Fantasy Wiz-First Basemen | The Dawg Barks

12:26 AM ET 03.25 |

You might of already seen my first blog of this series when I was doing catchers. I put in the Top 5 First basemen in the league plus a bust and a sleeper.

1. Prince Fielder, Milwaukee Brewers

We all knew Prince Fielder had power before last season, but Fielder wanted to show us again. Last year, our Prince hit 50 homeruns last year, making him the youngest player ever to hit 50 homeruns? Are we looking at the next career homerun champion? Maybe, but let's talk about this season. The Prince can get you 40+ bombers and at least 100 runs batted in but he isn't the best contact swinger. If your league counts strikeouts, you may be cautious. Don't be. Fielder should keep improving at his young age, from 28 homeruns in his rookie season, to 50 last year, to possibly 60 this year. Fielder also has very good speed for such a big guy and may give you ten steals if you are lucky. Just one problem, his defense needs work. He can barely bend down for balls hit on the ground because of his 260 pound weight, bu don't worry, he is going all-out veggie this year.

Projected 2008 Stats: .291, 58, 133, 7

2. Ryan Howard, Philidelphia Phillies

Ryan Howard had an "off-year" last year and still hit 47 homeruns. Well, I guess his off-year was based on the batting average, and, well, his average explains it all. .268 after hitting .313 a year before in his NL MVP season. Part of this was his strikeouts. He broke a record, not a good record, for most strikeouts in a single season last year with 199 and if your league counts strikeouts, we may even consider taking Howard in the second or third round. But don't worry, Howard has produced even though his average hasn't. He had a .392 OBP last year as well as 136 runs batted in in only 144 games. He did fall short of averaging a hit a game though, only piling up 142 and he is extremly slow also, which means more errors and practically no stolen bases. If Howard can produce a nice RBI season this year, which he will, take him in the late first round or early second. If he does this but also gets 200 strikeouts in the process, uuuhhh . . .

Projected 2008 Stats: .276, 50, 142, 0

3. Mark Teixeira, Atlanta Braves

When Mark Teixeira moved from Texas to Atlanta last year, everything changed . . . for the better at least. Teixeira hit .317, 17 homeruns, 56 runs batted in, and 38 runs with the Braves, just in one third of the season. It was Teixeira's second season with at least a .300 batting average, 30 homeruns, and 100 runs batted in. This will be his third. Teixeira will be batting behind a very powerful lineup and be batting in front of some of it too so that could mean a higher stat in both runs batted in and runs. Teixeira also had a good fieldig season grabbing only five errors. A problem the Brave might have is playing in Turner Field, a pitcher's park. But since Teixeira looked so comfortable in a Brave's uniform last year, I wouldn't take this too seriously.

Projected 2008 Stats: .320, 40, 120

4. Carlos Pena, Tampa Bay Rays

All of the talk in Tiger Town was about Carlos Pena a decade ago. Now, almost everybody is talking about him. Pena struggled in Detroit under high expectations. Then he lost his job. Then Tampa Bay gave him a chance, and he took the most of it hitting 46 homeruns. He might of even had a chance for 50 if he didn't spend the first two weeks on the bench. Pena also racked up 121 runs batted in as well as a solid average. This fantastic year may of been a fluke, but most likely not. He showed power in Detroit, hitting 63 homeruns in three seasons filled with slightly over 1,000 at-bats for the Tigers. Now, the only thing to see is if he can keep his average above his career average of .252. Playing in a weak Tampa Bay offense will put his RBI chances down though.

Projected 2008 Stats: .279, 42, 111, 0

5. Lance Berkman, Houston Astros

Lance Berkman struggled through the first few weeks of the 2008 season and his total numbers suffered because of that, "only" hitting .278 with 34 homeruns and 102 runs batted in. Will we see Lance Berkman hit 20 homeruns and have an average under .280 as we have seen many times or hit .300 with 40 homerus as we have seen many times as well? No one knows, Berkman is quite unconsistent, but his defenseive play isn't. Not for the better though. He will get you about eight errors per season. Berkman has speed unlike some first basemen and might get you 10, but that is highly unlikely. If Berkman can find his former .300, 40, 120 self, you won't regret drafting Berkman.

Projected 2008 Stats: .298, 38, 111, 8

Bust-Albert Pujols, S. Louis Cardinals

Maybe not a full bust but a bust if you pick him at his sale price Albert Pujols Picture - image - photo which looks to be somewhere in the Top five picks. The truth is, I wouldn't spend a pick on him until around the 3rd or 4rth rounds. I know I have some people reading this who are like "This guy's a freak," but his stats might not be up to par this year. First of all, he is battling through injuries in Spring Training and will miss some of the regular season. Even when he does get back, he will have problems. Pitchers will almost never give him a pitch to hit because there is no other hitter in the St. Louis lineup that they will be worried about. Sure, maybe more walks and a higher on-base percentage, but other than this, Pujol's stats will suffer. They won't be bad, but pick with caution.

Projected 2008 Stats: .303, 29, 93, 12

Sleeper-Ryan Garko, Cleveland Indians

Ryan Garko had a good season for the Indians last year, hitting .289 with 21 homeruns and 61 runs batted in in only 484 at-bats. Another thing he did very well in was getting no attention. This season, he will most likely be playing the whole season at first base and fantasy owners aren't taking much notice. What do you have to do to get some attention around here? Garko won't get you many steals and a lot of strikeouts but he could also get you 30 homeruns, 90 runs batted in, and a .300 average. Garko isn't that good at fielding so you have to take that into factor but his .483 slugging percentage makes up for it. Garko could possibly get drafted in a ten team draft or he could go into Free Agency. Pick him up fast. If he is on a different team, most likely not, give up a cheap player and the othe guy will take it, he doesn't knoe Garko's talent.