Clearing The Bases\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 March 9, 2011<\/p>\n
By George Kurtz<\/p>\n
Today we will go over our top 20 First Basemen.\u00c2\u00a0 This is a loaded position with some of the best hitters in the game.\u00c2\u00a0 Generally I like to wait to grab a 1B seeing as though the position is so deep.\u00c2\u00a0 That being said there will almost certainly be 8-10 of these players taken by the end of the 3rd round as teams load on their CI and UT\/DH slots, so waiting to long could cost you a chance at 30 HRs and 100 RBIs, but this is the gamble you take if you want to take a middle infielder or third basemen where the pickings get mighty slim, mighty quick.<\/p>\n
1.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 Albert Pujols, St. Louis Cardinals:\u00c2\u00a0 Pujols is the consensus number one overall pick more or less the top 1B.\u00c2\u00a0 Sure there are some worries, will this be the season where his elbow snaps, will his upcoming free agency affect how he plays?\u00c2\u00a0 Unlikely either one of those scenarios brings Sir Albert’s numbers down from the stratosphere, take him and count your lucky stars.<\/p>\n
2.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers:\u00c2\u00a0 Cabrera however does have an issue to worry about, as his battle with alcoholism has resurfaced.\u00c2\u00a0 Still, it seems unlikely to affect how he plays this season as Miggy is still going to put up big time numbers, and those numbers could even be better with the newly acquired Victor Martinez hitting behind him.<\/p>\n
3.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 Adrian Gonzalez, Boston Red Sox:\u00c2\u00a0 The Sox gave up most of their top prospects to acquire this quiet superstar even though they knew he would have to rehab from shoulder surgery.\u00c2\u00a0 As of this writing Gonzalez has yet to play in a spring training game, but isn’t expected to miss any regular season time.\u00c2\u00a0 Gonzalez may go through an adjustment period early this season as not only will he have to get his shoulder 100%, but also get used to the way pitchers work in the American League.<\/p>\n
4.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 Joey Votto, Cincinnati Reds:\u00c2\u00a0 Last season’s NL MVP award winner signed a nice $38 million contract extension in January easing his financial burden coming into the 2011 season.\u00c2\u00a0 What is it they call the Reds’ home field?\u00c2\u00a0 The Great American “Smallpark”.\u00c2\u00a0 The reason for that is my backyard seems to be bigger at times, as balls fly out of that stadium.\u00c2\u00a0 That’s not to undercut Votto’s talent, just a statement that similar power numbers should be expected.<\/p>\n
5.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 Mark Teixeira, New York Yankees:\u00c2\u00a0 The only worry with Tex, as it is every season, is that his bat doesn’t seem to warm up until the weather does.\u00c2\u00a0 Frustrating no doubt to his fantasy owners, but by the end of the season his numbers will look like they always do, 35+ HRs and 100+ RBIs, plus with ARod and Robinson Cano hitting behind him, he shouldn’t have any problems seeing plenty of fastballs.<\/p>\n
6.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 Kevin Youkilis, Boston Red Sox: The reason I place Youkilis above mashers Howard and Fielder is because he will have 3B eligibility in most leagues after 10-20 games.\u00c2\u00a0 This could huge in fantasy leagues as 3B is one of the weaker positions with very little depth and Youkilis would look awfully nice there on your fantasy team.<\/p>\n
7.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 Ryan Howard, Philadelphia Phillies:\u00c2\u00a0 Scouts will tell you that pitchers shouldn’t throw anything but off-speed pitches to Howard.\u00c2\u00a0 Howard is a pure fastball hitter who can have trouble at times making the adjustment to the slow stuff, and will expand his strike zone once he gets frustrated.\u00c2\u00a0 The loss of Jayson Werth to free agency will almost certainly mean Howard and Chase Utley will see a ton of lefthanders in the late innings.<\/p>\n
8.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 Prince Fielder, Milwaukee Brewers:\u00c2\u00a0 Another player in a contract year.\u00c2\u00a0 If Milwaukee were to get off to a slow start it’s safe to wonder if he could find himself on a different team by the trade deadline.\u00c2\u00a0 Either way he’s going to hit more than his share of home runs, and with the pitching staff the Brewers have, a pennant race could be just what Fielder needs to have a big season before his exit from the team.<\/p>\n
9.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 Adam Dunn, Chicago White Sox:\u00c2\u00a0 One thing you can always rely on is 40 home runs from Dunn, and now he goes from the Grand Canyon of ballparks in Washington to one of the best long ball stadiums in the American league with the White Sox.\u00c2\u00a0 Dunn also won’t have to worry about playing defense as much, an area he did not perform all that well, as Paul Konerko will play 1B most of the time.<\/p>\n
10.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 Justin Morneau, Minnesota Twins:\u00c2\u00a0 Under normal circumstances Morneau would be a couple of slots higher on this list but a concussion that keeps you out half a season and still is preventing you from playing in games regularly has to be of concern.\u00c2\u00a0 Add that to the Twins hitters not happy with the background and dimensions of Target Field and you have a recipe for sub standard statistics.<\/p>\n
11.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 Paul Konerko, Chicago White Sox:\u00c2\u00a0 The last two season’s Konerko has hit 67 home runs and driven in 199 runs.\u00c2\u00a0 Should I repeat those number for you.\u00c2\u00a0 I would certainly take the average of those numbers for a 1B I can select in the later rounds of a draft rather than spend a premium early pick.<\/p>\n
12.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 Kendry Morales, Los Angeles Angels:\u00c2\u00a0 Morales may have won the award for strangest way to get injured and end your season last year when he broke his ankle jumping on home plate to celebrate a game winning home run.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 What makes matters worse is that he still isn’t fully healthy and may not be an everyday player in April.<\/p>\n
13.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 Billy Butler, Kansas City Royals:\u00c2\u00a0 Butler can do everything you want out of a 1B with the exception of hitting the long ball.\u00c2\u00a0 He is only averaging about 16 home runs the past three seasons but will hit you 40+ doubles, yippee.\u00c2\u00a0 He is more suited for you DH\/Utility role than a corner infielder, but if you’re desperate, good luck.<\/p>\n
14.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 Adam Laroche, Washington Nationals:\u00c2\u00a0 Laroche is also more of a CI\/DH\/UT type than a true 1B, and a move from Arizona to Washington certainly won’t help his numbers.\u00c2\u00a0 One also has to wonder about his makeup as this will be his fifth major league team in six seasons, not like anyone has been dying to keep him around.<\/p>\n
15.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 Gaby Sanchez, Florida Marlins:\u00c2\u00a0 Certainly not a top 1B with 19 HRs and 85 RBIs, but still not bad for a rookie season and there is room to grow.\u00c2\u00a0 The bad news is the ballpark is not conducive to home runs, and he doesn’t have the greatest hitting lineup around him.<\/p>\n
16.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 Ike Davis, New York Mets:\u00c2\u00a0 Davis gets no love for the Mets but he also had 19 HRs and 71 RBIs, also in a ballpark not built for the long ball.\u00c2\u00a0 Where Davis hits in the lineup could be a problem and both Carlos Beltran (maybe) and Jason Bay should be back in the lineup which could push Davis to the 6th or 7th spot.<\/p>\n
17.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 Lance Berkman, St. Louis Cardinals:\u00c2\u00a0 Berkman is going to play RF for the Cardinals this season.\u00c2\u00a0 This seems to be an injury waiting to happen.\u00c2\u00a0 Hard to see Berkman playing more than 120 games this season, but hitting behind or before Albert Pujols should give him some value.\u00c2\u00a0 He’s a better left-handed hitter now than right-handed, so it’s safe to wonder if some king of platoon is in order if he continues to struggle from the right side.<\/p>\n
18.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 Derek Lee, Baltimore Orioles:\u00c2\u00a0 Lee’s HR totals the last three seasons, 22, 20, 35, and 19.\u00c2\u00a0 Which one of those numbers seem out of whack?\u00c2\u00a0 Add that to the fact that he is switching leagues and you have a player that I would stay far away from.\u00c2\u00a0 Not to mention he is also dealing with a wrist injury this spring.<\/p>\n
19.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 Freddie Freeman, Atlanta Braves:\u00c2\u00a0 Now it’s time for the rookies.\u00c2\u00a0 It becomes a question of do you believe?\u00c2\u00a0 Atlanta is not an easy ballpark to hit HRs in and Freeman has never hit more than 18 in the minor leagues.\u00c2\u00a0 His average though should help you and he will be given every chance to be the starting 1B for the next decade.<\/p>\n
20.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 Justin Smoak, Seattle Mariners:\u00c2\u00a0 There is a ton of pressure on Smoak to succeed in Seattle as he was the centerpiece of a trade that sent Cliff Lee to Texas.\u00c2\u00a0 The Mariners also chose Smoak over the Yankees Jesus Montero, so if Smoak becomes a bust or anything less than a solid major leaguer, and Montero becomes a star, than life for Smoak will only get more difficult.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Clearing The Bases\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 March 9, 2011 By George Kurtz Today we will go over our top 20 First Basemen.\u00c2\u00a0 This is a loaded position with some of the best hitters in the game.\u00c2\u00a0 Generally I like to wait to grab a 1B seeing as though the position is so deep.\u00c2\u00a0 That being said there will […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":785,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[6295,3945,796,589,13419,12709,270,13423,13453,942,13452,3418,2141,3063,13451,502,10212,1170,2421,3544],"class_list":["post-12610","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-general","tag-adjustment-period","tag-adrian-gonzalez","tag-albert-pujols","tag-boston-red-sox","tag-clearing-the-bases","tag-consensus-number","tag-detroit-tigers","tag-george-kurtz","tag-lucky-stars","tag-middle-infielder","tag-miggy","tag-miguel-cabrera","tag-rbis","tag-shoulder-surgery","tag-sir-albert","tag-st-louis-cardinals","tag-stratosphere","tag-top-prospects","tag-training-game","tag-victor-martinez"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12610","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/785"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12610"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12610\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12610"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12610"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12610"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}