Heck’s completely scientific season preview/analysis by position
FIRST BASEMEN
Methodology: Read the Catchers article. I’ll wait…
#1 – DADDY’S LITTLE
BOYS – Albert Pujols, ANA – 100 POINTS
With virtually no difference between the top 3, Albert hangs
on to his place at the top of the list by a nose. His durability gives him the slight edge over
Votto, as Joey V. is projected to have fewer ABs than Pujols. Another “down” season, however, and Albert
may never find his way back to the top of this list…
|
CBS
|
618
|
|
RotoChamp
|
580
|
|
Steamer
|
610
|
|
Bill James
|
662
|
|
Oliver
|
562
|
|
ZIPS
|
554
|
|
AVERAGE
|
597.7
|
#2 – NORRIS SLUM LORDS – Prince Fielder, DET –
98.41 POINTS
Prince fit in just fine last year in his first season in the
American League, and the projections see that trend continuing. Hitting behind Miguel Cabrera doesn’t hurt,
either…
|
CBS
|
600
|
|
RotoChamp
|
614
|
|
Steamer
|
577
|
|
Bill James
|
633
|
|
Oliver
|
555
|
|
ZIPS
|
550
|
|
AVERAGE
|
588.2
|
#3 – LIMERICK
LYNCHMOB – Joey Votto, CIN – 98.13 POINTS
Joey had injury issues last year that robbed him of his
power stroke down the stretch. He still
hit a staggering 44 doubles in 111 games...that’s worth 88 points! Anyway, look for Joey to blow up in a big way
this season if he stays healthy…
|
CBS
|
637
|
|
RotoChamp
|
650
|
|
Steamer
|
560
|
|
Bill James
|
613
|
|
Oliver
|
526
|
|
ZIPS
|
533
|
|
AVERAGE
|
586.5
|
#4 – HELLS KITCHEN
HERZOGS – Adrian Gonzalez, LAD – 90.46 POINTS
After watching Gonzalez struggle through 2012, these
projections seem a bit aggressive, but the computers seem to think that A-Gone
will bounce back now that he’s back on the West Coast full time. If his BB% and ISO don’t improve, it may not
matter where he’s playing…
|
CBS
|
579
|
|
RotoChamp
|
515
|
|
Steamer
|
532
|
|
Bill James
|
581
|
|
Oliver
|
516
|
|
ZIPS
|
521
|
|
AVERAGE
|
540.7
|
#5 – JACKRABBITS – Paul
Goldschmidt, ARI – 89.35 POINTS
Goldschmidt burst onto the scene with a solid 2012 campaign,
and the projections see him taking that up another notch in 2013. Brandon will be hoping for a few more taters
to go along with those 45 doubles…
|
CBS
|
552
|
|
RotoChamp
|
515
|
|
Steamer
|
510
|
|
Bill James
|
606
|
|
Oliver
|
499
|
|
ZIPS
|
522
|
|
AVERAGE
|
534
|
#6 – ELEPHANT BALLS –
Anthony Rizzo, CHC – 88.18 POINTS
And the computers LOVE young Anthony Rizzo. 38 home runs between AAA and the Majors last
year will do that – now let’s see if Rizzo can do it for an entire season in
the bigs…
|
CBS
|
522
|
|
RotoChamp
|
505
|
|
Steamer
|
526
|
|
Bill James
|
572
|
|
Oliver
|
489
|
|
ZIPS
|
548
|
|
AVERAGE
|
527
|
#7 – BROOKLYN BLUNTED
B – Freddie Freeman, ATL – 86.11 POINTS
Another young darling of the computers, Freeman improved his
BB% and ISO in his age 22 season, getting the models to project big things for
the youngster. He’s in the middle of
what should be one of the more potent offenses in baseball, as well…
|
CBS
|
548
|
|
RotoChamp
|
536
|
|
Steamer
|
490
|
|
Bill James
|
510
|
|
Oliver
|
481
|
|
ZIPS
|
523
|
|
AVERAGE
|
514.7
|
#8 – MATTROSTARS – Edwin
Encarnacion, TOR – 84.33 POINTS
Encarnacion is coming off of an unbelievable 2012 that saw
his offensive numbers improve dramatically across the board. The projections are apparently skeptical that
the 30-year old can repeat that kind of career year…
|
CBS
|
561
|
|
RotoChamp
|
558
|
|
Steamer
|
465
|
|
Bill James
|
518
|
|
Oliver
|
467
|
|
ZIPS
|
455
|
|
AVERAGE
|
504
|
#9 – THE H TREE – Eric
Hosmer, KC – 80.31 POINTS
Hosmer turned in one of the more disappointing fantasy
seasons of 2012, after a full offseason of being touted as the next big
thing. He’ll get another chance with the
rest of his up-and-coming Royals teammates to prove that last season was just a
fluke…
|
CBS
|
470
|
|
RotoChamp
|
477
|
|
Steamer
|
466
|
|
Bill James
|
497
|
|
Oliver
|
478
|
|
ZIPS
|
492
|
|
AVERAGE
|
480
|
#T10 – T-BAGGERS – Allen
Craig, STL – 77.05 POINTS
This projection surprised me a bit as Craig is being hyped
throughout much of the fantasy landscape in a higher position than this. Apparently the computers have a “show me more”
attitude about career minor leaguers who have a breakout year at the age of
27/28…
|
CBS
|
540
|
|
RotoChamp
|
471
|
|
Steamer
|
445
|
|
Bill James
|
526
|
|
Oliver
|
380
|
|
ZIPS
|
401
|
|
AVERAGE
|
460.5
|
#T10 – SNAPDRAGONS – Ike
Davis, NYM – 77.05 POINTS
I like Ike! More than
the computers do, apparently…though Ike’s projected numbers are hurt somewhat
by his 2011, a lost year due to injury.
Did you know Ike only had a BABIP of .246 last year? Good gravy!
|
CBS
|
490
|
|
RotoChamp
|
487
|
|
Steamer
|
508
|
|
Bill James
|
503
|
|
Oliver
|
402
|
|
ZIPS
|
373
|
|
AVERAGE
|
460.5
|
#12 – ISOTOPES – Ryan
Howard, PHI – 74.74 POINTS
The much-maligned former MVP is the lowest Subway spokesperson
on this list. Obviously, the projections
can’t account for the way he’s killing the ball in Florida. Is Ryan going to fool the system and return
to his previous glory?
|
CBS
|
500
|
|
RotoChamp
|
446
|
|
Steamer
|
416
|
|
Bill James
|
541
|
|
Oliver
|
388
|
|
ZIPS
|
389
|
|
AVERAGE
|
446.7
|
#13 – BASHFUL
SATANISTS – Brandon Belt, SFO – 72.87 POINTS
How far has Justin Morneau fallen in the eyes of the
computers? So far that a prospect who
hit a whopping 7 home runs last year is projected to have a better year. The Satanists just want one of them to step
up – could be the young guy who has apparently rediscovered his swing…
|
CBS
|
439
|
|
RotoChamp
|
424
|
|
Steamer
|
418
|
|
Bill James
|
461
|
|
Oliver
|
454
|
|
ZIPS
|
417
|
|
AVERAGE
|
435.5
|
#14 – ROCKBUSTERS – Adam
Lind, TOR – 62.69 POINTS
Thankfully, the Rockbusters finally picked up a useable 1B
to slot in their lineup, so I could finish this piece. Lind had a good year once. He’ll turn 30 this year. There’s an article on FanGraphs titled “Does
Adam Lind Have a Purpose?” So there’s
that…
|
CBS
|
403
|
|
RotoChamp
|
343
|
|
Steamer
|
277
|
|
Bill James
|
427
|
|
Oliver
|
393
|
|
ZIPS
|
405
|
|
AVERAGE
|
374.7
|
RANKINGS AFTER 2
POSITIONS:
|
C
|
1B
|
2B
|
SS
|
3B
|
TOTAL
|
|
|
Norris Slum Lords
|
81.49
|
98.41
|
179.896
|
|||
|
Daddy's Little Boys
|
75.33
|
100
|
175.325
|
|||
|
Isotopes
|
100
|
74.74
|
174.735
|
|||
|
MattroStars
|
89.19
|
84.33
|
173.513
|
|||
|
Bashful Satanists
|
98.36
|
72.87
|
171.224
|
|||
|
Elephant Balls
|
81.79
|
88.18
|
169.97
|
|||
|
Hells Kitchen Herzogs
|
73.96
|
90.46
|
164.419
|
|||
|
T-Baggers
|
87.23
|
77.05
|
164.284
|
|||
|
Limerick Lynchmob
|
65.98
|
98.13
|
164.114
|
|||
|
Brooklyn Blunted B
|
68.38
|
86.11
|
154.49
|
|||
|
Snapdragons
|
72.31
|
77.05
|
149.363
|
|||
|
Jackrabbits
|
55.1
|
89.35
|
144.447
|
|||
|
Rox
|
79.33
|
62.69
|
142.017
|
|||
|
The H Tree
|
58.69
|
80.31
|
139.005
|
Tomorrow – Second Basemen…
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