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As I wrote earlier, the 2012 fantasy sports boss fantasy baseball draft guide is already completed and ready to go. It will be updated throughout the offseason to reflect signings, trades, etc. and be resubmitted to showcase the changes. Also included are the 2012 sleepers, busts, injury pitchers to avoid, top rookies, and issue for the season features that will come in the next few weeks.
FIRST BASEMAN
Draft Strategy: First baseman are the bedrock of a fantasy baseball team from a hitting standpoint. This position is unmatched as far as supplying extreme power production and big RBI totals and so you must do whatever you can to ensure you have one of the big boppers on your roster. The tricky part is that many owners choose to wait on first base since it goes very deep but I always advise against this. The reason being is that the top 6-7 guys will all be snatched up in the first two rounds and there is a dropoff in overall production after that last guy is picked. Therefore the first baseman you end up with will instantly fall a bit short in comparison to more than half of your leaguemates in power and RBI at the position. So I would suggest using one of your top two picks on a first baseman and that way you guarantee yourself top level numbers in those hitting stats. After all we are in an era in baseball where home runs are becoming more and more scarce and the star first baseman are some of the few guys left who can mash with the best of them. As far as the guys I will be targeting, I wont be owning Albert Pujols that’s for sure. It has always taken a top 2 pick to get the guy and on the odd chance I have had that choice in the past, I went with a Hanley Ramirez at the much more shallow SS position than grabbed my first baseman in the second round. I do love Miguel Cabrera and Joey Votto and wont hesitate to grab either with an early first round pick. Failing that, I will look to Prince Fielder or Adrian Gonzalez next. I will avoid the rehabbing Ryan Howard (achillies) and Mark Texeria has worn my nerves with his back-to-back seasons of poor batting average. Thus if I don’t get any of the guys mentioned above, I will be forced to wait and for the always reliable Paul Konerko or an upstart like Eric Hosmer who I really like. Yes there are a lot of options but just be sure to get the right one.
1. Albert Pujols: After a slow start that fueled concern that Pujols was going to have his first off season, Prince Albert came roaring back to his customary excellence with 37 bombs with 99 RBI and a .299 average. Looking at his 2011 season stats though, they were down some from his previous five seasons. Age is starting to become a bit of a concern as Pujols will be 33 this season and he has had some nagging injuries the last few seasons. Miguel Cabrera and Joey Votto are younger and I wouldn’t argue anyone who decided to go that route for this upcoming season. Still in the end Pujols is still the kind when it comes to hitting at least for another season.
Projection: .308 38 HR 110 RBI 115 R 10 SB
2. Miguel Cabrera: Flat out Miguel Cabrera is the best pure hitter in the game today. His ballpark doesn’t allow him to hit the 40 homers that Pujols gets almost every season but everything else is top shelf. He had some personal issues in the spring after a drunken arrest but those seem to be in the rearview mirror. The average is superb and the RBI will continue to add up and whats amazing is that Cabrera is only going to turn 29 this season as it seems like he has been around for years and years. As long as no more of-the-field stuff gets in the way, Cabrera is as safe an investment as you can get.
Projection: .326 34 HR 117 RBI 105 R 3 SB
3. Joey Votto:*****THE REST OF THE GUIDE IS FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.*******
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