2019 The Mudcat and MillSports USA Top First and Second basemen

                                                                            

                        Johnny 'Mudcat' Williams


'                                                      The Dean of the Diamond' 

                                                               

                                 2019 First Base and Second Base Preview

I know that usually when I draft a stud player high at First Base, the chances of an off season are good after my selection (sometimes too high). If, we go by my dismal past track record for the selection of this corner position, take a big bat and hope a waiver wire claim later can make up for your bad luck -last season Jesus Aguilar AND Max Muncy came out of nowhere to save one of my NL only league teams!

Okay, not all of us can be that fortunate every year to have a player or TWO drop into our lap that can produce a great season. I believe Freeman, Cabrera, Goldschmidt and Encarnacion are all too big to fail for your team. If, they do, watch out, second division, so, let your competition grab those players too early.

The players I like this year are Pittsburgh's Josh Bell, LA Dodger, third year Cody Bellinger (include an outfield position for him after Puig and Kemp traded this off season to clueless Reds), a rebound season for Cubs (and former Red Sox prospect) Anthony Rizzo. Expect big seasons from Rhys Hoskins, Phillies and Matt Olsen, Oakland, a stud player pick, sleeper selection.

Besides Bellinger playing another position on the field for fantasy eligibility, Muncy started at second base last year, at the end he had multiple positions. The players that fit this same mold are Jurickson Profar from Texas, Jose Martinez (OF), St. Louis, team mate Matt Carpenter (INF/OF), and Carlos Santana, Cleveland, 3B/1B/C/DH.

Now, do not get me wrong, I like steady play from that position, where I can leave a player every week. However, I am particular to a type of player that can produce as his team's first or second best hitter. Jose Abreu, ChiSox and Eric Hosmer, Padres fill the bill, and while I do not like Joey Votto from Cincinatti, the eventual Hall of Fame player also can meet my standard of fantasy player selection criteria. Trey Mancini, from Baltimore might become a sleeper pick for me, since his team is terrible, but he can rake.

I call boppers Joey Gallo,Rangers, Brandon Belt, Giants and Jay Bruce (maybe an OF position) Mariners, all feast or famine hitters. Some weeks are good for production which depends upon the match up, so monitor who they play each week if you take one of these streaky hitters.

The rest are all rolls of the dice for you where the hope being the fantasy God of Chance takes pity on your worthless soul. Justin Smoak, Toronto, CJ Cron, Twinkies, Jake Bauers, Cleveland, and Yuli Gurriel, Houston, are all in the risky category.

Rookie of Influence: If, he has a good spring New York Met Peter Alonso could make some noise from flat bush this season.




                               The Mudcat's Top 15 First Basemen.

1. Paul Goldschmidt, St. Louis
2. Freddie Freeman, Atlanta
3. Anthony Rizzo, Chicago
4. Rhys Hoskins, Philadelphia
5. Jesus Aguilar, Milwaukee
6. Eric Hosmer, San Diego
7. Matt Carpenter, St. Louis (Inf)
8. Joey Votto, Cincinatti
9. Jose Abreu, ChiSox
10. Cody Bellinger, LA Dodgers (OF)
11. Miguel Cabrera, Detroit
12. Matt Olson, Oakland
13. Edwin Encarnacion, Seattle
14. Joey Gallo, Texas
15. Max Muncy, LA Dodgers (Inf)

Best of the Rest: Josh Bell, Pittsburgh, Yuli Gurriel, Houston, Carlos Santana, Cleveland and Jurickson Profar (Inf/OF).

                                                          Second Base

I believe this position can be judged to be the fun spot on any fantasy team. What do I mean by the 'fun spot' , well the variety of player can be immense in scope. You can get a combination of speed for stolen bases and on base chances for high batting averages with KC's Merrifield, Miami Gordon or Baltimore Villar.

If, you seek pop in your second base starter, try the Cubs Baez, who had a huge season last year. Robinson Cano with the Mets might improve his numbers by not playing in pitcher friendly Safeco Field. Include Travis Shaw listed at this position when in reality a starting third base candidate.

Then, what I like to call, the steady performers: Jose Altuve from Houston, a player coming off surgery last year. The shortest player in MLB does hit, run, and hustle better than most players on two good legs! Include the Braves Ozzie Albies (minus the surgery) in this category of player.

The next level of player that I would draft with any of my seven through ten draft picks would be Daniel Murphy, who two seasons ago was a fantasy stud, go light on him this season after an injury plagued year in 2018. The Yankees Gleyber Torres is an athlete that could play any position on the field. His numbers should only increase this season. 2018 All-Star for the NL's Reds was Scooter Gennett, or he should have been rather than a reserve.

                                The Mudcat's Top 15 Second Basemen.

1. Jose Altuve, Houston
2. Javier Baez, ChiCubs (SS)
3. Whit Merifield, KC
4. Travis Shaw, Milwaukee, (3b)
5. Ozzie Albies, Atlanta
6. Gleybar Torres, NYY
7. Scooter Gennett, Cincinatti
8. Jonathan Villar, Baltimore
9. Dee Gordon, Miami
10. Rougned Odor, Texas (Inf)
11. Daniel Murphy, Colorado (1B/3B)
12. Robinson Cano, NYM
13. Yoan Moncado, ChiSox
14. Joey Wendel, TB
15. Brian Dozier, Washington

Best of the Rest: Jed Lowrie, NYM (SS/3B), Cesar Hernandez, Philadelphia and Niko Goodrum, Detroit (Inf).