Stolen base scarcity can often be a nagging need for many teams.  Right now, I play in what is a fairly even 12-team mixed league where the top free agent steal artists are Drew Stubbs and Wil Venable - each with 8.  Certainly, there is some upside, but with a .181 and .222 average respectfully, they currently lack the qualities you need to give them a starting nod in a mixed format.  So, let's take a look at some of the more interesting storylines through the first 5 weeks of the season if you are searching for speed.

Where did these steal totals come from?

Andruw Jones - I really can't believe big-butt Andruw Jones has 6 steals.  He hasn't hit the 20-steal mark since 2000, so just be happy that he's happy.

Vladimir Guerrero - The DH-version of Bad Vlad seems to have some fresh legs.  Four stolen bases at this stage of his career is a nice surprise.  It shows his health and the confidence in his knees, but I'd be content with 10 steals.

Yadier Molina - Who says the flying Molina brothers can't run?  Yadier stole 9 bags last year, but 4 SBs through 29 games is really out of the norm.  If he plays in 140 games, he'll be on pace to steal 19 bases.  The odds may not be good, but remember how excited everyone got over Russell Martin's double-digit steal potential.

Some of these players might make Drew Stubbs and Wil Venable look like gods, but it never hurts to be informed - especially if you play in a single-league format.

Carlos Gómez – Unfortunately, he appears DL-bound, but we all know about his injury propensity already.  He’s been a constant disappointment - but he's awfully fast.  He's nabbed 6 bases over 20 games, which makes him on pace for 36-39 steals if he can manage 120-130 games.

Adam Kennedy - Kennedy is a career .277 hitter who stole 20 bases in 129 games last year.  He's not flashy, but considering his 4 SBs in 2010, he's on his way to match last year's thievery total.

Angel Pagan - Pagan isn't the most efficient base stealer in the world, but he has the leadoff spot to himself until Carlos Beltran returns.  Last season he stole 14 bags in 88 games, but he was caught 7 times - only 66.6%.  So far he's 3 for 5 this year, so the results aren't any better.

Julio Borbon – Yeah, I know he’s been a disappointment.  His average now stands at .206 and he’s been relieved of his duties as the Rangers’ leadoff hitter.  Texas’ is keeping him in the lineup, but a lot of fantasy owners have already lost patience and sent him to waivers.  Keep an eye on Borbon, if he can get on base at a better rate than his current .222 OBP, the steal opportunities will come.

Coco Crisp - Crisp has been cleared for baseball activities, but he’s still a few weeks away from returning.  Oakland has very little power, so they will need to run, and run often.  Most of Crisp’s problems concern his shoulder and broken finger – not his legs, so there’s a chance he can provide speed-hungry teams with a boost when he finally gets back.

Cliff Pennington – Pennington’s game isn’t all that thrilling, but he’s got legs.  He stole 27 bases in 99 games for Triple-A Sacramento and he racked up 20 SBs the previous year in Double-AA Midland.  However, he only posted a career .263 average in the minors, so the bat is light – but a career .357 OBP shows he can get himself on base.