Everyone knows that Albert Pujols is a fantasy beast at first base.
Miguel Cabrera, Mark Teixeira, Ryan Howard and Prince Fielder are all uber-studs both at the position and in fantasy baseball in general.
But what about the rest of the field? Who’s for real and who should you avoid in 2010? Here are some random notes about fantasy first basemen this season.
Lance Berkman, HOU. Typically a sure-fire early-round pick, Berkman was a huge disappointment last season due to injuries and statistical breakdown. His home runs have dropped each season since 2007 (34, 29, 25) and his batting average dipped to .274 after hitting at a .312 clip in 2008. Plus, the Astros don’t provide him much protection in their lineup. I’m not looking to draft Berkman in 2010. At the right value, of course, I’d take him as a project player, but his name value alone inflates his price well past what I’d be willing to pay on draft day.
Adrian Gonzalez, SD. Zero protection in the Padres’ lineup led to a career-high 117 walks in 2009 … yet Gonzalez also set a career mark with 40 home runs. His value would have grown dramatically if he had been traded to a more hitter-friendly environment, yet Gonzo continues to be a safe option after all the big names are taken off the board. I would draft him right after Prince Fielder in most league formats, despite the fact that many fantasy gurus have him ranked behind guys such as Berkman and Derrek Lee.
Joey Votto, CIN. There’s nothing bad to say about Votto, other than he plays for the Reds. He finished 2009 with a paltry .322 batting average, ranking him third at the position just behind Pujols’ .327 and Cabrera’s .324. He continues to hit homers, and provides solid RBI and runs scored totals. He’s available in most cases in the fourth or fifth round of your respective fantasy drafts, but he’ll have a first-round season statistically. No, I’m not sniffing glue. Votto will take another major step in the right direction this year.
Justin Morneau, MIN. His season-ending stats were not super-thrilling … 30 home runs, .274 batting average … but Morneau was limited by back stiffness and ultimately a stress fracture in his lower back that cut his season short. By all accounts, Morneau is healing nicely and should be 100 percent by opening day. A definite value option at first base.
Kendry Morales, LAA. The only thing holding Morales back from being ranked higher on most people’s lists is that he has only raked in statistical terms for one season. Last year, filling the shoes left by Mark Teixeira, Morales was a fantasy darling with 34 home runs, 108 RBI and a .306 batting average. He’s young and has loads of potential for both this season and beyond, yet can be had at a fraction of the price demanded by the position’s elite.
Billy Butler, KC. I’ve been expecting huge things from Butler for quite a while. Last season, he started to put it together. He doubled his home run output from 2008 while exceeding expectations at the plate with a .301 batting average. Butler’s always had the potential, but seemed to self-destruct before he could reach that potential. Seems he’s finally becoming a solid option and should be drafted in most every league format as a sleeper with big upside.
