Fantasy First Base Rankings

Time for my annual fantasy rankings. I’ll be posting one position per day as well as giving draft advice. My method is proven, having won my head to head fantasy league 3 straight years before teaching my fiancé how to play last season only to have her use my rankings against me and take the Championship. This year I’ll look to rebound from last year’s disappointing 2^nd place finish.

First a few random notes from the last few days…

On the drive to work today, one of the guys I work with informed me that some guy has determined that when Moses came down to deliver the 10 Commandments he was high. Well I guess that answers the question what kind of bush was burning.

The Celtics beat the Pistons tonight AND they’re getting Sam Cassell. I love Rajon Rondo, but Cassell will give them the veteran defensive force that Tony Allen really hasn’t been this year. I can honestly say that I may be more excited about the C’s than the Sox…well maybe not, but it’s close.

Randy Moss re-signed with the Patriots. THANK GOD!

Why would anyone want Gilbert Arenas after his comment that he won’t play hurt so that he can opt out of his contract. Listen, I’m a guy who says that if someone is willing to pay you amount X, then you’re worth amount X, but anyone who signs Arenas to a max deal after those comments needs his head examined… I expect Isiah Thomas and Kevin McHale to come to blows over who gets to sign him.

DL Tommy Kelly re-signed with the Raiders for 7 years at 50.5 million…first of all, WHO? And second of all, I’d like to revise my “if someone is willing to pay you amount X, then you’re worth amount X” comment to read: “if someone is willing to pay you amount X, then you’re worth amount X…unless you’re Tommy Freaking Kelly.” Thank you.

Back to the Fantasy Baseball…First Base is the deepest position but you’re probably going to want at least two if you play in a league with an “Util” position. You don’t want to be that guy who has (I can’t make this stuff up) Placido Polanco as your starting DH. Get a stud in the first 3-4 rounds and then grab another one after you’ve filled most or all of your other positions and picked up a couple pitchers. You can usually still find a solid contributor in the mid to late teens (I got Youkilis with the 11^th pick in the 13^th, Delgado lasted until the 10^th pick in the 16^th, Garko went 1^st in the 18^th).

Name, Team	Remarks (# games)	Other Positions
Albert Puljos, StL	+BA, +HR, +RBI
Ryan Howard, PHI	+PARK, !HR, !RBI
David Ortiz, BOS	!BA, +HR, +RBI, !R
Prince Fielder, MIL	!HR, +RBI, +R
Mark Teixeira, TEX	+BA, +HR, +RBI
Lance Berkman, HOU	+HR, +RBI,
Justin Morneau, MIN	-PARK, +HR, +RBI,
Victor Martinez, CLE	+RBI	C
Derrek Lee, ChC	+BA,
Travis Hafner, CLE	+RBI
Carlos Guillen, DET	+RBI	SS
Garrett Atkins, COL	+PARK, +RBI	3B
Carlos Pena, TB	!HR, !RBI
Adrian Gonzalez, SD	-PARK, +HR, +RBI, +R
Paul Konerko, CWS	+HR,
Alex Gordon, KC	-BA	3B
Todd Helton, COL	+PARK, +BA,
Kevin Youkilis, BOS		3B
James Loney, LAD	!BA, -R
Nick Swisher, OAK		OF
Carlos Delgado, NYM
Ryan Garko, CLE
Conor Jackson, ARI
Billy Butler, KC	-HR, -R (92)	OF
Adam LaRoche, PIT
Lyle Overbay, TOR	-BA, -RBI, -R
Aubrey Huff, BAL		3B
Joey Votto, CIN	+PARK, +BA, -HR, -RBI, -R (24)	OF
Casey Blake, CLE		3B, OF
Ty Wigginton, HOU		2B, 3B
Jarrod Saltalamaccia, TEX	-RBI. -R (93)	C
Casey Kotchman, LAA
Chris Duncan, StL	-R	OF
Mark Tehan, KC	-HR	OF
Richie Sexson, SEA	-BA,
Dmitri Young, WAS	+BA,
Mark DeRosa, ChC		2B, 3B, OF
Nomar Garciaparra, LAD	MED, -HR, -R
Daric Barton, OAK	!BA, -HR, -RBI, -R (18)
Jason Giambi, NYY	-BA, -RBI, -R (83)

Others to keep an eye on in the event of breakout or injury but in no particular order:

Nick Johnson, WAS

Mike Jacobs, FLA

Ryan Shealy, KC

Sean Casey, BOS

Ben Broussard, SEA

Also there are a few guys who are ONLY available at an Util position in most leagues but only 3 are worth owning:

Name, Team	Remarks (# games)
Travis Hafner, CLE	+RBI
Jim Thome, CWS	+HR
Frank Thomas, TOR

In the key below, some notes:

+/- PARK means different things to different folks. In the pitcher lists, +PARK is one of the top 3 pitchers parks For position players, +PARK is one of the top 3 hitters parks. Anyone with a ! can carry your team for a week or two in that category. –BA should be seen as the kiss of death. These guys are not starters for a contending fantasy team. You’re better off taking a flier on a rookie than drafting one of these siphons.

KEY	Numbers based on last years stats
MED	History of medical issues or coming off injury
+PARK	Park is a serious advantage (top 3)
-PARK	Park is a serious disadvantage (bottom 3)
!HR	>37 HR
+HR	>30 HR
-HR	<10>
!RBI	>120 RBI
+RBI	>100 RBI
-RBI	<50>
!BA	>.330
+BA	>.305
-BA	<.250
!R	>110 R
+R	>100 R
-R	<55>
!SB	>35 SB
+SB	>15 SB