MLB Showdown Cards

MLB Showdown 2012: First Base

             First base used to be the Promised Land. Players used to get on base, hit for power, drive in runs and cost very little compared to their counterparts. This year is the thinnest year ever in Showdown. We always stress the importance in choosing a contributor at first base for any good lineup. That is not any different this year it will be more competitive and more likely to be in different spots in the line-up than we are used to. That is because we did not have the great years out of players we are used to. Albert Pujols had the fewest home runs and the lowest batting average of his career. Miguel Cabrera won the Triple Crown…while playing third base. Teixeira, Gonzalez and Ryan Howard all had down years by their own standards in their usual area of expertise. Belt, Encarnacion, Craig and Goldschmidt all had very solid years. Encarnacion the latest player to enjoy whatever is in the water in Toronto and clubbing 42 homers. Then there is Joey Votto who was impressive when he played and would have been more impressive had he not been injured.

                Power players have a little to be excited about. There is one great power player in Adam Dunn (8) and two good power players with Encarnacion (10) and Moss (9). Dunn is really the catch here and may slide higher than most first basemen because he is the cheapest power in the class. He is also the least complete power hitter in the class. He is a slow speed C (10) with 15-20 HR and no 2B, 14 1B and 1-7 K. He may be the best book end player ever made. He can bat fifth in shorter line ups and really scare opposing managers. Encarnacion at 510 points for a 10 speed B (16), 18-20 HR, 16-17 2B, 10-14 1B is a useful player but pretty unexciting. He can bat third or fourth and do well in most line ups. Brandon Moss will play too as a 9 speed C (10), 17-20 HR, 15-16 2B, 10-14 1B for 340 points. Chris Carter and Adam LaRoche are a pair of 8, 17-20 HR, speed C’s who are 310 and 320 points respectively. Both are good conciliation prizes to bat sixth and round out lineups late in the draft.

                Pingers and Money Ballers have fewer options this year at first base as well. Money Ballers would love to have Joey Votto as a 3 or 4 hitter. He is pricey as a 550 point 11, +1 fielding, speed B (15), with 20 HR, 16-19 2B but only a 1-2 out. The question with him is if you are buying too much player for those play styles. The real catch is Prince Fielder for 380 points as a 10, speed C (10), 19-20 HR, 16-18 2B and also a 1-2 out. Paul Konerko is an interesting option for a late line up player. He is a 250 point speed C (12) for a 250 point, 19-20 HR, 18 2B. Not really ideal for ether player but useful none the less. Neither of these players like 8’s especially at first base but you may see some Yonder Alonso be snagged as an 8, speed B with no homer but he cost a mere 100 points. Without the normal distribution of talent at this position you will see more hybrid strategies than normal.

                Oddly enough Small Ballers have as many options as any other play style this year. Traditionally most Small Ballers look for a 9 or 10 with a big single from this position. This year Brandon Belt and Paul Goldschmidt are both 9, speed A’s (18 and 20 respectively) for 340 points each. Both are 20 HR, Belt has 19 3B, 17-18 2B while Goldschmidt is a 16-20 2B. I like Goldschmidt better but truth is they are close enough that it is mere preference. Both players likely are 2 or 5 hitters for most line ups trying to play small ball. Prince Fielder is a more traditional first base player in small ball lines up with an 8 being a single on his chart as 10. He would likely be a 4 hitter for most small ballers and cheap. Konerko as a 9 for 250 points has a 8 as a single as well.

                Bench players from first base are not the worst options. Obviously these basically pure pinch hitters who may play first if you pinch run for slower boppers. Yonder Alonso is easily the most useful player off the bench. For 100 points (20 off the bench) for a speed B and an 8 on base who can’t homer. James Loney for 4 points James Loney is a 6 speed B (14) who can’t homer. Kotchman is a 5 speed B (14) for 8 points with a 20 homer. Justin Smoak as a 6 point, 5 speed C (12) with a 20 homer. Taylor Green is 10 points discounted for a 5 speed C (10) with 19-20 HR. Nothing great here for bench players but some guys to save points with.