Atlanta Braves: Adam LaRoche
NY Mets: Carlos Delgado
Wash. Nats: Nick Johnson
Phillies: Ryan Howard
Marlins: Mike Jacobs
Cardinals: Albert Pujols
Cubs: Derrek Lee
Astros: Lance Berkman
Pirates: Sean Casey
Brewers: Prince Fielder
Reds: Adam Dunn
Giants: Lance Niekro
Rockies: Todd Helton
Dodgers: Nomar Garciaparra
Padres: Ryan Klesko
Diamondbacks: Conor Jackson
After NL catchers, I am refreshed by seeing the talent at 1B. Not so refreshed that I wouldn’t I immediately begin to think of 2007 if I left the draft with Lance Niekro at 1B.
The obvious bottom tier contains the aforementioned Niekro, Klesko, Casey and Jackson. Garciaparra has SS and 3B eligibility so that kicks his value up past those four.
Is this the year Nick Johnson stays healthy? And if it is, will it explode NJ to an elite performance in 4X4 Roto? I doubt it. He received 453 ABs last season in 131 games. 20 more games and 60 more Abs isn’t going to change his 15/74 HR/RBI numbers so much that he’d move to elite 1B status. To Mike Sweeney’s level, yes, but not the 30/100/.290 stud-dom. He will, however, have the sabremetricians as giddy as teenage girls at a New Kids on the Block concert!
With Brian McCann at catcher and Jerrod Saltalamacchia raking in the AA and blocked at C, Adam LaRoche’s time at first looks numbered, but he did improve in his sophomore campaign. If he maintains, then he should be a cheap option at 1B. If he improves some more, then he will still be a cheap option but his numbers will be worth two to three times that salary. For what it’s worth, he went 20/78 in a similar amount of playing time as Nick Johnson.
3 comments:
First base is deep, per usual again.
There's been some buzz around Mike Jacobs this year. Should make for an interesting sleeper, especially in keeper leagues.
Nice site, by the way.
LaRoche needs a big year this year. I still don't like him in the 5th hole. If he can get about 25-30 HR's and 90-100 RBI's and maintain plate discipline he'll stay around. Salty could be up by 2007, if he continues to wreak havoc. Plus, there's the talk of him or McCann moving to 1st.
I like Mike Jacobs a lot. The Mets way overpaid for a player (Delgado) no one else was going after.
If Adam laRoche goes 20/100, Salty's path to the majors will be effectively blocked at 1B.
I still like him to split time with McCann for a year or two. That would be a very good two-headed catching monster.
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