2012 Fantasy Baseball Rankings & Projections – Top 20 First Basemen
Ahhhh first basemen…these are my kind of guys…for fantasy….baseball. Any-who now that we have the catchers out of the way it’s time to explore the first basemen. This year we have some S-T-U-D-S at the top of the list, but the list definitely does not have the depth of prior seasons. If you don’t come out of the first round with a first baseman you will be lacking some but you can absolutely still build a solid team. That’s Kel consoling you. Free hugs all around!
A quick note on these rankings and projections that will be featured over the next few weeks and will culminate with the Top 10, Top 20, Top 100, and Top 300 rankings…these are how I think they should be valued. You may disagree at times and fall in love with me at times (but hey let’s just stay friends for now…I’d just break your heart….unless you have a huge bankroll for drinks.) Any-who I break things out into tiers when I can. When you see guys in the same tier it means it doesn’t really matter who is ranked ahead of whom…I just prefer the guy on top (well that came out wrong.) All the rankings will also be featured on their own page (look above…higher…higher…there), which can be found here.
After we wrap up the rankings I’m going to hold a live chat on fantasybalk.com to answer any questions you may have and try and help you with any last minute keeper question, draft questions, relationship advice, etc. that you might be facing. I’ll be announcing the date and time shortly. Feel free to start sending in your questions now to fantasybalk@gmail.com
Ok so the 2012 Top 20 First Basemen for Fantasy Baseball:
1. Miguel Cabrera – So reliable, so consistent, so sober (well I guess I can’t knock him for that.) It’s still my dream to go out drinking with the guy. Miggy was my #1 before Prince cannonballed into Detroit, and now he is my #1 with a big fat gold star next to it. Cheers to you Miggy (too soon?) This is the first tier. It goes through Fielder. I call it tier “Elite.” 2012 Projections: 110/35/115/.330/2
2. Albert Pujols – Takes a slight hit moving from the NL to the AL (he does get to play a lot of games in Oakland and Seattle though), but I’m more worried about his age and if his lineup will help him at all. With all of that said (well actually typed) Pujols is still a beast and in the first round you need someone you can depend on. 2012 Projections: 110/40/120/.310/8
3. Joey Votto – Pretty much the only complaint last year (besides him never returning my texts) was a slight drop in power. His ISO really dropped, but he lowered his K% and increased his BB%. I absolutely love him again this year. Hope to hear from you soon Joey! 2012 Projections: 105/33/110/.315/10
4. Adrian Gonzalez – A lot of fantasy baseball “experts” (quoted because most self-proclaimed experts are actually just noobs disguised in an ESPN t-shirt, jeans, and sneakers) are down on Adrian. I still like the guy so those noobs can get off my back. He did have an insane BABIP last year so his average will be dropping. David Eckstein called and said “Not Fair! Everything I hit went nowhere…but boy was I gritty.” 2012 Projections: 105/31/110/.300/0
5. Prince Fielder – I already covered him. You should check it out, if you like getting noticed at the beach. 2012 Projections.: 95/36/110/.290/1
6. Mark Teixeira – Another guy that people seem to be down on this year. I’ll admit, he is not in my Top 10 this year (Geez stop spoiling everything Kel) but 40-homer potential first basemen are still a gem. I’m actually putting Tex in his own tier. Basically I don’t like him enough for him to be in the tier above and I like him more (a lot to do with his lineup) than the old dudes in the tier below. This is tier “Mark Teixeira.” 2012 Projections: 100/37/110/.260/2
7. Paul Konerko – Sometimes I wonder if on Christmas Eve Konerko reads the Polar Express to his grandkids, gets far to drunk on Egg Nog, and then lectures the kids about how when he was growing up all he would get for Christmas is a Howdy Doody doll. This is tier “Old, probably a little crotchety, but reliable” 2012 Projections: 85/30/95/.295/1
8. Lance Berkman – See Konerko’s Blurb (Hint: It’s right above this blurb) 2012 Projections: 85/25/95/.280/2
9. Michael Young – See Konerko’s Blurb (Hint: It’s two above this blurb) 2012 Projections: 80/15/90/.300/5
10. Eric Hosmer – Oh this is a fun tier. I could definitely see myself owning one of these guys as my corner infielder (but not really Santana…check out the catcher blurb if you are confused). Some people are worried about a sophomore slump from the “Hoss.” To that I take off my glove and slap you across the face, and wish you a good day. This is tier “Love these dudes” it goes through Reynolds. 2012 Projections: 85/25/90/.285/12
11. Michael Morse – Sir Michael Morse (Yes I knighted him….so what?!) was probably my best sleeper and best friend last year. I still like him for this year, but keep in mind last year was probably a career year. It won’t get any better than that and he’ll most likely tick down a little bit. That lineup is still quite good and he’ll make a great CI/Util/etc. for you this year. 2012 Projections: 85/28/90/.285/2
12. Carlos Santana – I already covered him here. 2012 Projections: 90/26/100/.265/5
13. Mark Reynolds – Some people don’t like Reynolds because of his atrocious average, but it is all about building a team that can support Reynolds, that way when his average falls (and it will) you have built a trust-tree to support him. It’s all about the tree of trust. A guy that can hit 35 bombs and steal a few bags is OK in my book. Reynolds will find his way on a few teams for me this year. 2012 Projections: 85/36/90/.230/8
14. Michael Cuddyer – Moving from that hellhole in Minnesota (for hitters…I’m not calling the city a hellhole…well I’ve never been…maybe it is) to Coors can only be good news. I have a slight feeling that some may reach on him for this reason. Don’t reach; he’ll be solid but nothing spectacular. Oh and that’s what I call this tier. It goes through Butler. 2012 Projections: 80/22/85/.275/8
15. Adam Lind – I will defend Adam Lind until the day I die (do the Mayans still think that is this year by the way? What happens when they are proven wrong? Oops sorry guys, oh and sorry you had to suffer through that crappy movie 2012. That one was our bad as well.) Any-who I still believe in Lind, and that he can put up a 30+ homer, .300 year. I could be wrong…but I don’t think I have ever been (thank goodness this blog doesn’t have a search feature…wait it does?…..uh oh) I’m going to be a little conservative on Lind, but if he goes nuts I’ll be editing this post and pretending that I “told you so.” 2012 Projections: 75/27/90/.265/1
16. Billy Butler – For those of you who may be new to the site, Welcome! Tell your friends (and your enemies!) Billy Butler reminds me of John Daly. Just based on looks, there is no hard-hitting analysis in this post. I’m telling you, put some golf pants on Butler, a polo shirt, a cigarette, and a bud heavy in his hand and you have John Daly. 2012 Projections: 85/19/100/.300/1
17. Ryan Howard – Anytime a guy is “expected” back May 1st he typically isn’t. Plus Howard is a big guy, there will be setbacks. I made my projection assuming he’ll be back on May 1st but I won’t be surprised if it is closer to May 15th. I won’t be drafting him, unless he really falls. Oh and this is the final tier. It goes from Howard until the end. I call this tier, “Two Jews, a catcher, and a guy with a limp walk into a bar” The punch line is fantastic. 2012 Projections: 70/25/90/.260/0
18. Mike Napoli – I already covered him here. 2012 Projections: 70/28/80/.270/3
19. Paul Goldschmidt – You want Mark Reynolds a few rounds later? Don’t even answer it of course you do! Draft Goldschmidt if you miss out on Reynolds. How’s that for hard-hitting analysis. 2012 Projections: 75/28/85/.260/5
20. Ike Davis – Not convinced he’s healthy until I see him in spring training. Once I see him sober (me sober…not him sober) he’ll probably move up or out of these rankings. 2012 Projections: 80/21/85/.275/1
Bonus! –
Mark Trumbo – Just don’t touch him unless you know he is healthy and going to play everyday. Oh and don’t trust Scioscia to give him the playing time. 2012 Projections: 65/23/75/.265/8
Kendrys Morales – Needs to spend less time on how many consonants he wants in his first name, and more time on getting healthy. 2012 Projections: 60/21/70/.280/0
Justin Morneau – If you run into him during spring training…please do it lightly. 2012 Projections: 60/16/70/.270/0
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