MLB Preview - First Basemen

03-10-2010, 10:55 AM

JH-Sportsline's 2010 MLB Fantasy Rankings: First Baseman

There are a lot of really solid First Baseman once again this season. If you don't get a Top-notch guy chances are you will still end up with a very productive player. This position has historically been the least injured. *My #1 Overall pick would be Albert Pujols. He is as close to a LOCK as it gets in Fantasy and has a really good line-up surrounding him. Monster season coming up for Albert in 2010!

3-Year Avg. Leaders: (2007-09)

Games Played: Adrian Gonzalez (161)
Batting Average: Albert Pujols (.337)
Home Runs: Ryan Howard (47)
Doubles: Albert Pujols (42)
RBI: Ryan Howard (141)
Triples: James Loney (4)
Stolen Bases: Lance Berkman (11)
Walks: Albert Pujols (106)
Runs: Albert Pujols (108)

Cream of the Crop: #1 Albert Pujols* (STL) #2 Ryan Howard (PHIL) #3 Prince Fielder (MILW) #4 Mark Teixeira (NYY) #5 Lance Berkman (HOU) #6 Justin Morneau #7 Derrek Lee (CHC) #8 Adrian Gonzalez (SD) #9 Miguel Cabrera (DET)

The Next Best: #10 Kevin Youkilis (Bos) #11 Adam Dunn (Wash) #12 Kendry Morales (LAA) #13 Joey Votto (Cinn) #14 Jorge Cantu (FLA) #15 Paul Konerko (CHW) #16 Adam Laroche (Pit) #17 James Loney (LAD) #18 Todd Helton (Col) #19 David Ortiz (Bos) #20 Carlos Pena (TB)

You could do worse: #21 Billy Butler (KC) #22 Lyle Overbay (Tor) #23 Jim Thome (Min) #24 Travis Hafner (Clev) #25 Luke Scott (Balt) #26 Nick Johnson (NYY) #27 Casey Kotchman (Sea) #28 Ryan Garko (Sea) #29 Mike Jacobs (Mets) #30 Carlos Delgado (Mets) #31 Chris Davis (Tex) #32 Travis Ishikawa (SF)

Hope and Prey: #33 Hank Blalock (Rays) #34 Russell Branyan (Sea) #35 Daric Barton (Oak) #36 Randy Ruiez (Tor) #37 Jeff Clement (Pit) #38 Matt Laporta (Clev) #39 Michael Aubrey (Balt) #40 Chad Tracey (Cubs) #41 Brandon Allen (Arz) #42 Mike Carp (Sea) #43 Chris Carter (Oak) #44 Logan Morrison (Fla) #45 Justin Smoak (Tex)

Career Year: James Loney (LAD) James Loney had another solid season in 2009 but this season will be his best. He went for .281, 13 HRs, 25 doubles, 7 Triples, and 90 RBI. He also had 7 stolen bases and he will be asked to run more this year. James Loney is a hitting machine who will gradually hit a lot of HR's during his career. James Loney has been in the league for 4 years now and is batting .295 in his career. Last year Loney had 576 at-bats and only struck-out 68 times. He is just 24 years old and the best is yet to come. The Dodgers are going to score a lot of runs this year and Loney will be a big reason why. Expect even better numbers in 2010 for the former PCL Batting champion.

Sleeper: Billy Butler (KC) He has the best swing you have never seen. I had this guy on my fantasy team last year and was rewarded with a .301 average, 21 HRs, 93 RBI, 51 Doubles, and 73 runs scored. Not bad for my last pick. He will probably bat #3 or #4 which is perfect. The more at-bats he gets means more chances to accumulate valuable fantasy points. Rising Star!

Bust: Carlos Pena (TB) In 2008 he hit 31 HRs, 24 Doubles, 102 RBI, but batted only .244 and whiffed 166 times in 139 games played. Last year he batted .227, 39 HRs, 100 RBI, with 163 K's in 471 at-bats. Carlos batted just .211 with 11 HRs vs. lefties. I am not a fan of guys who can't make contact when playing Fantasy Baseball. If you don't put the ball in play you have no chance of producing valuable fantasy points! He would be a good pick in the late rounds, but at 31 years old his Power might come down by 5-10 HRs. Don't expect his average to get much better either.

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