The countdown continues to the start of the 2007 baseball season. The Lineup is here to give you fantasy insight on relevant topics happening in baseball. Here are five storylines you should be following this week:

How's this for irony. I was set to discuss Chicago Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood, his losing 30 pounds and the buzz out of Chi-town that his arm feels great. But I checked back on the story and found out that he's hurt...again. MLB.com reported that, "Wood bruised his right side when he fell out of a hot tub at his home Monday night." Huh? What is up with Cubs pitchers? Carlos Zambrano gets hurt last year playing too much "Guitar Hero," Mark Prior spends more time on the bench than a Gatorade cooler and now Wood has a hot-tub related accident. The most entertaining part of all this is hearing Wood discuss the matter. He reveals that "I [got out of the tub] and landed on my stomach and my chest and didn't feel too good. It's that time of year for me." It's nice for him to have a sense of humor about the thing, but you have to be one clumsy oaf to fall the way he did. He's only expected to be out for four to five days. But this Homer Simpson-esque display of grace should have fantasy owners staying away. Follow Wood's status to see if he falls out of bed or suffers a finger-in-electric socket setback.

Los Angeles Angels catcher Mike Napoli burst onto the scene last year when he batted .286 with 11 home runs and 27 RBI in just 48 games before the All-Star break. But just as quickly he fizzled out, hitting at a .164 clip with only 5 homers and 15 RBI in the second half. Hoping to stay consistent, Napoli shed weight this off-season. He went "from 227 pounds, his 2006 closing weight, to 212 pounds. He added muscle while reducing his body fat, which should help his endurance" according to The Los Angeles Times. While he is at the top of the depth chart at the catcher position for the Angels, Napoli will have to prove that he is a more viable option than both Jose Molina and Jeff Mathis. Follow this story to see how this plays out in Spring Training, but in fantasy baseball, where reliable hitting catchers are few and far between, Napoli could easily be worth owning.

New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera is a relief pitching legend and arguably the team's most valuable asset. So it comes as a surprise to Rivera that the team hasn't offered him a contract to extend his stay past the 2007 season. In a report by the New York Post, Rivera revealed, "Definitely I want to finish my career here, but if they don't give the respect that I deserve, I have to move on." Now "respect" likely translates into money and you have to think that Rivera's value goes up this year in fantasy leagues. If he is this riled up now, imagine the ferocity with which he is going to attack hitters to showcase that he is still the class of relief pitching. Not that Rivera wasn't already an elite fantasy closer, but with GM Brian Cashman appearing adamant about not discussing a new deal until after the season, Mo is officially in walk year mode. Check for any updates regarding possible negotiations but for now, consider Mo among top three closers.

The Chicago Cubs and pitching ace Carlos Zambrano are headed to arbitration this coming week and the only thing known about Zambrano's future with the Cubs is he will be their No. 1 starter in 2007. What happens after that is up in the air as MLB.com is reporting that Zambrano "wouldn't mind a five-year deal, but the team has yet to make a formal offer to the pitcher." The good news for Cubs fans is that Zambrano appears more complacent than his previous threats of leaving Chicago if a deal isn't accomplished soon. For fantasy owners, however, they may be a bit disappointed that the Cubs ace could potentially not be entering a walk year. Zambrano, 26, has tons of talent and could easily command Barry Zito bucks if he chose to dip his toe in the free agent pool after this season. Yet he has stated that he wishes to remain a Cub. Zambrano's arbitration hearing is this coming Tuesday and the sides are discussing a possible five-year deal. Track this story closely as Zambrano's fantasy value should take a slight hit if he signs a big contract and thus loses his walk year luster.

When you become the highest paid pitcher in baseball history, people expect certain things. The San Francisco Giants signed Barry Zito this off-season assuming they acquired the same starter they had seen play for the Oakland Athletics the past seven years. So imagine the puzzled looks that Giants management had when Zito showed up to pitch with a completely different style. As the San Francisco Chronicle reports, "Zito showcased the new delivery during his first bullpen session for San Francisco on Thursday, [pitching coach Dave] Righetti expressed surprise at how different it looked — and some trepidation." Zito explained that he is reverting back to the approach he used in college, relying on more leg strength — which he states he strengthened over the off-season — and thus allowing more zip on his pitches while preserving his arm. Fantasy owners may be holding their breath as such a drastic change in style could greatly affect a pitcher's effectiveness. Don't fret. While Zito is a notoriously quirky guy, he's also a student of the game and constantly works on ways to improve. He remains a solid fantasy ace. Be sure to keep up on this story to see how things develop.