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Initial 2009 rankings: First basemen

Eric Mack
Senior Fantasy Writer
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In preparation for our early mock draft, we will go position-by-position with some preliminary rankings for Draft Day 2009. We move on to the famously deep first base position.

Our rankings are based on position eligibility for next season, which requires 20 games at a position to be eligible. If a player has not played 20 games, his primary position will be defined as what position he has played the most games at -- unless it is a current AL player (that player -- i.e. a Dan Johnson -- will be listed at DH). Giants 1B Pablo Sandoval has little chance to be catcher-eligible, since he should get 20 games at first base before the end of the season but likely won't at catcher and definitely won't at third.

Initial first basemen rankings for 2009
RK Player TM The thinking is as follows …
1 Albert Pujols STL We will have to drop him down past No. 5 if he misses the first month due to elbow surgery.
2 Miguel Cabrera DET He had a great second half and should be much more comfortable in his long-term home.
3 Mark Teixeira LAA Big free-agent contract will figure to make him highly sought after on Draft Day.
4 Ryan Howard PHI If not for Ks and a low average, he would be a candidate for No. 1 overall. Nobody's perfect.
5 Lance Berkman HOU He was arguably the best player in Fantasy for most of 2008, but power might be declining.
6 Justin Morneau MIN One of the best pure run producers in baseball and he should see an uptick in homers.
7 Prince Fielder MIL He was one of the most disappointing early rounders of '08 in the never-injured category.
8 Kevin Youkilis BOS Boy, that power sure came this year and position eligibility is an added bonus, too.
9 Aubrey Huff BAL This is what we thought he should be years ago, but you can't be sure he can repeat this.
10 Adrian Gonzalez SD If not for a punchless supporting cast and a pitcher's park, his numbers would be a lot better.
11 Derrek Lee CHC Disappointing years makes you ask if he was healthy or merely just declining with age?
12 Carlos Delgado NYM A renaissance saved his career -- and perhaps the Mets -- but he is still old and an injury risk.
13 Garrett Atkins COL He has regressed the past two years ... and watch out below if he is dealt away from Coors.
14 Carlos Pena TB Hopefully you weren't counting on him duplicating his '07 numbers; that is bad policy.
15 Chris Davis TEX Rookie masher can reach 30 homers and 100 RBI -- but also 160 strikeouts?
16 James Loney LAD Power remains a question, but it is hard to deny a pure hitter like this on breaking through.
17 Conor Jackson ARI For a stretch there, we saw him becoming the 25-homer man he can be. We'll still wait.
18 Joey Votto CIN A great hitter's park gives him a real good shot to reach 30 HR and 100 RBI in Year 2.
19 Nick Swisher CHW We thought the move to Chicago's park would make him a 40-homer threat. Maybe Year 2.
20 Mike Jacobs FLA He is your classic free-swinger. What results if he is dealt out of Florida's pitcher's park?
21 Jorge Cantu FLA It was a nice rebound year, but if you counted on him before you will be cautious yet again.
22 Jason Giambi NYY Won't be an MVP again, but he is a better run producer than this ranking suggests.
23 Carlos Guillen DET Another injury-plagued year and no more SS eligibility should make him a latter-rounder pick.
24 Paul Konerko CHW Streaky slugger just never maintained a tear this season, but next year could be payback time.
25 Todd Helton COL His power went years ago and now his back went out; is he the one shuffled out of town?
26 Pablo Sandoval SF We don't see him retaining catcher-eligibility, but if this young masher does, look out top 15.
27 Hank Blalock TEX Shoulder injuries can be devastating, but that park and lineup can still lead to a rebound.
28 Casey Kotchman ATL He is better than Youkilis at a similar age, so could he be the next Youkilis? Maybe at 27 in '10
29 Casey Blake LAD Puts together huge months and then disappears for extend periods. Makes drafting him tough.
30 Adam A. LaRoche PIT If he could extend his hot streaks, shorten his cold streaks and stay healthy ... a lot of if's here.
31 Billy Butler KC We called him a potential Mark Teixeira-type, but the power really needs to get popping soon.
32 Kevin Millar BAL Veteran is going to be overlooked in many mixed leagues, but he can still hit on the low end.
33 Nick Johnson WAS You have to figure he will get long DL stays, but you have to like him if you are hot for OPS.
34 Lyle Overbay TOR He is finishing better than he started, but his days of being a breakthrough are likely done.
35 Ryan Garko CLE Former mashing catcher might have swung and missed his way to Fantasy obscurity.
36 Ryan Shealy KC He has always had pop, but what makes him any different than a Chris Shelton at this point?
37 Chris Duncan STL A monumental disappointment who has a career-threatening back injury. Just a late flier here.
38 Dmitri Young WAS Health woes claimed him again, so you can't expect much out of him going into 2009 now.
39 Daric Barton OAK It is hard to like anything you have seen to date, but the scouts once liked him, we suppose.
40 Kila Ka'aihue KC Quick-rising masher could be in the mix in Kansas City, but potential only goes so far at 1B.

Did we sell someone short? Overrate someone? You can e-mail Emack your Fantasy Baseball comments about our rankings to DMFantasyBaseball@cbs.com. Be sure to put Attn: 1B rankings in the subject field. Please include your full name, hometown and state. Be aware, due to the large volume of submissions received, we cannot guarantee personal responses to all questions.

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Player News
Wilson Betemit will resume baseball activities next week
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com
(6:30 pm ET) Orioles designated hitter Wilson Betemit saw a team doctor in Baltimore and will likely be cleared to resume baseball activities at some point next week, according to The Baltimore Sun.

Edwin Jackson roughed up again
by Chris Towers | CBSSports.com
(6:29 pm ET) Cubs pitcher Edwin Jackson's Thursday start was cut short by rain, but it didn't look like he was long for the mound with the way he was pitching even before an hour and 47 minute rain delay.

Jackson surrendered six hits in the outing in just three innings, and ran into trouble in each of his first two innings. He allowed two runs on three hits and a walk in the first inning, and then gave up two more runs on three more hits in the second.

Jackson settled down in the third inning with a pair of strikeouts, but the rain opened up and he had no chance to continue his outing. He finished with four runs allowed on six hits in three innings of work, with three strikeouts and one walk, while taking the loss in a 4-2 final.

Jackson's ERA rose to 6.11 in the start, while his record dropped to 6.11. Jackson is set to take the mound next Tuesday against the White Sox. 


Salvador Perez's hip is only bothersome when running
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com
(6:12 pm ET) Royals catcher Salvador Perez, who is back in the lineup Thursday, missed the previous two games with a bruised hip. Manager Ned Yost said the hip only bothers Perez when he's running, the Kansas City Star reports.

"It doesn’t bother him to catch, block balls in the dirt, throw or hit," Yost told the Star. "It does bother him to run a little bit."

Perez has hit .308/.324/.413 with one home run in 148 plate appearances, going 13 for 31 in his last nine games.


Christian Garcia to join Double-A Harrisburg this weekend
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com
(6:04 pm ET) Nationals pitcher Christian Garcia, who is working his way back from a partially torn tendon in his forearm, is expected to join Double-A Harrisburg this weekend, according to MLB.com. Garcia will be used as a reliever in the minors.

Zack Wheeler will make 2-3 starts before MLB debut
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com
(5:51 pm ET) Mets pitching prospect Zack Wheeler will make 2-3 starts in the minors before making his big-league debut, a team official told The New York Post Thursday.

Wheeler allowed three earned runs on five hits and two walks over five innings in his first start Wednesday since being skipped in the rotation with soreness in the AC joint in his right shoulder. He clocked in at 100 mph, but was mostly in the 95-97 mph range in his last start.

Wheeler is 3-1 with a 3.91 ERA in nine starts with Triple-A Las Vegas. Barring any setbacks, he could make his debut at some point between June 6-11.

Boston signs Rafael Perez to minor-league deal
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com
(5:43 pm ET) The Red Sox signed former Indians reliever Rafael Perez to a minor-league league contract Thursday, according to The Plain Dealer.

Perez, who had shoulder surgery in the offseason, carried a 2.25 ERA with two strikeouts and three walks in four innings while under Minnesota's Triple-A affiliate. He will likely report to Double-A Portland, according to MLB.com.

Nick Tepesch should be good to go for Sunday
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com
(5:34 pm ET) Rangers starting pitcher Nick Tepesch, who missed his scheduled start Wednesday with a blister issue, was fine in a bullpen session Thursday and should be on track to start Sunday against the Mariners, Fox Sports Southwest reports.

Tepesch has made eight starts for the Rangers this season, going 3-4 with a 3.98 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 31 strikeouts in 43 innings.


Adam Eaton expected to seek second opinion
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com
(5:28 pm ET) Diamondbacks general manager Kevin Towers told The Arizona Republic that Adam Eaton's MRI showed some fluid around the UCL but "the ligament looked the same as his prior MRI, so no new damage."

Eaton is expected to seek a second opinion from Dr. James Andrews. He is expected to rest for 2-3 weeks before re-starting his rehab assignment.

Austin Jackson not likely to return when first eligible
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com
(5:28 pm ET) Tigers center fielder Austin Jackson is eligible to return from the 15-day disabled list Monday, but it appears it could be a bit longer, MLive.com reports. Jackson has not participated in physical activity yet.

"I want it right," Tigers manager Jim Leyland told MLive.com. "We talked about that today: 'Get it right.' I don't want him to come back 85 percent and try to play and then do it again. Try to get it as close to 100 percent as you can. You might not get it to 100 percent. Who knows."

Jackson strained his left hamstring nearly two weeks ago and last week seemed to be on track to make it back when first eligible. He has .272/.333/.371 with two home runs and five stolen bases in 16 plate appearances this season.


Jesus Montero officially optioned to minors
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com
(5:28 pm ET) The Mariners officially optioned catcher Jesus Montero to Triple-A Tacoma Thursday. A corresponding move isn't expected to be made until Friday, but Seattle is expected to promote Tacoma backup catcher Jesus Sucre, as first reported by The News Tribune.

 
 
 
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