Fantasy Baseball 2011 Power Rankings: The Top 10 First Basemen
Nobody can argue that first base is the position at which the most dominant players in baseball play. They are big husky guys who have a knack for hitting the long ball, driving in runs and thus ultimately leading their teams to victories.
In taking a look at my top ten first basemen's stats from 2010, I found something quite interesting. With the exception of Prince Fielder and Adam Dunn, all of the first basemen on my list were either on playoff teams or on teams that were in the playoff hunt last September. That being the case, you can't help but notice that good teams have excellent first basemen.
This year, however, that will be different because Fielder and the Milwaukee Brewers will undoubtedly be much better, and Adam Dunn now plays for the Chicago White Sox.
10. Kevin Youkilis
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Career Stats (seven seasons): .294 BA, 112 HR, 470 RBI, 501 R, 23 SB
2010 Stats: .307 BA, 19 HR, 62 RBI, 77 R, 4 SB (102 games)
My Projected 2011 Stats: .298 BA, 24 HR, 78 RBI, 84 R, 5 SB
The name of Youkilis' game is consistency. Year in and year out, the Boston Red Sox know what they will be getting from him. He is a force to be reckoned with in the middle of the Red Sox lineup. He is solid both offensively and defensively, not to mention he has a great veteran presence in the dugout which is priceless, seeing as Boston has so many young and talented players on the team.
9. Adam Dunn
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Career Stats (ten seasons): .250 BA, 354 HR, 880 RBI, 865 R, 59 SB
2010 Stats: .260 BA, 38 HR, 103 RBI, 85 R, 0 SB (158 games)
My Projected 2011 Stats: .258 BA, 35 HR, 96 RBI, 88 R, 1 SB
Throughout Adam Dunn's ten year career, he has quietly been one of the best and most consistent sluggers in the game. So far, he has stayed under the radar because he has been on generally small-market and non-winning teams, making it difficult to get much publicity. Dunn is now the DH for the Chicago White Sox so expect him to make some waves in 2011.
8. Justin Morneau
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Career Stats (eight seasons): .286 BA, 181 HR, 679 RBI, 531 R, 4 SB
2010 Stats: .345 BA, 18 HR, 56 RBI, 53 R, 0 SB (81 games)
My Projected 2011 Stats: .298 BA, 36 HR, 109 RBI, 94 R, 0 SB
Only four seasons removed from the AL MVP honors, Justin Morneau has become one of the faces of the Minnesota Twins' franchise. In 2011, the Canadian-born slugger will look to bounce back from an injury-stricken 2010 season, where he took a knee to the head while sliding into second base, midseason. If he can find a way to elude the lingering effects of his concussion, expect big things from the Twins' first baseman in 2011.
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7. Mark Teixeira
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Career Stats (eight seasons): .286 BA, 275 HR, 906 RBI, 782 R, 15 SB
2010 Stats: .256 BA, 33 HR, 108 RBI, 113 R, 0 SB (158 games)
My Projected 2011 Stats: .274 BA, 35 HR, 110 RBI, 102 R, 0 SB
In the past three seasons, Mark Teixeira has played 471 out of a possible 486 games (almost 97 percent). That is a remarkable feat considering how many people go on the 15-day DL, 30-day DL or the IR, year in and year out. This is a good thing for the New York Yankees because when Teixeira is in the game, he is producing runs.I expect him to continue this Ironman-like streak and continue to be a key contributor in the Yankees' lineup in 2011.
6. Ryan Howard
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Career Stats (seven seasons): .279 BA, 253 HR, 748 RBI, 552 R, 11 SB
2010 Stats: .276 BA, 31 HR, 108 RBI, 87 R, 1 SB (143 games)
My Projected 2011 Stats: .269 BA, 36 HR, 114 RBI, 91 R, 0 SB
Ryan Howard has spent his entire career in a Phillies uniform and I would expect that to continue until he retires. Why wouldn't a big market team like Philadelphia do everything in their power to keep him? The guy is downright dangerous with a baseball bat!
His only weakness is that he strikes out a lot, but that is a sacrifice the Phillies are more than willing to make in exchange for the positive numbers he puts up every year. Howard will have another phenomenal season in 2011.
5. Prince Fielder
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Career Stats (6 seasons): .279 BA, 192 HR, 536 RBI, 476 R, 15 SB
2010 Stats: .261 BA, 32 HR, 83 RBI, 94 R, 1 SB (161 games)
My Projected 2011 Stats: .284 BA, 37 HR, 101 RBI, 88 R, 0 SB
The 26-year-old son of the great Cecil Fielder has been a breath of fresh air in an otherwise underachieving Milwaukee Brewers franchise. The left-handed batting slugger has been known as one of the great young talents in baseball over recent years.
His services will be sought after now more than ever, as the Brew Crew is expected to be a serious contender in the NL Central after a few key offseason acquisitions. Fielder will undoubtedly keep up the fantastic numbers in 2011.
4. Joey Votto
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Career Stats (four seasons): .314 BA, 90 HR, 298 RBI, 268 R, 28 SB
2010 Stats: .324 BA, 37 HR, 113 RBI, 106 R, 16 SB (150 games)
My Projected 2011 Stats: .319 BA, 39 HR, 118 RBI, 108 R, 11 SB
This Cincinnati Reds slugger sure has made a big name for himself in a short amount of time. He has only been in the bigs for three full seasons and is already known as one of the most dangerous hitters in the game. He hits for average, power and even throws in a few stolen bases.
Reds fans should be excited to see how the reigning NL MVP's career unfolds—if he keeps this up he may eventually be regarded as a younger version of Albert Pujols. Look for Votto to continue his early career dominance in 2011.
3. Adrian Gonzalez
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Career Stats (seven seasons): .284 BA, 168 HR, 525 RBI, 488 R, 1 SB
2010 Stats: .298 BA, 31 HR, 101 RBI, 87 R, 0 SB (160 games)
My Projected 2011 Stats: .307 BA, 37 HR, 117 RBI, 102 R, 0 SB
Much like Adam Dunn, Adrian Gonzalez has quietly become known as one of the most dominant hitters in all of baseball. He put up massive numbers for five years in a Padres uniform and he will maintain, if not exceed, that reputation in a Red Sox uniform.
He has a better surrounding cast in Boston, and will therefore have the opportunity to drive in more runs than what he had grown accustomed to in San Diego. Come September, look for Adrian Gonzalez to be in the AL MVP candidacy talks.
2. Miguel Cabrera
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Career Stats (eight seasons): .313 BA, 247 HR, 879 RBI, 741 R, 27 SB
2010 Stats: .328 BA, 38 HR, 126 RBI, 111 R, 3 SB (150 games)
My Projected 2011 Stats: .322 BA, 43 HR, 131 RBI, 117 R, 6 SB
This young Venezuelan's accomplishments have been nothing short of remarkable since he busted on to the MLB scene in 2003. His production is almost unheard of by today's standards. It doesn't happen too often where a baseball player enters the MLB in the prime of his career and maintains that status, every year thereafter. If he can avoid problems off the field, look for this young first baseman to shine on the field in 2011.
1. Albert Pujols
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Career Stats (ten seasons): .331 BA, 408 HR, 1,230 RBI, 1,186 R, 75 SB
2010 Stats: .312 BA, 42 HR, 118 RBI, 115 R, 14 SB (159 games)
My Projected 2011 Stats: .327 BA, 45 HR, 131 RBI, 118 R, 11 SB
This future hall of famer never ceases to amaze me. Every season of his ten-year career, he has had at least a .312 BA, 32 HR and 103 RBI! Talk about consistency! It honestly makes me wonder if the ESPN commercial is true. Is Albert Pujols a machine?
The St. Louis Cardinals would be foolish to not do anything and everything in their power to retain his services after this season. I expect nothing less than excellence once again from King Pujols in 2011.
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