Top 3rd Basemen for 2006

[Dr. Bryan Weimer]

1. Alex Rodriguez, Yankees: He's the best fantasy player out there. Hate him because he's pretty, hate him because he's paid more money than anyone in baseball, hate him because he's a damn Yankee, but don't hate him because he isn't good enough. He's amazing. He's a gold glover, wherever he plays. He's one of the best homerun hitters the game has ever seen, just wait, his numbers will show when he's done. And he always hits for average. There's something about having a guy who's stat line looks like this, .321 48 130 124 21, avg, HR, RBI, Runs, SB: that makes A-Rod well worth the first pick in your draft. Expect great things from Alex, because that's what he is, a great baseball player.

2. Adrian Beltre, Mariners: AB is back. If you watched the World Baseball Classic, if you didn't you missed out, Adrian was pelting baseballs all over the park. He had the second most homeruns in the entire tournament. More than Big Papi, Ken Griffey Jr., Mark Texiera. He was solid. He batted just aroun .500. and he claims it was because of his new aproach to hitting. Will Beltre ever mash 48 long balls with 121 RBI and a .334 BA like he had in '04 with the Dodgers? I don't know. The 121 RBI I can see, but the other two may never be matched. But he doesn't need to match those to be dominate. Last year he struggled, this year he'll show he was the hottest free agent pickup last year. .300, 35, 120... here the Mariners come.

3. Aramis Ramirez, Cubs: This guy is blowing up the preseason like D-Lee did last year. He's a very good hitter that always gets it done. Each of the last two years he's hit over .300, over 30 HR's, and over 90 RBI. The disgusting thing is, he tallied 30 last year in only 463 at bats and 123 games. In a full year, Ramirez is a 40 HR, 115 RBI guy. Him and Lee make an unheard of 3rd to 1st combo.

4. Miguel Cabrera, Marlins: Miquel is only 22 years old. Amazing. In his second year, in '05, Cabrera raked for a .323 average, 33 HR's, 116 RBI and 106 runs scored. Can anyone say A-Rod stats? Oh yes, and like A-Rod, Miquel has made the move to the three bag. His lineup isn't as great as it has been, but I wouldn't count out a repeat performance from last year. Except one thing. Miquel should mash more than 33 this time around.

5. Scott Rolen, Cardinals: On defense and offense Scott gets runners off the bases. I'm talking fantasy here, so being one of the games best gloves doesn't count for jack, but as far as a bat, when healthy, Scott drives em in. in 142 games in '05 Scott hit .314 wtih 34 jacks and 124 RBI. That's brilliant from a fantasy perspective. The St. Louis lineup is stout, as he'll always be an RBI glut. Look for him to have an '05 performance if he stays healthy. That if is what you'll take a chance on on draft day.

6. Eric Chavez, A's: Each of the last 3 years, Chavez has declined in batting average. I think he stops that trend with a .280 performance this year. Still, that's not top of the line shit. Especially when he's only hitting 27 long balls. He hasn't hit more than 29 the last three years, and never more than 34. I'm not sure if Chavez will ever be the great power hitter everyone always thought he'd become. That being said, he's obviously a damn good player. NOt hitting 30+ homeruns doesn't make you a chump. I'm just saying, he might be picked earlier than what his production level insists.

7. Morgan Ensberg, Astros: Ensberg really surprised last year in Houston. There is more to come. He hit .283 with 36 homers and 101 RBI. I think he'll easiliy attain those stats in '06. He's a masher that can be had late where he'll be way worth your pick.

8. David Wright, Mets: David Wright finished his first full season as a starter with 27 HR's 102 RBI, 17 SB's, and a .306 average. The scarry thing is, he started very slow. Yeah, just imagine what he could do. On May 13th oif '05 he was hitting .248 with 6 HR's and 17 RBI.... His second half was solid to say the least. Everyone else gives Wright top 5 status, but I really don't think he warrants that quite yet. Is he going to be a star? You bet. Is New York's lineup sick? Yes, a group of scary hitters. Wright could be a great player this year. In a dynasty league. He's just flat out ridiculous. He'll still be 32 when the season's over.

9. Melvin Mora, Orioles: Mora got off to a slow start last year, but finished strong. He mashed 6 singers in the last 10 games, finishing with 27 HR's, 88 RBI, and a .283 average. Everything besides the HR's were a little low. He's a better average hitter than that, maybe not .340 like '04 but .320 should be had. He's a 90-109 RBI guy. He's a good player, and a nice solid safe pick a little later in the draft.

10. Chipper Jones, Braves: Look at good old Chipper in this light. Two years ago, he had a mere 472 at bats and busted out 30 dingers and 96 RBI. Last year he only managed 358 at bats, but he still smashed 21 dingers, and had 72 RBI... if Chipper ever manages a full season, 160 games, 580 at bats, he's going to mash 35-40 dingers and tally up 120 RBI easily. Keep and eye on him, if the price is right, take him.

11. Chone Figgins, Angels: Chone ain't going to mash 20 out of the park and he won't reach 100 RBI, don't be confused. What he will do is steal 60+ bases for you. If you can get homeruns somewhere else, Chone will pay dividends on the basepath. There are 15 3rd basemen capable of slugging 40 homeruns, so take Chone, and get another guy to mash for you. Relying on one stat, HR's, is a bad idea.

12. Hank Blalock, Rangers: Hammerin' Hank Blalock is still just a young pup. He had a down year in '05, he batted only .263, but he still pounded out 25 long balls and tallied more than 90 RBI for the 3rd straight year. I have a feeling Hank will get back on track in '06, having a season more like '05 than '05. Think of numbers around .275, 30. and 110.... not too shabby.

13. Troy Glaus, Blue Jays: Troy has legitimate 40 homerun power. For the first time in awhile, he played more than 100 games and his power numbers flourished. He slugged 37 long balls and 97 RBI. If he stays healthy in Toronto, he could match the long balls easily and pump his RBI total more than 20. What most people don't know is, Toronto has some pretty good players looking to compete with the big red machine and the pinstripe crew. Troy will be a slugger on that Canada squad.

14. Mike Lowell, Red Sox: Lowell had a bad year in '05 and that's putting it real nicely. He hit .236 for God's sake. That's a bloop single over 1-4. The good thing is, that isn't a Lowell year. The cat's been solid. In '04 he hit .293 with 27 big flys, and 85 RBI. In '03 Mike crushed 32 deep ones with 104 RBI, and he batted .276. In Boston, with all those bats around him, he'll easily get over the centruy mark for RBI. The Green Monster is perfect for him, just wait and see.

15. Chad Tracy, Diamondbacks: Tracy batted .308 with 27 homeruns in his second year in the bigs. He's only 25 years old, and obviously there is more we have yet to see. Tracy will mash this year, 30 homeruns and almost 100 RBI.

The Best of the Rest: Aaron Boone (His injury a few seasons ago has just began to disappear, he'll be healthy this year for the first time in awhile, but healthy is still only .270 with 25 homeruns), Bill Mueller (Should flurt with .300 and 20 HR, but probably won't reach either, with a good lineup in Toronto, he should get close to 100 RBI), Shae Hillenbrand (He's solid, doesn't do anything flashy, kind of liek Mueller, but he'll DH most of the season)

Super Sleeper: Garrett Atkins, Rockies: It happens every year, a stud emerges from the Colorado Rockies organization. He hits tons of HR's he hits over 300 and he's getting RBI by the bundle. The guy who's going to tip the can this year is Garret Atkins. He only hit .289 with 13 HR's last year, but he brought in 89 guys. That ain't bad. This year he'll bust over .300 hit over 20 dongs, and the RBI total will reach the century mark with ease. Take him late, love him the rest of the way.