Third Basemen Outlook

September 7, 2007 @ 16:00:00

By Bryce McRae
Edited by Ryan Dodson

THIRD BASEMEN

Table: Do not bench list

Player	Team
Alex Rodriguez	NYY
Ryan Braun	MIL
David Wright	NYM
Miguel Cabrera	FLA
Chone Figgins	LAA
Aramis Ramirez	CHC
Garrett Atkins	COL
Chipper Jones	ATL
Ryan Zimmerman	WAS

UPPER ECHELON

Mike Lowell, Boston Red Sox

Schedule: 6 games - TB (3), NYY (3)

Analysis: With three games against the Yankees next week, a split (or sweep) would all but lock up a playoff spot for the team. Lowell continues to be a big part of their success, especially in the second half. Since the All-Star break, Lowell is hitting .373 with four home runs, 38 RBI and 26 runs. His power has dipped a little, but everything else has been consistent, while his average has shot up. Even better for Lowell's fantasy owners is the six home games for him this week. At home Lowell is hitting .370 with 12 home runs, 58 RBI and 43 runs compared to just a .291 average with only six home runs, 43 RBI and 22 runs in one more game. Lowell should remain in the starting lineup through this week and likely until the end of the season.

Adrian Beltre, Seattle Mariners

Schedule: 7 games - OAK (3), TB (4)

Analysis: Beltre has had a slow start to September, hitting just .111 with one home run in five games. Before that, he had been hitting well since over the second half of the season with nine home runs, 41 RBI, 30 runs and a .280 average. The power numbers, especially, are an improvement over his first half stats. With a lower average (.270) and playing in a pitchers' park this week, Beltre's stats will take a slight hit, but he should still remain in your lineup.

Troy Glaus, Toronto Blue Jays

Schedule: 7 games - @DET (1), NYY (3), BAL (3)

Analysis: With a .210 average in August, it would be understandable if you had benched Glaus for most of the month. However, he has come alive in September (perhaps one month too late for Blue Jays' fans) and is hitting .500 with two home runs, five RBI and three runs in just five games this month. In the coming week, Glaus will be playing six games at home, where he is a .282 hitter, so if you own him, you will hopefully avoid the hit in batting average he usually brings. Keep him in your lineup while he continues this hot streak.

Hank Blalock, Texas Rangers

Schedule: 7 games - @DET (3), @OAK (4)

Analysis: Blalock came off the disabled list with a storm when he homered and drove in four RBI Sept. 2. He went 0-for-7 over the next two games and went 2-for-3 with two RBI in the fourth game. He is playing at two pitchers' parks this season, so you may want to bench him if he has a rough weekend.

Ty Wigginton, Houston Astros

Schedule: 6 games - CHC (3), PIT (3)

Analysis: Wigginton appears to finally be settling into life in Houston. After hitting just .234 in August, Wigginton's average has climbed to .462 in September through four games. He is still not providing much in other categories (two runs and one RBI in those four games), but if you need a boost in average, he should be locked into your starting lineup.

MIDRANGE

Alex Gordon, Kansas City Royals

Schedule: 6 games - MIN (3), @CLE (3)

Analysis: Don't be fooled by the .250 average on the season, Gordon has been a better hitter over the past two months. In August, he hit .271 and he has gotten off to a good start in September, hitting .304 with three home runs, seven RBI and three runs in just five games. At home this year he has been a .251 hitter but when traveling to Jacobs Field, he has had perhaps his most success, at least average-wise. In five games at The Jake, he is hitting .368 with one RBI and three runs. With the start he has had this month, keep him in your starting lineup for time being.

Akinori Iwamura, Tampa Bay Devil Rays

Schedule: 6 games - @BOS (3), @SEA (4)

Analysis: Iwamura's average has dipped a bit over the second half of the season but he is still hitting for more power and driving in more runs. So far in September (five games), he is hitting .364 with two home runs, five RBI and six runs. He hasn't had as much success at Fenway Park, hitting just .273 with four runs, while this will be his first trip to the West Coast to face Ichiro and the Mariners. Perhaps that will give him some incentive to show up his fellow teammate from Japan. Either way, he should remain in the starting lineup while he is hitting this well.

Casey Blake, Cleveland Indians

Schedule: 6 games - @CWS (3), KC (3)

Analysis: Blake has been a big part of the team's recent surge in the American League Central that has seen them build up a seven-game cushion at the top. Through the first five games in September, Blake is hitting .350 with two RBI and one run scored. That will be a pleasant surprise to fantasy owners who have watched him hit just .255 overall over the second half of the season. Blake is also a solid hitter (.296 career average, eight home runs, 23 RBI, 29 runs in 43 games) at U.S. Cellular Field. Although he doesn't have a great career average at Jacobs Field (.249), he should still be started this week.

Pedro Feliz, San Francisco Giants

Schedule: 6 games - ARI (3), @SD (3)

Analysis: After not hitting one home run in August, Feliz has already knocked two out of the park in five September games. He is also hitting .278 so far this month (his highest monthly average this season) and is over halfway to his RBI total in August (four). With only infielder Rich Aurilia behind him and the Giants giving top prospect Kevin Frandsen a run out at second base, Feliz will likely be given most of the playing time at third this month as the team decides whether he can be their starter next season. Until Feliz cools off, he should be kept in your starting lineup.

OTHERS FOR CONSIDERATION

Josh Fields, Chicago White Sox

Schedule: 6 games - CLE (3), LAA (3)

Analysis: Fields is being given a shot in left field as the team prepares for 2008, however, that doesn't affect his status as a third baseman. What will affect his status is the .182 average he has in September and the .229 post-All-Star break average. He did manage nine home runs and 24 RBI in 29 games in August, so if you can deal with the drop in average, he would be a decent start. He is also a better hitter at home with 14 home runs 34 RBI compared to just five and 22 on the road.

Edwin Encarnacion, Cincinnati Reds

Schedule: 6 games - STL (3), @MIL (3)

Analysis: After struggling earlier this season, Encarnacion has come alive the past two months. He hit .350 with four home runs, 17 RBI and 18 runs in August and has followed that up by hitting .400 with two RBI and one run through three games in September. He is surprisingly not a great hitter at home (.273 average), but he has hit .308 in three games at Miller Park this season. However, that hides the fact he is just a .212 hitter with two home runs, 12 RBI and seven runs in 15 games in Milwaukee. It seems as though he is seeing the ball better than he did earlier this season, so he could provide you with a boost in average this week, if you choose to start him.

Brandon Inge, Detroit Tigers

Schedule: 7 games - TOR (1), TEX (3), @MIN (3)

Analysis: Inge has been one of the Tigers' disappointments over the past few weeks. In 27 games in August, Inge hit just .193 with 12 RBI and eight runs. So far in September he is hitting just .222 with two runs in four games. Inge has not been a great hitter at home this year, posting a .240 average with seven home runs, 31 RBI and 25 runs in 62 games. If there is a series next week where you want to start him, make it when he travels to the Metrodome. In six games there this year, Inge is hitting .286 with three RBI and four runs. Even then, he is a borderline starter for your team this week.

Melvin Mora, Baltimore Orioles

Schedule: 6 games - LAA (3), @TOR (3)

Analysis: Mora only had one home run and six RBI in 23 games in August. So far in September he has two RBI and four runs in four games but he is hitting .357. Mora is hitting just .260 at home this season and in six games at the Rogers Centre this season he is hitting .050. Mora may be hitting well so far in September, but that could easily go south. He is a bit of a risk and will only really help you in average and runs, but if you need the help in those areas, he could be worth a start.

Mark Reynolds, Arizona Diamondbacks

Schedule: 6 games - @SF (3), @LAD (3)

Analysis: After struggling through June and July, Reynolds came back with a strong August. In 22 games he hit .342 with four home runs, 18 RBI and 17 runs. He hasn't had a great start to September, hitting just .222 with two runs in five games. It appears as if hitters have finally figured out Reynolds after he burst onto the scene in May, hitting .426. He has just five at-bats in his career at AT&T Park, with no hits. He has done better at Dodger Stadium, hitting .500 with one RBI and three runs in two games this season. With a poor September so far, Reynolds is not worth starting just yet, although if he can recapture his August form he could be worth a spot in your starting lineup.

KEY PLAYERS ON DL

Eric Chavez, Oakland Athletics - Out for Season

Joe Crede, Chicago White Sox - Out for Season

Scott Rolen, St. Louis Cardinals - Out for Season

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Bryce McRae
Bryce McRae is a Managing Editor with KFFL and has been involved in fantasy sports since 1999. He joined KFFL as a volunteer writer in March 2005 before becoming a Hot off the Wire Analyst in March 2006. He began working in his current capacity in September 2008. His work has appeared on fantasy sports sites such as Yahoo! and CBS Sportsline as well as in print. He graduated from the University of British Columbia in 2008 with a B.A. in History and U.S. Studies.

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