Fantasy Third 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^ndplace finish.

Third base is another deep fantasy position. The top 3 are all sure-fire first rounders, and you could sleep well if any of the top 15 or so is your starter at the Third base or Utility positions. Beware one trick ponies like Ryan Freel and oft-injured big names who’re well into the downside of their careers such as Scott Rolen, Troy Glaus and Nomar Garciaparra. These guys are not draft-worthy unless you’re in a really deep league. Let someone else take them or with for them to prove that they can produce and stay healthy before taking a waiver wire or free agent flier on one of them.

Name, Team	Remarks (# games)	Other
Alex Rodriguez, NYY	+BS, +BA, !HR, !RBI, !R
David Wright, NYM	+BS, +BA, +HR, +RBI !R
Miguel Cabrera, DET	+BA, +HR, +RBI
Ryan Braun, MIL	+BS, +BA, +HR,
Chone Figgins, LAA	!BS, !BA, -HR,	2B, OF
Aramis Ramirez, ChC	+BA, +RBI
Chipper Jones, ATL	MED, +BA, +RBI, +R
Garrett Atkins, COL	+PARK, +RBI
Mike Lowell, BOS	+BA, !RBI
Adrian Beltre, SEA
Ryan Zimmerman, WAS
Alex Gordon, KC		1B
Kevin Youkilis, BOS		1B
Aubrey Huff, BAL	-BA	1B
Edwin Encarnacion, CIN	+PARK, -BA, -RBI, -R (90)
Kevin Kouzmanoff, SD	-PARK, -HR, -RBI, -R (76)
Ryan Freel, CIN	+PARK, +BS, -BA, -HR, -RBI, -R (75)	OF
Hank Blalock, TEX	-HR, -RBI, -R (58)
Josh Fields, CWS	-BA, -R	OF
Akinori Iwamura, TB	-HR, -RBI
Scott Rolen, TOR	MED, -BA, -HR
Troy Glaus, StL	MED
Casey Blake, CLE
Ty Wigginton, HOU		1B, 2B
Joe Crede, CWS	MED, -BA, -HR, -RBI, -R (47)
Nomar Garciaparra, LAD	-HR, -R	1B

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

Melvin Mora, BAL

Eric Chavez, OAK

Brandon Inge, DET

Mark Reynolds, ARI

Pedro Feliz, PH

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