37-3 Checking the Locks: First Base

[crobillard]

This is a series where I will evaluate the options in each position leading into Spring Training. This is the second of twelve parts, including a prediction and end of Spring Training analysis. I will be taking a looking into first base in this post.

Sure fire locks: Dusty Rhodes
Trying to get in the door: Leonardo Martinez

Typically you want a lot of power from your first base position and when you look around the league it looks like there are plenty of heavy hitters at the position. Let's say you did not have one of these power hitters, what would you want in his place? Perhaps a guy who has had 13 days off in eleven seasons and has a .329/.375/.429 batting line. Rhodes is past his prime, but he's still very productive. He easily remains the starter on the Jackrabbits and the only question is where he bats in the lineup. If we have a good #1 hitter than Rhodes would be an excellent #2.

Martinez was claimed at the end of last season and is closer to the power hitter mold. However, his defense at first is terrible and is not likely to get better. That will certainly work against him when the numbers are crunched down to 27 at the start of the season. If he hits well enough in the spring though, who knows?