PRESEASON RANKINGS- FIRST BASE

Here are the ranking for the first baseman. They are organized in tiers to show the decline of production you will see as you move from level to level. This is a great way to setup your draft sheets when preparing for your draft. It allows you to see what the market is as the draft goes.

Tier 1

1. Albert Pujols
2. Ryan Howard
3. Prince Fielder
4. Mark Teixeira
5. Lance Berkman

Tier 2

6. Derek Lee
7. Victor Martinez (You'll be playing him at catcher before you'll play him at 1b)
8. Justin Morneau
9. Adrian Gonzalez
10. Carlos Guillen (Better used at SS)

Tier 3

11. Carlos Pena
12. Nick Swisher
13. Paul Konerko
14. James Loney
15. Todd Helton
16. Alex Gordon (Better used at 3B)
17. Kevin Youkilis

Tier 4+

18. Carlos Delgado
19. Adam Laroche
20. Jarrod Saltalamacchia (Better used at C)
21. Ryan Garko
22. Mike Jacobs
23. Casey Kotchman
24. Conor Jackson
25. Lyle Overbay
26. Joey Votto
27. Daric Barton
28. Richie Sexson
29. Aubrey Huff
30. Dan Johnson
31. Dmitri Young
32. Nomar Garciaparra
33. Nick Johnson
34. Matt Stairs

I was almost bold enough to put Ryan Howard above Albert Pujols. Howard puts up huge HR and RBI numbers to go along with about 100 runs per year. Pujols is consistent year in and year out. Its pretty incredible when an off year for a player is .327, 99 runs, 103 rbis, 32 HR. With a depleted lineup around him I do expect Pujols number to suffer some. It really wouldn't surprise me to see him get a higher Avg, similar HRs, but less runs and right around 100 rbis. That is still a great line for any player on your fantasy team but the allure of 50 HRs and 150 RBIs is very hard to pass up. Depending on how you plan on building your team choosing either one as the first 1B off the board could be alright.

Tier 2 offers some decent talent that can be found a little later in the draft (Rounds 4-6) so if you can't get some of the big bats in Tier 1, fill some other positions with strong players and grab one of these guys as they fall to you.Carlos Pena hit 46 homers last year so people may be wondering why isn't he tier 2. Expect some decline across the board. Will he still have some pop, absolutely but no way does his Avg. stay as high as it was. I say let him do again for a full year then I'll start believing.

Swisher moves to a top hitting park so his numbers could see a boost and he could produce tier 2 level production. Loney is a favorite of many people going into this year and I'm one to agree. He may struggle a bit at times, as young players do, but I'd rather have him over Todd Helton just because the potential is there for him to at least do what Todd Helton can do with a good chance of being even better (More HRs and RBIs).

Tier 4 is full of a variety of different players. We have some veterans who are declining (Delgado, Sexson, Nomar, Huff), some potential youth (Barton, Votto, Kotchman, Garko) and some middle of the road players who most likely won't hurt you (Overbay, Jackson, Laroche). These are the type of players that can only be drafted after you know how your team is built.If I see a need for HRs later in the draft I'd be more likely to draft an Adam Laroche or Delgado type player as long as I know my team can handle a low Avg. If my team is well balanced and I want to try to get some possible lightning in a bottle I'd take a Votto, Barton, or Garko. And if just need someone who won't hurt me in any category with the potential to produce more than previous years I'd go for a Conor Jackson, Lyle Overbay, Mike Jacobs type player.

Here are some picks that I think will come through and deliver some good production. I like Derek Lee to improve across the board as he gets another year away from his injuries. Adrian Gonzalez will put together another solid year of 30 HRs, 100 Rbis, 100 runs. James Loney will deliver as he becomes a key part to the Dodgers offense. Adam Laroche will bounce back with a year similar to his 2006 year with Atlanta. Conor Jackson will be able to get most of the at bats to himself with Tony Clark out of the picture, and we will see if he can fulfill any of his potential. Players I don't like at all for this year.

I don't like Carlos Pena, just because of where he may go in drafts he may have to duplicate his 2007 to justify where he will be taken. Delgado and Sexson will continue their declines, along with Nomar and Huff. Some people expect Garko to take it to the next level and improve but I think Garko is what he is, a decent corner option but nothing special. I see him with 20 HRs, .280 Avg, 65 runs, 75 RBIs.

Make sure on draft day you get solid production from your 1B spot. First base is not as deep as it used to be so don't think you will be getting star production later in the draft. It seems that first base is starting to get old so hopefully some of the new blood will rise up to take the place of the elders.