WITH OPENING DAY JUST over a week away, big-league rosters are finally starting to take shape. That means it's time to prove you have what it takes to compile the best team possible — even if you have to cheer for Alex Rodriguez, at left. Sadly, not every pick is going to be a home run (not everyone is A-Rod, after all), but Express picked the brain of "Baseball Prospectus" editor Christina Kahrl to come up with this list of strategies. What are you waiting for? Draft day is here.

Cardinal Rule So, you have the first pick in the draft. Every big-leaguer is at your fingertips. Where to start? The Yankees' Rodriguez had 35 homers and 121 RBI in a down year. But there is Minnesota fireballer Johan Santana, the American League's Cy Young winner two of the past three years.

Mark Wangrin: Fantasy sports may be traced back to track meet

When it won't stop raining at a track meet, the conversation in the press box meanders more than your average dizzy bat contestant on nickel beer night.

Somehow, this weekend at the Texas Relays, between squeegee swipes of the foggy windows, the topic turned to Cordner Nelson.

Should Los Angeles land the 2016 games, his goal is to become the first person to celebrate three birthdays (Aug.

Fantasy frenzy: Don't jump ship

In perusing recent transactions in the three fantasy baseball leagues in which I own a team, I was a little alarmed at some of the quality players being released.

Remember, 10 days mean nothing in the big picture. Stick to your guns. At least for a month.

This goes for guys on the disabled list, as well. Don't mortgage your future for success now. It's a long season and you need to hold onto fantasy producers.

Here are 10 players on the DL or playing sluggishly that you should hold onto. The stats are through Wednesday night.

1. Nomar Garciaparra, 1B, Dodgers. Yes, he has no homers and only four RBIs. And he is hitting .200. But, the Dodgers are by far the best team in that division and he'll see plenty of pitches to hit this season.

ESPN to refund online fantasy baseball customers

ESPN said it will refund fees to paying fantasy baseball customers because its online service isn't allowing team owners to change their rosters this season.

The network, which sells a fantasy baseball product on its Web site for about $30 and gives a version away for free, expects to have repaired a computer malfunction affecting the processing of transactions by tomorrow, said spokesman Paul Melvin.

"We're fantasy players ourselves, and we recognize that it is not acceptable for our players to have anything short of a great experience," Melvin said in a statement.

Melvin declined to disclose how many fantasy players have signed up with ESPN or how much money will be refunded. The majority of players signed up for free, he said.

In fantasy baseball, contestants build teams of big-league players and earn points based on statistics such as wins and home runs.

Fantasy leagues, pools, sports bars hike spending

Tonight, when the Mets play the Cardinals, the first pitch thrown will launch Major League Baseball into the 2007 season. The players on every team will go through a grueling quest to win a championship.