Along with the corner outfield positions, first base is a premium run-producing position. Significant home run, RBIs, runs scored and walk numbers accompany the first few tiers of first basemen.

Unlike most other positions, there isn’t a huge drop off between the first two tiers. Most teams put their big, strong defensive liability at first, making it a predominantly offensive position. Read more »

We touched on this in our “All-Overachiever Team” piece, but it’s too remarkable of a statistic to not go a little deeper.

San Diego Padres first baseman Adrian Gonzalez is finding it a little harder to abuse opposing pitchers these days. The 27-year-old slugger has next to no lineup protection, so hurlers are blatantly working around him and taking their chances with Kevin Kouzmanoff. Read more »

Success in any brand of baseball, Major League or fantasy league, is measured by more than just the contributions of star players. The guys who unexpectedly step up and deliver throughout the season most often make or break that team’s chances of competing for a championship.

In real baseball, managers have tentative ideas of what each player on his 25-man roster will give him throughout the season. Fantasy owners aren’t much different. They do their best selecting players in their preseason drafts, then scour the waiver wire all season long looking for diamonds in the rough who can help their chances for a league title. Read more »

The Chicago Tribune has speculated this week that the Cubs would be interested in making a deal for San Diego Padres first baseman Adrian Gonzalez. The Tribune reported that a potential deal involving Derrek Lee could be offered in a blockbuster that also involves Padres ace Jake Peavy.

This entire line of thinking seems like a longshot, but you never know. What the Cubs gain is apparent — a legitimate top-of-the-rotation starter and a young left-handed power bat — but what they send back to San Diego is a mystery. Lee is a nice start, but may not be enough to lure Gonzalez, a franchise building block, away from the Padres. Read more »