Before signing a mega contract with the Angels last offseason, Albert Pujols was "El Hombre" and "machine-like" during his 11 seasons with the Cardinals.
Even though he added some steals to his game more recently, he was a lock for a line of .300/100/30/100. In fact, he only missed 100 runs once (99 in 2007), 100 runs batted in once (99 in 2011) and a .300 batting average only once (.299 in 2011).
With the switch to the American League in 2012, things did not start nearly as well for Pujols. In his first 27 games and 114 plate appearances, Pujols was homer-less. In addition, he had only five runs batted in and nine runs scored during that 27-game span.
Despite his slow start, Pujols ended up with respectable year-end numbers. He drove in 105 runs, but he set career lows of .285 average, 30 home runs and 85 runs scored.
The biggest concern with Pujols as we head into the 2013 season is his recovery from offseason knee surgery. He initially suffered the injury in August, but he has told Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times that "if the season started tomorrow, I'd be playing, but there's no reason to push it."
With the team's offseason addition of Josh Hamilton to an already-potent lineup, Pujols will have more opportunities to score runs and drive in runs and I expect a bounce-back season.
More Blues for Gonzalez Owners in 2013?
The 2012 season was one that first baseman Adrian Gonzalez would like to forget.
Traded near the end of the season back to his home-state Dodgers, Gonzalez hit a home run in his first at-bat. Unfortunately, he hit only two more in his other 144 Dodger at-bats last season.
Gonzalez felt as though his swing never felt right last season and attributed that to "trying too hard."
That said, he closed the season with a 15-game hitting streak, the longest by any Dodger in 2012. Looking ahead to 2013, will Gonzalez bounce back?
Based on this report from Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times, it appears that Gonzalez is in great shape. Provided he doesn't try to do too much in 2013, Gonzalez has the potential to provide fantasy owners a huge discount in 2013.
Feeling lucky?
Dunn: You Know What to Expect
Chicago White Sox first baseman and designated hitter Adam Dunn had a season to forget after signing a free-agency deal with the club in 2011.
An extremely productive power hitter, Dunn had 38-plus homers each year and drove in 100-plus runs in six of the previous seven seasons. Not only was he productive, but there was minimal variability in his power production.
After hitting 46 homers in 2004, Dunn hit exactly 40 home runs for four consecutive years and then 38 homers in back-to-back seasons before joining the White Sox. In addition, he had 100-plus runs batted in six times during that seven-year span. The lone exception was a 92-RBI season.
While he was never going to win a batting title, Dunn's batting average was not as much of a negative in the recent past before getting to Chicago. He hit .260-plus in three of the four previous seasons.
Virtually nothing went right in 2011.
Not only did he hit a career-low .159 (.064 vs. LHP) and strike out a career-worst 35.7 percent of the time, his power production evaporated. For the first time in his career, he had a single-digit HR/FB ratio (9.6 percent). His previous career low of 17.8 percent was set as a rookie in 2002. It has been 20-plus percent in every other year of his career.
Last year, Dunn's HR/FB ratio skyrocketed to a career-high 29.3 percent as he hit 41 home runs and drove in 96 runs. More than 37 percent of his base hits were round-trippers.
While Dunn's power production returned and his batting average jumped 45 points, the bad news is he still hit only .204, the second-lowest of his career.
Drafting Dunn will give you an affordable source of power production, but draft accordingly to compensate for the damage he will do your team's batting average. With an average draft position of 162 (19th among first basemen) from Mock Draft Central, Dunn won't be your starting first basemen unless you're in a deep league or sustain injuries.
But let's say you have someone else like Philadelphia's Ben Revere (ADP: 189) on your bench. Like virtually all base-stealers, Revere stole a large majority of his bases (31 of 40) last year when facing righties. If I owned both Dunn and Revere as possible utility options, I would alternate them based on which player was facing a right-handed starter that night. If they both were, then I'd go with whichever stat I needed more (steals or homers).
The Real Deal or a Fluke Season for Encarnacion?
Toronto's Edwin Encarnacion broke out in a big way in 2012 shattering his previous career highs with 42 home runs and 110 runs batted in over a career-high 151 games. In addition, he scored 93 runs and stole 13 bases, both of which are career bests.
In his previous two seasons combined, Encarnacion hit a total of 38 home runs and drove in 106 runs over 230 games and 813 at-bats. Previous single-season career highs for Encarnacion were 26 home runs (2008), 76 runs batted in (2007) and 75 runs scored (2007).
With all of the team's offseason moves, the Blue Jays will continue to score runs and Encarnacion will have plenty of opportunities to drive in runs.
From my perspective, however, I will always be skeptical about a breakout season that occurs in a player's eighth season in the big leagues. Not that I expect him to revert to pre-2012 production, the chance that he duplicates his 2012 numbers is extremely low.
For 2013, I see a season of 30 home runs, 80 runs batted in and a .270 average for Encarnacion. Based on his average draft position of 21 (via Mock Draft Central), I'll pass and let someone else in my leagues take the chance that Encarnacion comes closer to his 2012 numbers than I expect.
Here are my 2013 fantasy first basemen rankings:
1. Albert Pujols, Los Angeles Angels
2. Joey Votto, Cincinnati Reds
3. Prince Fielder, Detroit Tigers
4. Adrian Gonzalez, Los Angeles Dodgers
5. Buster Posey, San Francisco Giants
6. Edwin Encarnacion, Toronto Blue Jays
7. Billy Butler, Kansas City Royals
8. Allen Craig, St. Louis Cardinals
9. Mark Teixeira, New York Yankees
10. Joe Mauer, Minnesota Twins
11. Paul Goldschmidt, Arizona Diamondbacks
12. Freddie Freeman, Atlanta Braves
13. Carlos Santana, Cleveland Indians
14. Eric Hosmer, Kansas City Royals
15. Anthony Rizzo, Chicago Cubs
16. Mark Trumbo, Los Angeles Angels
17. Ike Davis, New York Mets
18. Ryan Howard, Philadelphia Phillies
19. Mike Napoli, Boston Red Sox
20. David Ortiz, Boston Red Sox
21. Paul Konerko, Chicago White Sox
22. Kendrys Morales, Seattle Mariners
23. Michael Cuddyer, Colorado Rockies
24. Adam LaRoche, Washington Nationals
25. Dustin Ackley, Seattle Mariners
26. Adam Dunn, Chicago White Sox
27. Nick Swisher, Cleveland Indians
28. Justin Morneau, Minnesota Twins
29. Chris Davis, Baltimore Orioles
30. Todd Frazier, Cincinnati Reds
For a second opinion, check out Duncan Sanford's first basemen rankings. (Or view our consensus catcher rankings here.)
Other positions: C - 1B - 2B - 3B - SS - OF - SP - RP
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Showing posts with label Adrian Gonzalez. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Adrian Gonzalez. Show all posts
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Monday, February 20, 2012
(Updated) 2012 Fantasy Baseball Preseason Rankings: Top 25 First Basemen
Two of the best first basemen in baseball signed mega contracts -- more than $200 million each -- this offseason while moving from the National League to the American League.
The Angels will give Albert Pujols $254 million over the next 10 years and the Tigers will give Prince Fielder $214 million over nine years. Only Alex Rodriguez has signed larger contracts.
Based on average draft position (ADP) from Mock Draft Central, that means that only one out of the first eight at the position to be drafted (on average) play in the N.L.: Cincinnati's Joey Votto. While first base is (one of) the deepest positions in fantasy baseball, it's especially deep in AL-only leagues.
Considering Pujols is in his early-30's, it made sense for him to transition to the American League, where he can eventually DH toward the (middle or) end of his contract. Pujols is one of baseball's greatest hitters of all-time.
For the first time in his 11-year career, Pujols hit less than .300 (.299) and drove in less than 100 runs (99). In 2007, Pujols scored less than 100 runs (99) for the only time in his career. And he has hit 32-plus homers in all 11 seasons.
So, in other words, Pujols has had a line of .300-100-30-100 every year with the exception of one run scored, one run batted in and one batting average point.
While Pujols hit a career-low .299, Fielder, who will be 36 years old at the end of his contract, tied his previous career high of .299 last year.
In the past five seasons, Fielder has hit a total of 200 home runs with 565 runs batted in, which is an average of 40 homers and 113 RBIs per season. His career highs during that span were 50 home runs (2007) and 141 RBIs (2009).
With the addition of Fielder, Miguel Cabrera will earn eligibility at third base. As good as Cabrera is regardless of position, he will become even more valuable with third-base eligibility, especially considering the difference in depth at the two positions.
In his eight seasons since his rookie year (2003), Cabrera has driven in 100-plus runs every year and hit 30-plus homers seven times. A lifetime .317 hitter, Cabrera hit a career-high .344 last year.
Here are some more notes on first basemen:
- One player that is often overlooked on draft day, and I'm guilty of it as well, is Chicago's Paul Konerko. Konerko has had back-to-back seasons with 30-plus homers, 100-plus runs batted in and a .300-plus batting average and plays half of his games in a great hitter's park.
- In 128 games last year, Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer, the third-overall pick in the 2008 draft, hit .293 with 19 home runs, 78 runs batted in and had 11 steals. While he's still only 22 years old and we may see a bit of sophomore slump, Hosmer is one of baseball's great young hitters.
- Switching from a pitcher-friendly park in San Diego to a hitter-friendly one in Boston, Adrian Gonzalez surprisingly hit only 27 home runs, which was a five-year low. That said, Gonzalez set career highs in average (.338) and runs scored (108). He also had 45 doubles and 117 runs batted in, both of which were the second-highest totals of his career.
- The clear top option at first in N.L.-only leagues (as noted above), Votto reached triple-digits in both runs and runs batted in for the second straight season, but he also reached triple-digits in walks (110) for the first time in his career. Not only does Votto hit for average and power, but he has a combined total of 24 stolen bases in the past two seasons.
- Although Boston's Kevin Youkilis has first base eligibiliy, he primarily plays third base, which adds to his value. However, Youkilis is coming off a season where he set a career low in batting average (.258) and, even worse, he has averaged less than 120 games played over the past three seasons, which obviously detracts from his value. In fact, Youkilis has never played more than 147 games in a season.
- San Francisco's Pablo Sandoval played in only 117 games last year, but he still managed to hit 23 homers, only two shy of the career high he set back in 2009, and drove in 70 runs. After the All-Star break, KungFu Panda hit .325 with 15 home runs and 41 runs batted in over 67 games and offers the same 1B/3B versatility as Youkilis.
- Lance Berkman had a great year with a line of .301-90-31-94-2, but the first half told a different story for Berkman than the second half did. Berkman hit 24 homers and drove in 63 runs before the All-Star break and had only seven home runs and 31 RBIs after the break. In 52 games in August and September, Berkman hit only three home runs in 180 at-bats (or exactly one per every 60 at-bats).
- Not only is Michael Cuddyer eligible at first base, but he is eligible at second and outfield as well. In addition to offering fantasy owners positional flexibility, Cuddyer is moving to the friendlier confines of Coors Field this season. Although he played in only 139 games last year, Cuddyer set a career high in steals (11) and hit 20-plus homers for the third time in his career.
Here are our top 25 first basemen for the 2012 season:
1. Albert Pujols, Angels
2. Miguel Cabrera, Tigers
3. Adrian Gonzalez, Red Sox
4. Joey Votto, Reds
5. Prince Fielder, Tigers
6. Mark Teixeira, Yankees
7. Paul Konerko, White Sox
8. Eric Hosmer, Royals
9. Michael Morse, Nationals
10. Pablo Sandoval, Giants
11. Kevin Youkilis, Red Sox
12. Carlos Santana, Indians
13. Mike Napoli, Rangers
14. Michael Young, Rangers
15. Freddie Freeman, Braves
16. Ryan Howard, Phillies
17. Lance Berkman, Cardinals
18. Michael Cuddyer, Rockies
19. Adam Lind, Blue Jays
20. Ike Davis, Mets
21. Adam Lind, Blue Jays
22. Adam Dunn, White Sox
23. Gaby Sanchez, Marlins
24. Mark Reynolds, Orioles
25. Carlos Lee, Astros
Other Positions: C - 1B - 2B - 3B - SS - OF - SP - RP
To keep track of our updates, follow us on Twitter @EDSBaseball and/or LIKE us on Facebook.
The Angels will give Albert Pujols $254 million over the next 10 years and the Tigers will give Prince Fielder $214 million over nine years. Only Alex Rodriguez has signed larger contracts.
Based on average draft position (ADP) from Mock Draft Central, that means that only one out of the first eight at the position to be drafted (on average) play in the N.L.: Cincinnati's Joey Votto. While first base is (one of) the deepest positions in fantasy baseball, it's especially deep in AL-only leagues.
Considering Pujols is in his early-30's, it made sense for him to transition to the American League, where he can eventually DH toward the (middle or) end of his contract. Pujols is one of baseball's greatest hitters of all-time.
For the first time in his 11-year career, Pujols hit less than .300 (.299) and drove in less than 100 runs (99). In 2007, Pujols scored less than 100 runs (99) for the only time in his career. And he has hit 32-plus homers in all 11 seasons.
So, in other words, Pujols has had a line of .300-100-30-100 every year with the exception of one run scored, one run batted in and one batting average point.
While Pujols hit a career-low .299, Fielder, who will be 36 years old at the end of his contract, tied his previous career high of .299 last year.
In the past five seasons, Fielder has hit a total of 200 home runs with 565 runs batted in, which is an average of 40 homers and 113 RBIs per season. His career highs during that span were 50 home runs (2007) and 141 RBIs (2009).
With the addition of Fielder, Miguel Cabrera will earn eligibility at third base. As good as Cabrera is regardless of position, he will become even more valuable with third-base eligibility, especially considering the difference in depth at the two positions.
In his eight seasons since his rookie year (2003), Cabrera has driven in 100-plus runs every year and hit 30-plus homers seven times. A lifetime .317 hitter, Cabrera hit a career-high .344 last year.
Here are some more notes on first basemen:
- One player that is often overlooked on draft day, and I'm guilty of it as well, is Chicago's Paul Konerko. Konerko has had back-to-back seasons with 30-plus homers, 100-plus runs batted in and a .300-plus batting average and plays half of his games in a great hitter's park.
- In 128 games last year, Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer, the third-overall pick in the 2008 draft, hit .293 with 19 home runs, 78 runs batted in and had 11 steals. While he's still only 22 years old and we may see a bit of sophomore slump, Hosmer is one of baseball's great young hitters.
- Switching from a pitcher-friendly park in San Diego to a hitter-friendly one in Boston, Adrian Gonzalez surprisingly hit only 27 home runs, which was a five-year low. That said, Gonzalez set career highs in average (.338) and runs scored (108). He also had 45 doubles and 117 runs batted in, both of which were the second-highest totals of his career.
- The clear top option at first in N.L.-only leagues (as noted above), Votto reached triple-digits in both runs and runs batted in for the second straight season, but he also reached triple-digits in walks (110) for the first time in his career. Not only does Votto hit for average and power, but he has a combined total of 24 stolen bases in the past two seasons.
- Although Boston's Kevin Youkilis has first base eligibiliy, he primarily plays third base, which adds to his value. However, Youkilis is coming off a season where he set a career low in batting average (.258) and, even worse, he has averaged less than 120 games played over the past three seasons, which obviously detracts from his value. In fact, Youkilis has never played more than 147 games in a season.
- San Francisco's Pablo Sandoval played in only 117 games last year, but he still managed to hit 23 homers, only two shy of the career high he set back in 2009, and drove in 70 runs. After the All-Star break, KungFu Panda hit .325 with 15 home runs and 41 runs batted in over 67 games and offers the same 1B/3B versatility as Youkilis.
- Lance Berkman had a great year with a line of .301-90-31-94-2, but the first half told a different story for Berkman than the second half did. Berkman hit 24 homers and drove in 63 runs before the All-Star break and had only seven home runs and 31 RBIs after the break. In 52 games in August and September, Berkman hit only three home runs in 180 at-bats (or exactly one per every 60 at-bats).
- Not only is Michael Cuddyer eligible at first base, but he is eligible at second and outfield as well. In addition to offering fantasy owners positional flexibility, Cuddyer is moving to the friendlier confines of Coors Field this season. Although he played in only 139 games last year, Cuddyer set a career high in steals (11) and hit 20-plus homers for the third time in his career.
Here are our top 25 first basemen for the 2012 season:
1. Albert Pujols, Angels
2. Miguel Cabrera, Tigers
3. Adrian Gonzalez, Red Sox
4. Joey Votto, Reds
5. Prince Fielder, Tigers
6. Mark Teixeira, Yankees
7. Paul Konerko, White Sox
8. Eric Hosmer, Royals
9. Michael Morse, Nationals
10. Pablo Sandoval, Giants
11. Kevin Youkilis, Red Sox
12. Carlos Santana, Indians
13. Mike Napoli, Rangers
14. Michael Young, Rangers
15. Freddie Freeman, Braves
16. Ryan Howard, Phillies
17. Lance Berkman, Cardinals
18. Michael Cuddyer, Rockies
19. Adam Lind, Blue Jays
20. Ike Davis, Mets
21. Adam Lind, Blue Jays
22. Adam Dunn, White Sox
23. Gaby Sanchez, Marlins
24. Mark Reynolds, Orioles
25. Carlos Lee, Astros
Other Positions: C - 1B - 2B - 3B - SS - OF - SP - RP
To keep track of our updates, follow us on Twitter @EDSBaseball and/or LIKE us on Facebook.
Friday, April 15, 2011
Adrian Gonzalez, Red Sox finalize seven-year contract extension
It's official.
The Red Sox and first baseman Adrian Gonzalez have completed a seven-year contract extension worth $154 million, per Ian Browne of MLB.com.
The extension, which is the second-largest in team history, keeps Gonzalez, who was due to enter free agency after the 2011 season, in Boston through the 2018 season.
As Browne points out, there were two main reasons for waiting to announce the deal. First, it allowed the Red Sox to make sure there were no lingering effects from his off-season shoulder surgery. Second, the Red Sox saved $6.2 million in luxury tax by announcing the deal after the season started.
Gonzalez is off to a slow start -- .268 with one homer and seven runs batted in over 11 games.
With playing half of his games a park much more hitter-friendly than his previous home (Petco Park), however, Gonzalez should be in store for huge numbers year in and year out.
Here are his career splits:
The Red Sox and first baseman Adrian Gonzalez have completed a seven-year contract extension worth $154 million, per Ian Browne of MLB.com.
The extension, which is the second-largest in team history, keeps Gonzalez, who was due to enter free agency after the 2011 season, in Boston through the 2018 season.
As Browne points out, there were two main reasons for waiting to announce the deal. First, it allowed the Red Sox to make sure there were no lingering effects from his off-season shoulder surgery. Second, the Red Sox saved $6.2 million in luxury tax by announcing the deal after the season started.
Gonzalez is off to a slow start -- .268 with one homer and seven runs batted in over 11 games.
With playing half of his games a park much more hitter-friendly than his previous home (Petco Park), however, Gonzalez should be in store for huge numbers year in and year out.
Here are his career splits:
- Home: .263, 199 runs, 61 homers (140 extra-base hits), 216 RBIs in 431 games
- Away: .303, 294 runs, 108 homers (226 extra-base hits), 316 RBIs in 438 games
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Carl Crawford dropped from 3rd to 7th in lineup today
Two games (and losses) into the season, the Boston Red Sox are making a notable adjustment to their lineup.
Left fielder Carl Crawford, who's 0-for-7 through two games, is moving from third to seventh in today's lineup for their game against the Rangers.
"Looking at him, he's obviously trying too hard," [Red Sox manager Terry] Francona said, per ESPNBoston.com. "As soon as he gets on base and creates havoc, he'll loosen up and the real Carl comes out."
Meanwhile, first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, who's 5-for-9 so far, and third baseman Kevin Youkilis will move up to the third and fourth spots in the batting order, respectively.
Of course, this is a temporary move. But too soon?
Left fielder Carl Crawford, who's 0-for-7 through two games, is moving from third to seventh in today's lineup for their game against the Rangers.
"Looking at him, he's obviously trying too hard," [Red Sox manager Terry] Francona said, per ESPNBoston.com. "As soon as he gets on base and creates havoc, he'll loosen up and the real Carl comes out."
Meanwhile, first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, who's 5-for-9 so far, and third baseman Kevin Youkilis will move up to the third and fourth spots in the batting order, respectively.
Of course, this is a temporary move. But too soon?
Monday, June 22, 2009
Not quite mid-season awards: N.L. MVP
Over the weekend, I began the process of selecting my Cy Youngs and MVPs in both leagues by making my N.L. Cy Young pick based on production thus far.
Obviously, a lot can change between now and October, but today I will pick my National League MVP through June 22nd.
After his 6-for-12 performance this weekend with three home runs and ten RBI, the NL MVP race is the most clear-cut of the four award races.
The award goes to Albert Pujols, who becomes only the third player to begin a career with nine consecutive 25-home run seasons. Despite my personal bias (Pujols is my favorite player), it's hard to argue with this pick.
Pujols leads the N.L. in runs scored (56), home runs (26), runs batted in (68), OBP (.448) and OPS (1.169). He is also hitting .329 on the season. He nearly has as many home runs (26) as he has strikeouts (27).
As an added bonus, he's on pace to steal 21 bases. In fact, his nine steals lead the majors for first baseman. And the Cardinals currently lead the N.L. Central.
So, the real battle is for runner-up.
Runner-up: Raul Ibanez, Phillies - For me, it came down to Prince Fielder and Ibanez, who is on the 15-day DL. Ibanez, who is off to a torrid start excluding being placed on the DL, is in the top three in the N.L. in runs (51), home runs (22), runs batted in (59) and OPS (1.027).
In addition, Ibanez is hitting .312 for the Phillies, who currently lead the N.L. East.
Honorable Mention (not necessarily in order): Prince Fielder (Brewers), Matt Kemp (Dodgers), David Wright (Mets), Adrian Gonzalez (Padres) and Ryan Braun (Brewers).
Obviously, a lot can change between now and October, but today I will pick my National League MVP through June 22nd.
After his 6-for-12 performance this weekend with three home runs and ten RBI, the NL MVP race is the most clear-cut of the four award races.
The award goes to Albert Pujols, who becomes only the third player to begin a career with nine consecutive 25-home run seasons. Despite my personal bias (Pujols is my favorite player), it's hard to argue with this pick.
Pujols leads the N.L. in runs scored (56), home runs (26), runs batted in (68), OBP (.448) and OPS (1.169). He is also hitting .329 on the season. He nearly has as many home runs (26) as he has strikeouts (27).
As an added bonus, he's on pace to steal 21 bases. In fact, his nine steals lead the majors for first baseman. And the Cardinals currently lead the N.L. Central.
So, the real battle is for runner-up.
Runner-up: Raul Ibanez, Phillies - For me, it came down to Prince Fielder and Ibanez, who is on the 15-day DL. Ibanez, who is off to a torrid start excluding being placed on the DL, is in the top three in the N.L. in runs (51), home runs (22), runs batted in (59) and OPS (1.027).
In addition, Ibanez is hitting .312 for the Phillies, who currently lead the N.L. East.
Honorable Mention (not necessarily in order): Prince Fielder (Brewers), Matt Kemp (Dodgers), David Wright (Mets), Adrian Gonzalez (Padres) and Ryan Braun (Brewers).
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