Berkman not worried about 1B: St. Louis OF Lance Berkman said Sunday that he is prepared to handle the rigors of first base after spending last year in the outfield for the Cardinals. Berkman is slated to take over the position for Albert Pujols, who departed to the Angels as a free agent. "It's just different," Berkman told MLB.com. "The outfield, you have more straight-line running. First base, there is a lot more lateral stops and starts, side-to-side, that kind of thing, a little more agility involved there. The wear and tear, it's probably not going to be a lot worse." (Updated 01/15/2012)
Injury Report
No information available at this time (Updated 2/13/12).
Fantasy Analysis
Despite the position change, Berkman said he has kept a similar training regimen during the offseason. The veteran appeared in 145 games for St. Louis last season after having left knee surgery in 2010 and belted 31 home runs -- his best output in the past four years. "I think as you age, you learn that you have to be a little bit more conscious of how you prepare for the season," Berkman told MLB.com. "I'll be ready to go when we open camp." Fantasy owners should view Berkman as a solid OF option in the middle rounds of 2012 drafts. (Updated 01/15/2012).
02/10/2012 13:27 2012 Draft Prep: 12-team, mixed H2H draft
Which picks stood out in our initial 12-team Head-to-Head mock draft for 2012? Check out the results and read what Scott White has to say about some of the more interesting selections.
02/08/2012 04:32 2012 Fantasy outlooks: Houston Astros
To say the Houston Astros are rebuilding is an understatement, but they have more than a few surprises in the form of young talent. Michael Hurcomb breaks down the American League-bound franchise in his Fantasy team outlook.
02/02/2012 12:21 2012 Draft Prep: Our 12-team, mixed Rotisserie draft
It's time for owners to start looking ahead to Draft Day. We get you off and running with our 12-team Rotisserie mock draft. Check out the results!
After it looked as though he could be on the verge of falling off the Fantasy map after a dreadful 2010, Lance Berkman proved his doubters wrong in his first season with the Cardinals. Playing primarily right field, he batted .290 with 24 home runs and 63 RBI in the first half to earn his first trip to the All-Star game since 2008. His numbers fell off a bit after the break but he still finished with 31 homers and 94 RBI to earn Comeback Player of the Year honors. The .547 slugging percentage he posted was his best mark since 2008 and he batted .301 for the season, which was way up from the .248 he recorded the year before. With Albert Pujols no longer in St. Louis, Berkman will become the everyday first baseman in 2012, which should help him stay healthier. He is no spring chicken at 35 years old, but Berkman proved last season that he is still a viable option in Fantasy. Target him in the early to middle rounds of mixed leagues on Draft Day. (Updated 1/28/12)
Actual 
AccuScore Projections) Note: Points are rounded down.
