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2013 Fantasy Baseball NL-Only First Base Rankings

8 March 2013

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Here’s the 2013 LestersLegends First Base Rankings for NL-Only Leagues.
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1. Joey Votto, Cincinnati Reds
Votto was limited to 111 games and 374 at bats, but his 1.041 OPS was ridiculous. His knee should be healthy and he should once again be a dominant force.
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2. Adrian Gonzalez, Los Angeles Dodgers
Gonzalez had just six home runs through the end of June, but managed to hit a dozen the rest of the way to finish with a .299-75-18-108-2 line. His second half OPS was 133 points higher than his first half mark. The Dodgers figure to have a potent offense in 2013 with A-Gone as one of the anchors.
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3. Paul Goldschmidt, Arizona Diamondbacks
Goldschmidt had a solid .286-82-20-82-18 line in his first full season. The stolen base total puts him ahead of similar young options.
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4. Anthony Rizzo, Chicago Cubs
Rizzo played in just 87 games, but managed to hit 15 home runs with 44 runs and 48 runs batted in. He’s just 23 years old and handled big league pitching well. Look for continued growth.
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5. Freddie Freeman, Atlanta Braves
Freeman posted his second straight 20-plus home run season. His average dipped from .282 to .259, but his run total (67 to 91) and RBI total (76 to 94) climbed. Freeman is another one of the young first basemen (23) that should continue to grow.
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6. Allen Craig, St. Louis Cardinals
Last year he posted a terrific .307-76-22-92-2 line. You may want to add a solid backup because he does have a tendency to get hurt.
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7. Adam LaRoche, Washington Nationals
LaRoche is far from a sexy pick, yet he continues to hit 25 home runs and drive in around 90 runs without being a batting average liability.
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8. Ike Davis, New York Mets
Davis had a terrible average last year (.227). He’s a better hitter than that. He did smack 32 home runs. He should improve his average and still provide some pop.
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9. Brandon Belt, San Francisco Giants
Belt posted a decent .275-47-7-56-12 line in 411 at bats last year. He’ll turn 25 in April and this could be the year he puts it together. I really like his stolen base production last year.
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10. Ryan Howard, Philadelphia Phillies
Through injury and general decline, Howard could be a decent value pick. You’ll have to live with the average, but the power numbers should be there.
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| Posted by LestersLegends | Categories: fantasy baseball, fantasy baseball rankings, MLB | Tagged: 1B rankings, 2013 1B rankings, 2013 fantasy baseball rankings, 2013 First Base rankings, fantasy baseball, fantasy baseball rankings, First Base rankings, MLB |

2013 Fantasy Baseball AL-Only First Base Rankings

7 March 2013

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Here’s the 2013 LestersLegends First Base Rankings for AL-Only Leagues.
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1. Albert Pujols, Los Angeles Angels
By his standards, the .285-85-30-105-8 line he turned in last year was disappointing. His OPS improved from .794 in the first half to .935 in the second half. He’s settled in and is part of an even more impressive lineup with Josh Hamilton on board. Monster numbers should return.
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2. Prince Fielder, Detroit Tigers
Fielder had a slight dip in production outside of batting average, but you can’t be upset with a .313-83-30-108-1 line. Fielder also improved in the second half with his OPS going from .885 to 1.006.
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3. Billy Butler, Kansas City Royals
Butler is primarily a designated hitter, but he did play 20 games at first base last year so he should have eligibility in your league. Butler finally showed what he’s capable of with a .313-72-29-107-2 line. With his size, the power should not be a fluke. He has already proved that he’s a capable hitter.
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4. Edwin Encarnacion, Toronto Blue Jays
We know the power is for real, but last year he put together a complete season (.280-93-42-110-13). Regression is likely, but with Toronto’s potent lineup, he should deliver once again.
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5. Mike Napoli, Boston Red Sox
Napoli has plenty of power and landed in a good spot. He has a 1.107 career OPS in Fenway. He should be highly productive in their lineup.
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6. Paul Konerko, Chicago White Sox
Konerko is 37, but he hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down. He’s a strong bet for 20-25 home runs while driving in a fair share of RBI and posting a solid batting average.
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7. Mark Teixeira, New York Yankees
Teixeira isn’t old (33 in April), but with three straight years with a batting average less than .260 (.252 during the span), he is a liability in that category. He still clubbed 24 home runs in 123 games. He’ll miss at least a month of action, which hurts his value.
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8. Kendrys Morales, Seattle Mariners
Morales will serve as the designated hitter for the Mariners, but he has first base eligibility in most leagues. He should be even healthier in 2013 and able to build on his .273-61-22-73-0 line as he is almost certain to have more than the 484 at bats he had last year.
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9. Eric Hosmer, Kansas City Royals
Hosmer regressed in his second season going from a .293-66-19-78-11 line to a .232-65-14-60-16 line in his sophomore year. I like his stolen base potential at his position, and I think his improves in the other four 5×5 categories.
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10. Justin Morneau, Minnesota Twins
I don’t think he’ll ever be the same player he once was, but he’s worth a gamble late in drafts.
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| Posted by LestersLegends | Categories: fantasy baseball, fantasy baseball rankings, MLB | Tagged: 1B rankings, 2013 1B rankings, 2013 fantasy baseball rankings, 2013 First Base rankings, fantasy baseball, fantasy baseball rankings, First Base rankings, MLB |

2013 Fantasy Baseball Additional First Base Options

22 February 2013

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We already looked at the LestersLegends’ top 10 fantasy baseball first basemen for 2013, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t additional options if you choose to wait on filling your first base slot to address shallower positions. Alternatively, many leagues offer corner infield slots, which put these options on your radar.
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Brandon Belt, San Francisco Giants
Belt posted a decent .275-47-7-56-12 line in 411 at bats last year. He’ll turn 25 in April and this could be the year he puts it together. I really like his stolen base production last year. He’s better used as a corner infielder than a low-end fantasy first baseman.
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Allen Craig, St. Louis Cardinals
Craig is worthy of being a starting fantasy first baseman. Last year he posted a terrific .307-76-22-92-2 line. You may want to add a solid backup because he does have a tendency to get hurt.
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Ike Davis, New York Mets
Davis had a terrible average last year (.227). He’s a better hitter than that. He did smack 32 home runs. He should improve his average and still provide some pop.
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Eric Hosmer, Kansas City Royals
Hosmer regressed in his second season going from a .293-66-19-78-11 line to a .232-65-14-60-16 line in his sophomore year. I like his stolen base potential at his position, and I think his improves in the other four 5×5 categories.
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Ryan Howard, Philadelphia Phillies
Through injury and general decline, Howard could be a decent value pick. You’ll have to live with the average, but the power numbers should be there.
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Paul Konerko, Chicago White Sox
Konerko will turn 37 next month, but he hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down. He’s a strong bet for 20-25 home runs while driving in a fair share of RBI and posting a solid batting average.
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Adam LaRoche, Washington Nationals
LaRoche is far from a sexy pick, yet he continues to hit 25 home runs and drive in around 90 runs without being a batting average liability.
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Kendrys Morales, Seattle Mariners
Morales will serve as the designated hitter for the Mariners, but he has first base eligibility in most leagues. He should be even healthier in 2013 and able to build on his .273-61-22-73-0 line as he is almost certain to have more than the 484 at bats he had last year.
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Justin Morneau, Minnesota Twins
I don’t think he’ll ever be the same player he once was, but he’s worth a gamble late in drafts.
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Mike Napoli, Boston Red Sox
Napoli has plenty of power and landed in a good spot. He has a 1.107 career OPS in Fenway. He should be highly productive in their lineup.
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| Posted by LestersLegends | Categories: fantasy baseball, fantasy baseball rankings, MLB | Tagged: 1B rankings, 2013 1B rankings, 2013 fantasy baseball rankings, 2013 First Base rankings, fantasy baseball, fantasy baseball rankings, First Base rankings, MLB |

2013 Fantasy Baseball First Base Rankings

22 January 2013

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Here’s the first look at the 2013 LestersLegends First Base Rankings. Click here for additional 2013 Fantasy Baseball First Base Options
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1. Albert Pujols, Los Angeles Angels
By his standards, the .285-85-30-105-8 line he turned in last year was disappointing. His OPS improved from .794 in the first half to .935 in the second half. He’s settled in and is part of an even more impressive lineup with Josh Hamilton on board. Monster numbers should return.
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2. Prince Fielder, Detroit Tigers
Fielder had a slight dip in production outside of batting average, but you can’t be upset with a .313-83-30-108-1 line. Fielder also improved in the second half with his OPS going from .885 to 1.006.
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3. Joey Votto, Cincinnati Reds
Votto was limited to 111 games and 374 at bats, but his 1.041 OPS was ridiculous. His knee should be healthy and he should once again be a dominant force.
.
4. Adrian Gonzalez, Los Angeles Dodgers
Gonzalez had just six home runs through the end of June, but managed to hit a dozen the rest of the way to finish with a .299-75-18-108-2 line. His second half OPS was 133 points higher than his first half mark. The Dodgers figure to have a potent offense in 2013 with A-Gone as one of the anchors.
.
5. Billy Butler, Kansas City Royals
Butler is primarily a designated hitter, but he did play 20 games at first base last year so he should have eligibility in your league. Butler finally showed what he’s capable of with a .313-72-29-107-2 line. With his size, the power should not be a fluke. He has already proved that he’s a capable hitter.
.
6. Edwin Encarnacion, Toronto Blue Jays
We know the power is for real, but last year he put together a complete season (.280-93-42-110-13). Regression is likely, but with Toronto’s potent lineup, he should deliver once again.
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7. Paul Goldschmidt, Arizona Diamondbacks
Goldschmidt had a solid .286-82-20-82-18 line in his first full season. The stolen base total puts him ahead of similar young options.
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8. Anthony Rizzo, Chicago Cubs
Rizzo played in just 87 games, but managed to hit 15 home runs with 44 runs and 48 runs batted in. He’s just 23 years old and handled big league pitching well. Look for continued growth.
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9. Freddie Freeman, Atlanta Braves
Freeman posted his second straight 20-plus home run season. His average dipped from .282 to .259, but his run total (67 to 91) and RBI total (76 to 94) climbed. Freeman is another one of the young first basemen (23) that should continue to grow.
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10. Mark Teixeira, New York Yankees
Teixeira isn’t old (33 in April), but with three straight years with a batting average less than .260 (.252 during the span), he is a liability in that category. He still clubbed 24 home runs in 123 games. No longer a lock for 100 runs, 30 home runs and 100 RBI, but he should be good for 80 runs, 30 HRs and 90 RBI.
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| Posted by LestersLegends | Categories: fantasy baseball, fantasy baseball rankings, NFL | Tagged: 1B rankings, 2013 1B rankings, 2013 fantasy baseball rankings, 2013 First Base rankings, fantasy baseball, fantasy baseball rankings, First Base rankings, MLB |

2012 Fantasy Baseball NL-Only First Base Rankings

11 March 2012

Be sure to enter the 2012 Fantasy Baseball Team Name Contest
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Here’s the 2012 LestersLegends First Base Rankings for NL-Only Leagues.
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1. Joey Votto, Cincinnati Reds: Votto took a step back last year, but who can take issue with a .309-101-29-103-8 line? The American League has most of the big guns so Votto is the easy choice in NL leagues.
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2. Michael Morse, Washington Nationals: I like Morse for his production the past 1.5 years (46 HRs since June 2010) and his positional flexibility (1B, OF).
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3. Freddie Freeman, Atlanta Braves: Freeman also came in with high expectations. His .282-67-21-76-4 line did not disappoint. He could easily reach those numbers again, with a great possibility of improving.
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4. Ryan Howard, Philadelphia Phillies: Howard will miss time with an Achilles injury, but he should still give you power when he returns. Even though he is going in the wrong direction, he is worth a look as a low-end starting first basemen or a high-end corner infield option.
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5. Ike Davis, New York Mets: Davis was hitting .302 with seven HRs and 25 RBI through 36 games. The Mets have made changes to Citi Field that should make it a little more hitter-friendly.
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6. Gaby Sanchez, Miami Marlins: Sanchez had nearly identical 2009 and 2010 seasons. Both years he had 572 at bats, scored 72 runs, and hit 19 HRs. His hit totals were within four of each other (156, 152), his RBI were within seven (85, 78), and his average within 7 points (.273, .266). While those certainly aren’t elite numbers, a .270-72-19-80-4 line isn’t the worst you can do, especially if it means you have an distinct advantage elsewhere.
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7. Michael Cuddyer, Colorado Rockies: Cuddy hit 20 last year for Minnesota, a number that could increase in Colorado. His multiple positional eligibility is an added bonus.
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8. Lance Berkman, St. Louis Cardinals: I can’t see him matching his .301-90-31-94-2 line, especially without Pujols, but he should be solid. Plus, he is eligible in OF as well.
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9. Paul Goldschmidt, Arizona Diamondbacks: He hits monster home runs, but can he improve on his .250 average. If last year’s playoff series is any indication, he can.
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10. James Loney, Los Angeles Dodgers: His smoking second half (.320 average, .914 OPS) allowed Loney to recover from his feeble first half (.268, .653) to at least allow him to finish with a solid .288 batting average and mediocre .755 OPS. He’s never been a power threat, but he averaged 89.3 RBI from 2008-2010. That number dropped to 65 last year. I’d only consider Loney a late round option at best.
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11. Todd Helton, Colorado Rockies: He isn’t the player he once was, and you have to worry that his back will give him fits at some point given his age (38), but he still hit .302 last year with a .850 OPS.
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12. Carlos Lee, Houston Astros: After a tough 2010 season that saw Lee’s average dip to .246, he bounced back with a .275-66-18-94-4 line. Unfortunately the runs will likely continue to be sub-70, but he can still help in the HR and RBI categories. He has 1B/OF eligibility, which helps his cause.
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| Posted by LestersLegends | Categories: fantasy baseball, fantasy baseball rankings, MLB | Tagged: 1B rankings, 2012 1B rankings, 2012 fantasy baseball rankings, 2012 First Base rankings, fantasy baseball, fantasy baseball rankings, First Base rankings, MLB, NL Only rankings |

2012 Fantasy Baseball AL-Only First Base Rankings

10 March 2012

Be sure to enter the 2012 Fantasy Baseball Team Name Contest
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By Alex Gallardo, AP
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Here’s the 2012 LestersLegends First Base Rankings for AL-Only Leagues.
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1. Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers: Cabrera is entering the 2012 season in a better place than he was last year. His personal issues did not affect his play. Adding Prince Fielder makes him even more dangerous. What sets Cabrera apart from Pujols and A-Gone is his switch to third base.
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2. Albert Pujols, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim: The move to the American League does not concern me. He can get a day off at DH from time to time. There is adjustment when switching leagues, but I think the American League pitchers are going to be the ones that need adjusting in this case.
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3. Adrian Gonzalez, Boston Red Sox: The Red Sox were disappointing last year, but that wasn’t on A-Gone. He was right in line with Miguel Cabrera and Albert Pujols on most categories. He finished first in the AL in RBI and that was with Carl Crawford having a down year. I expect him to bounce back, which could help Gonzalez win the RBI title.
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4. Prince Fielder, Detroit Tigers: Pairs with Cabrera to form one of the best 1-2 punches in the league. Not an ideal ballpark, but Prince has big power.
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5. Mark Teixeira, New York Yankees: Tex has turned into a Ryan Howard of sorts (minus the strikeouts). You know he’s going to give you ample HRs (37.0 average since joining the Yankees) and RBI (113.7 average since joining the Yankees), but you have to deal with his falling batting average (.292 to .256 to .248). I still think he’s more likely to bounce back in taht department than not.
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6. Mike Napoli, Texas Rangers: Napoli caught fire in July last year and remained hot through the World Series. He hit .320 with 30 HRs. With 1B/C eligibility, he’s a valuable option.
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7. Eric Hosmer, Kansas City Royals: He came in with huge expectations and delivered posting a .293-66-19-78-11 line. Playing in KC could limit his run and RBI totals, but the future is bright for this guy.
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8. Carlos Santana, Cleveland Indians: He’s young and has plenty to improve on (.239 average), but he’s got big time power (27 HRs last year) and with 1B/C eligibility he gets a boost in value.
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9. Paul Konerko, Chicago White Sox: I’m not sure if this guy ages. He’ll turn 36 this year and you would think his decline would have begun, but he is coming off back-to-back .300+, 30+ HR, 100+ RBI seasons.
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10. Michael Young, Texas Rangers: The dude doesn’t age or slow down. You’re not going to get home runs from him, but expect a .300+ average and a solid number of runs and RBI.
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11. Mark Trumbo, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim: Trumbo will take a look at third base, as well as DH duties to get him at bats as he’s a man without a position right now. He answered the call last year with 29 HRs. As long as his foot doesn’t keep him out, he should be productive.
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12. Adam Lind, Toronto Blue Jays: He didn’t return to his ridiculous .305-93-35-114-1 line that he posted in 2009, but his 2011 line of .251-56-26-87-1 was a solid enough improvement over 2010 (.237-57-23-72-0). He’s basically a two-category player (HR, RBI), which is fine if you can address the other categories elsewhere.
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| Posted by LestersLegends | Categories: fantasy baseball, fantasy baseball rankings, MLB | Tagged: 1B rankings, 2012 1B rankings, 2012 fantasy baseball rankings, 2012 First Base rankings, AL Only rankings, fantasy baseball, fantasy baseball rankings, First Base rankings, MLB |

2012 Fantasy Baseball Additional First Base Options

25 January 2012

Be sure to enter the 2012 Fantasy Baseball Team Name Contest
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We already looked at the LestersLegends’ top 15 fantasy baseball first basemen for 2012, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t additional options if you choose to wait on filling your first base slot to address shallower positions. Alternatively, many leagues offer corner infield slots, which put these options on your radar.
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Miami’s Gaby Sanchez had nearly identical 2009 and 2010 seasons. Both years he had 572 at bats, scored 72 runs, and hit 19 HRs. His hit totals were within four of each other (156, 152), his RBI were within seven (85, 78), and his average within 7 points (.273, .266). While those certainly aren’t elite numbers, a .270-72-19-80-4 line isn’t the worst you can do, especially if it means you have an distinct advantage elsewhere.
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Toronto’s Adam Lind didn’t return to his ridiculous .305-93-35-114-1 line that he posted in 2009, but his 2011 line of .251-56-26-87-1 was a solid enough improvement over 2010 (.237-57-23-72-0). He’s basically a two-category player (HR, RBI), which is fine if you can address the other categories elsewhere.
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Minnesota’s Justin Morneau is a risk/reward option. When he’s on, he is as good as almost any first basemen in the league. He’s dealt with concussions and other injuries that have limited him to just 150 games combined over the past two years. Concussions are serious business, but he claims to feel much better than at this time last year. Have a backup plan if you roll with the former MVP.
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Carlos Pena returned to Tampa Bay. You know the deal with Pena. He’ll give you power, but you’ll have to live with his miserable batting average. His high water mark over the past three years is .227, which makes it a little tougher to swallow the 31.7 HRs and 88 RBI he averaged. He hit just .133 against lefties last year, and the Rays will likely sit him in those situations this year. That means his power numbers can take a hit, but he won’t be as damaging in the batting average department.
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It took an smoking second half (.320 average, .914 OPS) for James Loney to recover from his feeble first half (.268, .653) to at least allow him to finish with a solid .288 batting average and mediocre .755 OPS. He’s never been a power threat, but he averaged 89.3 RBI from 2008-2010. That number dropped to 65 last year. I’d only consider Loney a late round option at best.
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Todd Helton isn’t the player he once was, and you have to worry that his back will give him fits at some point given his age (38), but he still hit .302 last year with a .850 OPS.
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Seattle’s Justin Smoak did not impress last year hitting .234 with a .719 OPS and 15 HRs in 427 ABs. He did start the year strong hitting .284 with four HRs and 17 RBI in April. He’s a player to take a flier on late to see if he finally lives up to his potential.
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Billy Butler played 11 games at first base last year. If he has (or gains) first base eligibility in your league, he’s definitely a player to plug in that slot. He’ll be drafted regardless, but has more value if he’s not just listed as a DH/Utility.
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