The low down on the hot corner
Rimming ... no! And with that, my interest in the NCAA tournament dissipated.
Maryland let me down. But many of you experienced that same pain. Stanford, Kentucky and Mississippi State all bit the dust in the second round, torching brackets like draft cards in the '60s.
So, last week I dived into the world of the second baseman, and managers' tendency to either solidify the middle early or retreat to the leftovers in round 20. This week we'll get into the much maligned 3B position. At first glance, you'd expect the same oil-and-vinegar separation. But no so fast.
I'm not contending that A-Rod is matched by anyone in the group. But things certainly bunch up faster than you'd believe at first glance.
In 2003, 16 of the players eligible at 3B crushed 20 or more home runs. Seventeen players in the 3B group plated 75 or more RBIs. Another 1 drove in between 60 and 70 runs. Agreed, it's not the plentiful bounty offered by the OF and 1B positions. But it's not quite the wasteland that you find behind the plate.
We'll start at the top, with the newest of the bunch.
Alex Rodriguez, New York Yankees
He won't be eligible for 15 games in Yahoo! Sports Fantasy Baseball, but he ascends to the throne at this position as soon as the switch is flipped.
Outlook for '04: You can only hope to contain him. Rodriguez drove in 118 in Texas. With A-Rod on board, can this team make a run at the 1931 Yankees' record for most runs scored? Unless the commissioner's office invokes a beer league softball 10-run rule, the Yankees may form a conga line around the bases.
Scott Rolen, St. Louis Cardinals
Rolen is the linchpin to the St. Louis Cardinals' success. Albert Pujols can hit anything tossed to the plate, Edgar Renteria keeps the line moving and Jim Edmonds flat-out mashes when healthy. Hitting in the heart of this order signals huge things for 2004.
Outlook for '04: Rolen adds a component that is missing from many of the third basemen profiled below in that he'll steal a base. His 13 steals in '03, combined with 28 bombs and 104 RBIs makes him a coveted player at the hot corner. He's gone early in the third round of most drafts.
Eric Chavez, Oakland Athletics
He's the last man standing in Oakland. After the defections of Miguel Tejada and Jason Giambi, Chavez decided to stay in the Bay Area. He has become the model of consistency at the position, racking up 30 HRs and 100 RBIs seasons to go along with his mantel full of Gold Gloves.
Outlook for '04: "The Alamo" opens in movie theaters next month, about the same time Chavez starts asking why he stayed to fight. The lineup will struggle to score runs, but there's no doubting him. He'll drive in 90-100 runs, hit 30 HRs and hit in the realm of .280. He's going in the middle of the fourth round in Yahoo! Sports Fantasy Baseball PLUS drafts.
Troy Glaus, Anaheim Angels
Glaus' health derailed many fantasy teams last season. Okay, it derailed at least one of mine. He was limited to 91 games, and hit 16 HRs and drove in 50 runs.
Fantasy owners know Glaus will provide limited speed, and that he is highly unlikely to crack the .300 plateau. That said, a healthy Glaus combined with the arrivals of Vladimir Guerrero and Jose Guillen may yield a season approaching that of his bust-out 2000 campaign (47, 102, .284 and 14 steals).
Outlook for '04: He's reported healthy for the 2004 campaign, and fantasy owners have taken note, making him the fourth third basemen chosen on average. The revamped Anaheim lineup is intriguing and Glaus should just be entering his prime. Take a shot on him in the sixth-to-seventh round of your draft.
Mike Lowell, Florida Marlins
What a year 2003 was for Lowell. He was on pace for a monster season, only to be shelved for the month of September.
Okay, he did return to help win the World Series, so I guess he'll survive. And Lowell did manage career highs in home runs (32) and RBIs (105), and hit a respectable .276 while missing 32 games.
Outlook for '04: The Marlins lineup is vastly different with the departure of Derrek Lee, Ivan Rodriguez and Juan Encarnacion. They're banking on the young tandem of Miguel Cabrera (available at 3B and OF) and Hee Seop Choi (1B) to pick up the slack and to protect Lowell in the lineup.
Fortunately, he'll still have the speedy Juan Pierre to drive home. His elbow is still somewhat of a concern, but he's a solid sixth-rounder.
Hank Blalock, Texas Rangers
Blalock is the poster boy for the on-again, off-again love affair fantasy managers have with players. He was the sexy rookie pick in 2002, only to be demoted with his robust .211 average. He returned to the big dance in 2003 and drilled a memorable All-Star Game-winning home run off of Eric Gagne. Sixty-five extra base hits, 90 RBIs and a .300 average are signs that this guy is ready to explode in 2004.
Outlook for '04: The Rangers changed things up by bringing in Alfonso Soriano and saying adios to A-Rod, Juan Gonzalez and Rafael Palmeiro. The new guard of Soriano, Blalock and Mark Teixeira (eligible both at 1B and 3B) will be fun to watch – a carefree swinger and two of the best looking young hitters in the game. Look for a 30-HR, 100-RBI season out of Blalock and a batting average around .290.
Aramis Ramirez, Chicago Cubs
Ramirez found his power stroke in the final two months of the 2003 campaign, and is primed for a big year in the Cubs lineup. The additions of Derrek Lee and Todd Walker signal big things for the offense. Cubs fans are hoping for a return to the 2001 power numbers Ramirez flashed with Pittsburgh.
Outlook for '04: The stakes are higher in Chicago, with talks of pennant chases, goats and the World Series. We'll see if Ramirez is up to the pressure and becomes the first stable third baseman at Wrigley since Ron Santo. Thirty-five home runs and 100 RBIs are not out of reach if the heart of the lineup stays healthy.
Dmitri Young, Detroit Tigers
This guy was a one-man show in 2003 for the hapless Tigers. Young did the job for fantasy owners last year, plating a respectable 85 runs and mashing 29 HRs. Eighty-five RBIs is an impressive total considering the dearth of run generation in Motown.
Outlook for '04: The cavalry arrived this offseason with the acquisitions of Ivan Rodriguez, Rondell White and Fernando Vina. If the Tigers can revive Bobby Higginson's bat, groom Carlos Pena and get Young to cut down on the Ks, they just might have something there.
Okay, not yet. But fantasy owners still should look to the Meat Hook in the 11th or 12th round.
Bill Mueller, Boston Red Sox
Mueller's always had a good glove, and is fundamentally sound. His claim to fame in the Bay Area was the way that the kids mispronounced his name on Sundays in San Francisco. "Now batting for the Giants, third baseman Bill Mueller (MULE-ER)." You probably had to be there.
Anyway, Mueller's addition last season to Boston's potent lineup yielded a stark improvement in his overall numbers. He shattered his previous career highs in home runs and RBIs, pounding 19 and 85, respectively, in 2003.
Outlook for '04: You can expect more of the same in 2004. The Boston lineup didn't lose a step entering this season, and Mueller hit a robust .342 at Fenway. Jump on the bandwagon for Mueller in the 15th round. The run production in Boston will rival that of last season.
Here's a quick peek at some of the other third basemen available in your league's draft.
Tony Batista, Montreal Expos: New home and no competition at the position. 25 HRs, 80 RBIs a given, but his .240 average will kill you.
Adrian Beltre, Los Angeles Dodgers: The bandwagon emptied out, but a 30-HR, 100-RBI season will call them back. He needs Shawn Green and Juan Encarnacion to dominate.
Shea Hillenbrand, Arizona Diamondbacks: Big year despite missing 28 games. Busts out with 25 HRs, 110 RBIs in front of Luis Gonzalez and Richie Sexson.
Joe Randa and Desi Relaford, Kansas City Royals: Relaford still has 3B eligibility, so he adds value with his speed. Randa puts up 15 HRs and 70 RBIs yearly.
Corey Koskie, Minnesota Twins: Looking to regain his 2001 power stroke. Consistent 15-HR, 70-RBI performer with a respectable .270 average.
Edgardo Alfonzo, San Francisco Giants: Even-numbered year, so he'll excel. Look to his history; it's true. One of Barry Bonds' few protectors.
Wes Helms, Milwaukee Brewers: 30-HR potential, but needs guys on base to add value. How long before Rickie Weeks joins the big club to assist Scott Podsednik?
Ready to break out in 2004:
Joe Crede, Chicago White Sox: Eighty point jump after the AS break in '03, with increased power. He's got 30-HR potential in a potent Chicago lineup.
Casey Blake, Cleveland Indians: Big power possibility in the improving Indians lineup. He dropped off considerably in the second half of 2003. He's a great addition to your bench for protection against possible injuries to the big guns at the position.
Behold the power of the lineup:
Vinnie Castilla, Colorado Rockies: Returns to the site of his biggest years. Anybody's worth a gamble in the later rounds when they get to tee off in the thin air of Colorado.
Eric Hinske, Toronto Blue Jays: Struggled at the plate after a tremendous rookie campaign in 2002. He did miss 38 games, so it makes sense that his power numbers were down. Look for a 20-HR, 80-RBI and .270 performance from him in 2004. And with speed at a premium, the stat to key on is that he placed sixth among 3Bs in steals for 2003.
Morgan Ensberg, Houston Astros: Ensberg hit 25 bombs in only 127 games in '03. With a healthy heart of the order, look for him to break the 30-HR barrier and approach 100 RBIs.
And don't forget
Aaron Boone, free agent: He's a man without a team after the pick-up hoops debacle. Is "SlamBall" looking for a marquee guy?
Boone is convinced that he'll be ready to go toward the end of the season. It may be too early to tell, but if your league allows for a deep bench, he's worth chucking to the pine in the late rounds. Power and speed is a deadly combination.
There you have it. This is not an exhaustive list by any means, but it serves to get the brain working. It's time for the Yankees and Devil Rays to hit the planes for Japan. Meanwhile, I'll go torch my bracket and exorcise those demons.
For those of you drafting this weekend, best of luck. Remember to stay hydrated and keep one eye on the transactions log during the day for the latest in injuries and demotions.
Bring it!
