Last night’s go at the catchers led to some hard feelings apparently, so let me make it clear, these are just OPS projections for 2012, they’re not meant for a hard statement on the game’s best at a position. Anyway, here are the top 10 at first base:
1.017 - Miguel Cabrera (Tigers) - 589 AB - 1.033 in 2011
.993 - Albert Pujols (Angels) - 596 AB - .906 in 2011
.990 - Joey Votto (Reds) - 567 AB - .947 in 2011
.946 - Adrian Gonzalez (Red Sox) - 604 AB - .957 in 2011
.921 - Prince Fielder (Tigers) - 563 AB - .981 in 2011
.873 - Mark Teixeira (Yankees) - 583 AB - .835 in 2011
.864 - Ike Davis (Mets) - 553 AB - .925 in 2011
.860 - Lance Berkman (Cardinals) - 485 AB - .959 in 2011
.850 - Ryan Howard (Phillies) - 380 AB - .835 in 2011
.846 - Paul Konerko (White Sox) - 551 AB - .906 in 2011
- I’ll rank Cabrera with the first basemen for now. He’ll open the season at third for Detroit, but I doubt he’ll finish it there. Of course, he would have topped that list, too. The 1.017 projection is the highest I’ve given to any player this year.
- I would have had Fielder higher had he stayed in the NL, but there will probably be an adjustment period with the league switch. Also, Comerica Park favors right-handed hitters over lefties, which will probably cost Fielder some homers. I have him hitting 32 this year after he finished with 38 last season.
- Just missing the cut were sophomores Eric Hosmer and Freddie Freeman. I have Hosmer improving from .799 to .836 in year two and Freeman going from .795 to .823.
