To complete the first base rankings, here are my 2010 rankings with their 2009 stats:
NO. | Name | G | AB | HR | R | RBI | BB | SO | SB | AVG |
1 | Albert Pujols | 160 | 568 | 47 | 124 | 135 | 115 | 64 | 16 | 0.327 |
2 | Prince Fielder | 162 | 591 | 46 | 103 | 141 | 110 | 138 | 2 | 0.299 |
3 | Ryan Howard | 160 | 616 | 45 | 105 | 141 | 75 | 186 | 8 | 0.279 |
4 | Mark Teixeira | 156 | 609 | 39 | 103 | 122 | 81 | 114 | 2 | 0.292 |
5 | Miguel Cabrera | 160 | 611 | 34 | 96 | 103 | 68 | 107 | 6 | 0.324 |
6 | Joey Votto | 131 | 469 | 25 | 82 | 84 | 70 | 106 | 4 | 0.322 |
7 | Adrian Gonzalez | 160 | 552 | 40 | 90 | 99 | 119 | 109 | 1 | 0.277 |
8 | Kevin Youkilis | 136 | 491 | 27 | 99 | 94 | 77 | 125 | 7 | 0.305 |
9 | Kendry Morales | 152 | 566 | 34 | 86 | 108 | 46 | 117 | 3 | 0.306 |
10 | Lance Berkman | 136 | 460 | 25 | 73 | 80 | 97 | 98 | 7 | 0.274 |
11 | Justin Morneau | 135 | 508 | 30 | 85 | 100 | 72 | 86 | 0 | 0.274 |
12 | Adam Dunn | 159 | 546 | 38 | 81 | 105 | 116 | 177 | 0 | 0.267 |
13 | Billy Butler | 159 | 608 | 21 | 78 | 93 | 58 | 103 | 1 | 0.301 |
14 | Derrek Lee | 141 | 532 | 35 | 91 | 111 | 76 | 109 | 1 | 0.306 |
15 | Carlos Pena | 135 | 471 | 39 | 91 | 100 | 87 | 163 | 3 | 0.227 |
16 | Paul Konerko | 152 | 546 | 28 | 75 | 88 | 58 | 89 | 1 | 0.277 |
17 | Todd Helton | 151 | 544 | 15 | 79 | 86 | 89 | 73 | 0 | 0.325 |
18 | Adam LaRoche | 150 | 555 | 25 | 78 | 83 | 69 | 142 | 2 | 0.277 |
19 | Jorge Cantu | 149 | 585 | 16 | 67 | 100 | 47 | 81 | 3 | 0.289 |
20 | Russell Branyan | 116 | 431 | 31 | 64 | 76 | 58 | 149 | 2 | 0.251 |
The first base position is fairly deep in 2010 with about 15-16 capable of going 30-90 in 2010. At number 1, Albert Pujols is the total package, and he will provide solid production in all five categories in 2010, including stolen bases. He chipped in with 16 last year.
I may have the Reds first baseman Joey Votto ranked higher than most people, but he was top 5 or top 6 in OPS last season, and I think he can put together a Top 5 season in 2010 if he stays healthy. He hits in a hitters park and in an improving lineup in Cincinnatti.
I thought about switching Prince Fielder and Ryan Howard, but Fielder will hit for the higher BA. The top 3 first baseman can hit 40+ HRs and should all be first or early second round selections in fantasy drafts.
One of these years the Tigers Miguel Cabrera will approach the 40 HR club, and it could be in 2010. If he is truly over his off field issues, he can put together a 40-120 season for fantasy owners.
Lance Berkman had a down year in 2009, but he will be looking to improve upon that in 2010, as the Astros have a club option for 2011. They could let him become a free agent in 2011, so Berkman will be looking to stay healthy and put together a solid season power wise if he wants to land a nice contract next offseason. (Note: these were posted over at SB Nation's fantasy page on February 28th, before yesterday's news that Berkman will be out for 2-4 weeks. I would probably move him down a bit now.)
I think the Royals Billy Butler has the bat to approach 30 HRs in 2010 as he hit 51 doubles last year.
Last year was the first year since 2003 where Adam Dunn didn't hit 40+ HRs in a season. Could this be the new trend for Dunn?
One guy who could enter the top 20 in 2010 if he can show improved power is the Dodgers James Loney. He has the potential to hit 20-25 HRs, and drive in 100 runs, and 2010 just may be the season he reaches that total.