First Base - 2010 Preview

The Marina Trench, The Federal Deficit. The Grand Canyon. Paris Hilton’s … bank account. Like all of these examples, first base is quite deep this year. While you will be tempted to fill a shallow position and put off 1B until the next round, don’t look past some of the upper tier players available in Rounds 1 and 2.

First Tier

Albert Pujols – Cardinals.

Pujols is in a league of his own, except with him you don’t have to worry about Rosie O’Donnell. Zing!

In my humble opinion, Pujols and H-Ram are your only two viable options for the #1 pick. In my mock drafts, I have alternated taking St. Albert and Hanley at the #1 spot, but in the end, my teams appear stronger with Pujols.

Second Tier

Prince Fielder, Mark Teixeria, Ryan Howard, Miguel Cabrera

These guys are going later the first and early in the second, depending on the number of teams. I was big on Fielder (no pun intended) last season, and he rebounded nicely last year with .299/46/141. I am not sure about 141 RBIs again, but he should help you with R, HR and RBIs.

Last season, Teixeira started slow (.200/3/10) and continued to have a difficult last name to spell. However, he finished strong (.292/39/122), and most importantly, did not let the NY media mess with his head. I do not anticipate a decline.

I was worried about Ryan Howard last season, especially with the absence of Pat Burrell, but he put up his usual numbers (.279/45/141). He still strikes out way too much (186 Ks), but it should not be an issue as long as your league does not penalize Ks.

Miguel Cabrera finished the year with a bang and then spent the off-season drying out in rehab. It is hard to believe that Cabrera is only 27 years old. Don’t be scared off by the way his season ended. If you have a late first round pick, he is a great pick up.

The rest of my Top Ten

Justin Morneau, Adrian Gonzalez, Kevin Youkilis, Adam Dunn, Joey Votto

Dunn is a poor man’s Ryan Howard. A mere two HRs ended Dunn’s streak of 40 or more HRs lasting from 2004. Votto’s post-All Star line was .300/11/42 with a .399 OBP. Expect a big year from him.

But what about …

Kendry Morales - LA Angels - Votto just edged out Morales for my 10^th spot. He still has the risk of taking sophomore slump, but his strong 2^nd half (.330/19/59) indicates a solid 2010.

Mark Reynolds – D’backs – Reynolds had an incredible season .260/44/102 with 24 SBs while breaking his own dubious MLB record with 223 Ks. Reynolds makes Rob Deer look like Tony Gwynn, except that Deer did not rock a Jheri curl until 1998. With the risk of a decline, I would choose a solid vet at 1B and consider Reynolds at 3B, where talent is thin this year.

Victor Martinez and Pablo Sandoval – While Martinez should have a great year, he is better utilized at catcher. Accordingly, I don’t like Sandoval as much as a 1B as I do at 3B. Also, don’t draft Sandoval with the hope that we will return to catcher, as the Giant’s signing of Bengie Molina put an end to that possibility.

Achievers/Bums - 8/04/08

ACHIEVERS

Jay Bruce - OF - Cincinnati Reds - 1/2, HR, 2 RBI - Jay Bruce isn't as good as he looked in his first week after being called up, but he's not as bad as he's looked since then either. With Griffey gone, Bruce doesn't have to masquerade as a lead-off hitter anymore and he can hit in the three-hole as he should. He hit seventh last night against lefty Manny Parra, but I imagine he'll be back hitting third for most of the rest of the season. In the four games since Griffey's departure, Bruce is hitting .357 with three HR's and five RBI.

Roy Halladay - SP - Toronto Blue Jays - Win, 8.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 H, 1 BB, 8 K's - Last year Roy Halladay racked up 139 strikeouts, which trailed such fire-ballers as Joe Blanton, Andy Pettitte and Chad Gaudin; in 2006 he struck only only 132, which didn't even rank him in the top-50 in the majors. So it has been fairly surprising that with another six or seven starts still to go his 149 strikeouts trail only his teammate A.J. Burnett in the AL. If Halladay keeps this up, it will be hard for him not to win another Cy Young - even pitching in Toronto.

Michael Young - SS - Texas Rangers - 2/4, HR, 3 RBI, 2 R - I've never been a huge Michael Young fan, but this year he's been the best fantasy SS not named Jose or Hanley. I still don't think he's that great, but as long as he's hitting somewhere between Kinsler and Hamilton, he'll put up solid numbers

Robinson Cano - 2B - New York Yankees - 1/4, HR - A lot of Yankees are hot right now, but look at what Cano is doing in the 2nd half so far: .367 BA, 4 HR, 9 RBI. You might still be able to trade for him if your deadline hasn't passed, and you should if you can because he's just heating up.

Raul Ibanez - OF - Seattle Mariners - 3/5, 1 HR, 6 RBI - Why is this guy still on the Mariners? Are you telling me that there weren't any contenders who could've used his bat?

BUMS

Lance Berkman - 1B/OF - Houston Astros - 0/4, 2 K's - No HR's and only seven RBI's in the last month is very un-Puma-like. I think it's the same as when Utley slumps though, you just keep him in the lineup and realize that the numbers will come. No reason to panic.

Prince Fielder - 1B - Milwaukee Brewers - 1/3, BB - Prince Fielder had his very own OMG moment last night when he was caught on camera shoving starting pitcher Manny Parra like a little girl (video below). Ned Yost said it's nobody's business. It's a family matter and will quickly be resolved. Uhh, yeah, because Prince Fielder would neeeeever hold a grudge against a family member.