT: 200 lbs Age: 29 Bats: R MOMENTUM:  Cordero drove in 68 runs last year, the second-highest of his career. He really shouldn't be an everyday player. 2000 Stats AVG HR RBI OPS .276 16 68 ..792

TEXAS RANGERS: CLOSER

TIM CRABTREE HT: 6-4 WT: 220 lbs Age: 31 Throws: R MOMENTUM:  Crabtree goes in as the closer, but he is 5-for-25 in save opportunities in his career. In other words ... 2000 Stats W-L IP SO ERA 2-7 80 54 5.15

JEFF BRANTLEY HT: 5-10 WT: 197 lbs Age: 37 Throws: R MOMENTUM:  Rumors continue that the Rangers will pursue Montreal's Ugueth Urbina, who has thrown well as he returns from elbow surgery. 2000 Stats W-L IP SO ERA 2-7 55 57 5.86