These midseason fantasy awards should be a Thriller.

• Position: SPORTS

Byline: Josh Bousquet

COLUMN: FANTASY SPORTS

Earlier this week I received my annual letter from the Association of Column Writers that indicated it was my obligation to write a midseason baseball awards column. It is a standing agreement that if we all do it, then it appears obligatory instead of unoriginal.

One day later, though, I got another missive from the same association threatening my membership in the organization since I was the only member of the media who had not addressed Michael Jackson's death.

So to please the powers-that-be and hopefully keep this gig, I am combining these two requests and quite possibly becoming the hackiest thing since Lizzie Borden.

Thus, here are my midseason fantasy baseball awards, with all honors named after Jacko songs.

Here I Am (Come and Take Me) - Ben Zobrist, Tampa Bay Rays

Zobrist began the year as a fantasy afterthought. He was had with an average draft pick of 260 in ESPN leagues, which placed him in the "we still have more bench slots to fill?" portion of the selection process.

Now, though, he is batting .290, with 17 homers and 51 RBIs and is owned in 94 percent of those leagues. He also provides some position flexibility, as he qualifies at outfield and second base in all leagues, and his 12 games at shortstop would let him be slotted there in some, too. Together, all those numbers make him the free agent pickup who has made the biggest impact.

A Brand New Day - Zack Greinke, Kansas City Royals

Greinke did not enter the season with quite as low expectations as Zobrist, but no one expected him to be in the mix for the American League's All-Star Game starter.

Although he is not currently as fantastic as he was early in the season, Greinke still sports a 10-5 record, 2.12 ERA and 1.08 WHIP. Also, a lot of his falling from his early pinnacle is due to the fact that the Royals have as much chance at baseball success as Joe Jackson did of raising well-adjusted children. Greinke's WHIP, though, says that he will continue to do well in the second half. And seeing as he was drafted as someone who had a career-high 13 wins last year, the new leaf he has turned over is still welcome to his owners.

Remember the Time - Jimmy Rollins, Philadelphia Phillies

Let me drop some surprising knowledge on you: Rollins was the National League MVP in 2007. No, really, I mean it, two seasons ago he was deemed to be the best there is.

It is easy to forget that, though, when Rollins is batting .224, has hit 7 homers...