By Greg Fox
Rotowhine.com Assistant Editor
January 17, 2008

Each week leading up to the 2008 major league baseball regular season, Rotowhine.com will dissect the top players in both the American and National League at each key fantasy position.

Top 15 Fist Basemen - National League
The National League first base list is a mirage. A person who is new to the game would look at this list and think that the senior circuit was the more dynamic of the two, but we know that not to be the case. Despite the plethora of mediocre offenses in the NL, this position is chock full of legitimate talent. As a matter of fact, the #15 first baseman on this list, Dmitri Young, should put up better overall numbers than our #3 catcher from last week’s list, Bengie Molina. We’re stricken with guilt, having a terrific hitter such as Derrek Lee at #6 and perennial 30 and 100 man Carlos Delgado at #10, but hopefully you will realize that there is justification for placing them in those spots. Ryan Howard, our #1 choice, is primed for a ridiculous year. If he played in Tokyo, millions of Japanese would flee at the sight of him. Albert Pujols is still Albert Pujols and hopefully Troy Glaus will provide some support for him in a pathetic Cardinal lineup. Adrian Gonzalez moves all the way up to #7 and second-year man James Loney comes in at #9. The best bargain in this group could come at #12 with Conor Jackson. The Diamondbacks’ first sacker has been a disappointment thus far, but is too good of a hitter to not move in the right direction.

1. Ryan Howard, PHI
2007 5×5 Stats: .268 BA, 94 R, 47 HR, 136 RBI, 1 SB
Age: 28 (11/19/79)
It’s not an easy thing to drill 47 homers, drive in 136 and be considered a disappointment, but that’s how this beast was looked upon last season. Howard, who endured an early season stint on the DL, seemingly did nothing until the month of July and was able to, ‘ahem’, salvage his season. In an injury-free year, there is no telling what he is capable of. He certainly will not be pitched to quite as often, but in that joke of a ballpark he will have plenty of opportunity to again surpass the 50-home run plateau while raising his batting average near the .280 mark. A top five pick in any format.
2008 Projections: .279 BA, 114 R, 51 HR, 137 RBI, 2 SB

2. Albert Pujols, STL
2007 5×5 Stats: .327 BA, 99 R, 32 HR, 103 RBI, 2 SB
Age: 28 (1/16/80)
It looks strange to not have Pujols as the NL’s top first baseman, but keep in mind two points; Howard is a mind-blowing power hitter and Pujols bats in the heart of a dead offense. A calf injury took its toll on him last season, so expect a healthy Pujols to hit near .330 and close in on his customary 40 bombs. Just don’t expect the obscene number of runs and RBI until the hitters around him improve.
2008 Projections: .330 BA, 104 R, 38 HR, 110 RBI, 4 SB

3. Prince Fielder, MIL
2007 5×5 Stats: .288 BA, 109 R, 50 HR, 119 RBI, 2 SB
Age: 23 (5/9/84)
The candy apple didn’t fall far from the tree as Cecil’s little boy unearthed a power display unseen in the Badger state since the days of Sixto Lezcano. And Prince isn’t your everyday all-or-nothing home run guy… he can hit for average and he runs extremely well for a man of his size. With plenty of support around him, the young Fielder should again post impressive overall numbers and be considered in the second round of drafts.
2008 Projections: .291 BA, 110 R, 44 HR, 114 RBI, 3 SB

4. Mark Teixeira, ATL
2007 5×5 Stats: .306 BA, 86 R, 30 HR, 105 RBI, 0 SB
Age: 27 (4/211/80)
Tough to figure how leaving a tremendous hitting park for a pitcher’s park could help, but that’s exactly what happened last season with Teixeira. After recording 13 homers in 286 at-bats with the Rangers he deposited 17 in just 208 at-bats with the Braves. Teixeira is too talented of a hitter to not make a big impact. Expect more of the ‘07 Atlanta version in the coming year.
2008 Projections: .292 BA, 98 R, 34 HR, 107 RBI, 1 SB

5. Lance Berkman, HOU
2007 5×5 Stats: .278 BA, 95 R, 34 HR, 102 RBI, 7 SB
Age: 32 (2/10/76)
Berkman rasied his own bar in 2006 when he batted .315 with 45 HR and 136 RBI. He’ll probably never approach those numbers again, but he is one of the safest bets to hit for average while registering 30 and 100. Being protected in the lineup by Carlos Lee also doesn’t hurt.
2008 Projections: .285 BA, 96 R, 35 HR, 106 RBI, 4 SB

6. Derrek Lee, CHC
2007 5×5 Stats: .317 BA, 91 R, 22 HR, 82 RBI, 6 SB
Age: 32 (9/16/75)
Lee is one of the most durable players in the league, having seen action in at least 150 games in seven of the last eight seasons. Since a major wrist injury in 2006, his numbers have dropped off significantly. He won’t reach his 2005 level (.335 BA, 45 HR), but a return to 30 HR and 90 RBI is imminent. His ability to steal a base is a major plus for the position.
2008 Projections: .312 BA, 95 R, 29 HR, 96 RBI, 11 SB

7. Adrian Gonzalez, SD
2007 5×5 Stats: .282, 101 R, 30 HR, 100 RBI, 0 SB
Age: 25 (5/8/82)
The sweet swinging Gonzalez is hamstrung only by the fact that he plays half of his games in San Diego’s version of the Grand Canyon. He has become one of the league’s top run producers and a tough out. He needs to find some protection in the San Diego lineup. A decrepit Jim Edmonds won’t cut it.
2008 Projections: .288 BA, 94 R, 27 HR, 97 RBI, 1 SB

8. Todd Helton, COL
2007 5×5 Stats: .320 BA, 86 R, 17 HR, 91 RBI, 0 SB
Age: 34 (8/20/73)
Many baseball people seem to have written Helton’s epitaph, but this professional hitter still has a few solid seasons left in him. No longer a 40-home run threat, the former quarterback could still flirt with 20 and 100 RBI to go along with his perennial high batting average. Buy with confidence.
2008 Projections: .318 BA, 89 R, 21 HR, 93 RBI, 1 SB

9. James Loney, LAD
2007 5×5 Stats: .331 BA, 41 R, 15 HR, 67 RBI, 0 SB
Age: 23 (5/7/84)
Despite his size (6-3, 220 lbs.), Loney is a pure hitter and not a major long ball threat. He did swat 15 in 344 at-bats last season, so 25-30 homers is not out of the question. He should undoubtedly bat in the heart of the Dodger order and could post some terrific totals when all is said and done.
2008 Projections: .304 BA, 85 R, 22 HR, 87 RBI, 2 SB

10. Carlos Delgado, NYM
2007 5×5 Stats: .258 BA, 71 R, 24 HR, 87 RBI, 4 SB
Age: 35 (6/25/72)
There are times when Delgado looks as if he has seen better days, but there are also stretches when he can still carry an offense. The best things he has going for him are his professionalism and the fact that he hits in the middle of one of baseball’s toughest lineups. He spent the offseason recuperating from a fractured wrist suffered on the final day of the 2007 season so he may be slightly behind when the team breaks camp.
2008 Projections: .266 BA, 77 R, 28 HR, 89 RBI, 0 SB

11. Adam LaRoche, PIT
2007 5×5 Stats: .272 BA, 71 R, 21 HR, 88 RBI, 1 SB
Age: 28 (11/6/79)
Following a brutal first two months to the 2007 season, LaRoche heated up and gave the Pirates what they expected when they signed him the previous winter. His big swing and inconsistent lineup make him difficult to predict, but his numbers should fall somewhere between his 2006 and 2007 totals.
2008 Projections: .274 BA, 80 R, 26 HR, 87 RBI, 1 SB

12. Conor Jackson, ARI
2007 5×5 Stats: .284 BA, 56 R, 15 HR, 60 RBI, 2 SB
Age: 25 (5/7/82)
Jackson has been an enigma following a successful and highly touted minor league career. After losing several at-bats to Tony Clark the past two years, Jackson needs to establish himself right now. He is a polished hitter who has developed some pop. We’ll go out on a limb and say that he’ll have a breakout campaign. Look to steal him in the late rounds of your drafts.
2008 Projections: .296 BA, 75 R, 21 HR, 84 RBI, 3 SB

13. Joey Votto, CIN
2007 5×5 Stats: .321 BA, 11 R, 4 HR, 17 RBI, 1 SB
Age: 24 (9/10/83)
This good-looking rookie still has to beat out a pesky Scott Hatteberg for a starting job on the Reds, but if he does, owners could have a 20-homer, 15-steal first baseman on their hands. We expect Votto to struggle at times, but patience could certainly pay off.
2008 Projections: .268 BA, 63 R, 18 HR, 66 RBI, 13 SB

14. Mike Jacobs, FLA
2007 5×5 Stats: .265 BA, 57 R, 17 HR, 54 RBI, 1 SB
Age: 27 (10/30/80)
We’re not crazy about Jacobs… his swing is too long and his home ballpark is death to left-handed pull hitters. With that said, he came on strong in the latter stages of an injury-marred 2007 season and his glovework at first keeps his role with the Marlins secure.
2008 Projections: .258 BA, 68 R, 23 HR, 74 RBI, 1 SB

15. Dmitri Young, WAS
2007 5×5 Stats: .320 BA, 57 R, 13 HR, 74 RBI, 0 SB
Age: 34 (10/11/73)
The crack staff at Rotowhine can’t remember the Meat Hook making an out last year as he finished with the highest batting average of his career. With the impending return of Nick Johnson, Young’s role becomes a bit murky. But there is no way that Johnson will be able to play more than three or four days per week, while Young has been trying his outfield glove on for size. He may not be pretty out there, but it’s a surefire way to get the Comeback Player of the Year’s blistering bat in the lineup.
2008 Projections: .309 BA, 54 R, 14 HR, 68 RBI, 0 SB

Coming Monday (Jan. 21): Jeff Andriesse breaks down the Top 15 American League second basemen.