NEW YORK YANKEES - Jason Giambi 31 L/L

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS 1999 OAK 158 575 181 36 1 33 115 123 105 106 315 422 553 1 1 2000 OAK 152 510 170 29 1 43 108 137 137 96 333 476 647 2 0 2001 OAK 154 520 178 47 2 38 109 120 129 83 342 477 660 2 0       Giambi was, in my books, the MVP of the American League. He is the one of the best hitters in baseball; he is also going to play for the Yankees, a team that has a long history of great left-handed sluggers. Giambi should fit in with the best of them.       MID-SEASON UPDATE: Was booed in his first week, but is still the best in baseball.

TORONTO - Carlos Delgado 30 L/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS 1999 TOR 152 573 156 39 0 44 113 134 86 141 272 377 571 1 1 2000 TOR 162 569 196 57 1 41 115 137 123 104 344 470 664 0 1 2001 TOR 162 574 160 31 1 39 102 102 111 136 279 408 540 3 0       Delgado signed a massive $17 million contract before last season, then saw his numbers take a tumble. He was still one of the best hitters in the league, but criticism was inevitable. Was 2000 a career year? Perhaps, but don't bet on it. There is some historical precedent for great hitters having their best seasons a year apart. YEAR GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS AGE BILLY WILLIAMS 1970 161 636 205 34 4 42 137 129 72 65 322 393 586 7 1 32 1971 157 594 179 27 5 28 86 93 77 44 301 384 505 7 5 33 1972 150 574 191 34 6 37 95 122 62 59 333 403 606 3 1 34 WILLIE STARGELL 1971 141 511 151 26 0 48 104 125 83 154 295 401 628 0 0 31 1972 138 495 145 28 2 33 75 112 65 129 293 377 558 1 1 32 1973 148 522 156 43 3 44 106 119 80 129 299 395 646 0 0 33 CARLOS DELGADO 2000 162 569 196 57 1 41 115 137 123 104 344 472 664 0 1 28 2001 162 574 160 31 1 39 102 102 111 136 279 408 540 3 0 29 2002 ????????? 30       Williams came close to winning the Triple Crown in both 1970 and 1972. Stargell had a pair of monster power seasons that would translate into 50, 60 homers if he were playing today.       Williams had a terrific season in 1971, as did Stargell in 1972. It would seem silly in retrospect to criticize them... but then, they hadn't just signed $17 million contracts. Delgado's numbers were a step down from where they were in 2000, but I expect they will move up again this year.       MID-SEASON UPDATE: Delgado is seriously messed up at the plate, and is available for whomever wants to take on his $17 million salary. He will play better in another year, another city.

CLEVELAND - Jim Thome 32 L/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS 1999 CLE 146 494 137 27 2 33 101 108 127 171 277 426 540 0 0 2000 CLE 158 557 150 33 1 37 106 106 118 171 269 398 531 1 0 2001 CLE 156 526 153 26 1 49 101 124 111 185 291 416 624 0 1       Thome's struggles against left-handed pitching continued; he hit .232 with just 4 homers against southpaws. But against the rest of the league, he left no prisoners, and had one of his best years. Last year was the fifth time that Thome has combined 30+ home runs with 100+ runs scored, RBI and walks. He is a formidable hitter; unfortunately, he is also one of the last good hitters that the Indians have left.

KANSAS CITY - Mike Sweeney 29 R/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS 1999 KC 150 575 185 44 2 22 101 102 54 48 322 387 520 6 1 2000 KC 159 618 206 30 0 29 105 144 71 67 333 407 523 8 3 2001 KC 147 559 170 46 0 29 97 99 64 64 304 374 542 10 3       One of the best hitters in the game, Sweeney had some injuries which may have affected him a bit in 2001. He was still outstanding; his RBI total dropped dramatically, but that probably had more to do with the loss of Johnny Damon and other Royals than anything else. Sweeney can hit for average and power, and walks more than he strikes out; I don't think he has had his best season yet.       MID-SEASON UPDATE: Has been the best hitter in the American League the first half of the season.

SEATTLE - John Olerud 34 L/L

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS 1999 NYM 162 581 173 39 0 19 107 96 125 66 298 427 463 3 0 2000 SEA 159 565 161 45 0 14 84 103 102 96 285 392 439 0 2 2001 SEA 159 572 173 32 1 21 91 95 94 70 302 401 472 3 1       Olerud is a Gold Glove first baseman who gets on base 40% of the time and has a bit of pop. He's not a star, but he's the type of good, reliable player that every good team needs.       MID-SEASON UPDATE: Olerud has had a wonderful, wonderful first half of the season. Should have been in the All-Star Game, even if he had to play for the National League; Olerud has been one of the biggest reasons that the Mariners have continued to play well, despite the lack of production from Martinez, Boone and Cameron.

CHICAGO WHITE SOX - Paul Konerko 26 R/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS 1999 CHW 142 513 151 31 4 24 71 81 45 68 294 352 511 1 0 2000 CHW 143 524 156 31 1 21 84 97 47 72 298 363 481 1 0 2001 CHW 156 582 164 35 0 32 92 99 54 89 282 349 507 1 0       Last year was hailed in some quarters as a breakthrough year for Konerko; I don't think he was any better than in the previous two seasons, though his home run and RBI numbers did go up a bit. He's a good young hitter who should have better seasons ahead of him.

TEXAS - Rafael Palmeiro 38 L/L

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS 1999 TEX 158 565 183 30 1 47 96 148 97 69 324 420 630 2 4 2000 TEX 158 565 163 29 3 39 102 120 103 77 288 397 558 2 1 2001 TEX 160 600 164 33 0 47 98 123 101 90 273 381 563 1 1       Palmeiro will turn 38 this year, but he has remained a remarkably productive player. His batting average has dropped a bit the past two seasons, but the homers and RBI are there, and he continues to walk more often than he strikes out. He probably could rate higher than he does, but given his age, I have to expect his numbers to decline.

MINNESOTA - Doug Mientkiewicz 28 L/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS 2000 AAA 130 485 162 32 3 18 96 96 61 68 334 406 524 9 5 1999 MIN 118 327 75 21 3 2 34 32 43 51 229 324 330 1 1 2001 MIN 151 543 166 39 1 15 77 74 67 92 306 387 464 2 6       Sometimes a player needs a second chance. After a lousy rookie season in 1999, Mientkiewicz went back to the minors and played in the Olympics and got some confidence back. He returned with the Twins last year, and was good. As long as he keeps getting on base, he should help the Twins; I wouldn't bet on him getting any better than he was last year, but at least the Twins should be able to afford to keep him.

BOSTON - Tony Clark 30 S/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS 1999 DET 143 536 150 29 0 31 74 99 64 133 280 361 507 2 1 2000 DET 60 208 57 14 0 13 32 37 24 51 274 349 529 0 0 2001 DET 126 428 123 29 3 16 67 75 62 108 287 374 481 0 1       Clark is a streak hitter, will go through long stretches when he can't buy a hit, then will save his season with a tremendous hot streak. He is a consistent, powerful hitter, but has had trouble the past two years with injuries. He is well suited to Fenway Park, and a comeback could be in the cards.

OAKLAND - Carlos Pena 24 L/L

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS 1999 A 136 501 128 31 8 18 85 103 74 135 255 365 457 2 5 2000 AA 138 529 158 36 2 28 117 105 101 108 299 414 533 12 0 2001 AAA 119 431 124 38 3 23 71 74 80 127 288 408 550 11 3 2001 TEX 22 62 16 4 1 3 6 12 10 17 258 361 500 0 0       You might think that, after losing Jason Giambi to free agency, Athletics' GM Billy Beane might start to panic a little. Not so; as usual, Beane quickly went about his business finding a replacement, and the Rangers were kind enough to give him prospect Carlos Pena.       As a hitter, Pena is about where Giambi was in 1995. That's not to say that he will be good as Giambi, but he has the same kind of skills. He can hit for average, hit for power, and draw a whole bunch of walks. And he's ready to play this year.       If you are wondering why the Rangers would give the Athletics such a nice gift, you are not alone. For their part, the Rangers got a pretty good pitching prospect in return, and Lord Knows they need pitchers. They also got Jason Hart, a young first baseman who was pegged as a possible replacement for Giambi before the trade. Hart has power, but is several months older than Pena and didn't play nearly as well last year. Pena was the best prospect in the deal, and is most likely to make the biggest impact.       MID-SEASON UPDATE: Had a great first month, then struggled, was demoted, and last week was traded to Detroit. An interesting rookie season.

DETROIT - Dmitri Young 28 S/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS 1999 CIN 127 373 112 30 2 14 63 56 30 71 300 352 504 3 1 2000 CIN 152 548 166 37 6 18 68 88 36 80 303 346 491 0 3 2001 CIN 142 540 163 28 3 21 68 69 37 77 302 350 481 8 5       Young is a consistent .300 hitter who has a bit of pop in his bat. He doesn't have enough power or a high enough on-base percentage to rank among the top first sackers in the league, but then, he's never been a regular first baseman before. Last year, Young played 36 games at third, 87 games in the outfield... but if you have ever seen him with a glove, you probably know that he could benefit from having fewer defensive responsibilities. He could surprise us with his best season.

BALTIMORE - David Segui 36 S/L

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS 1999 SEA-TOR 121 440 131 27 3 14 57 52 40 60 298 355 468 1 2 2000 TEX-CLE 150 574 192 42 1 19 93 103 53 84 334 388 510 0 1 2001 BAL 82 292 88 18 1 10 48 46 49 61 301 406 473 1 1       Segui arrived in the big leagues with a reputation as an all-field, no-hit first baseman. He has had a surprisingly good career, and his hitting abilities have remained remarkably resilient. He had some injuries last year, and he will be 36 years old, so his time is limited.

TAMPA BAY - Steve Cox 27 L/L

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS 1999 AAA 134 534 182 49 4 25 107 127 67 74 341 415 588 3 3 2000 TAM 116 318 90 19 1 11 44 35 46 47 283 379 453 1 2 2001 TAM 108 342 88 22 0 12 37 51 24 75 257 323 427 2 2       He had a disappointing year. Despite a fine 2000 season, Cox still could not get regular playing time; the McGriff trade opened up an opportunity, but he didn't hit as well as he should. I think Cox can play better, but he will have to overcome a lousy situation in Tampa; he's also running out of time to establish himself.

ANAHEIM - Scott Spiezio 30 S/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS 1999 OAK 89 247 60 24 0 9 31 33 29 36 243 324 437 0 0 2000 ANA 123 297 72 11 2 17 47 49 40 56 242 334 465 1 2 2001 ANA 139 457 124 29 4 13 57 54 34 65 271 326 438 5 2       I can't imagine that the Angels would go a full year with Scott Spiezio as their first baseman, but then I said the same thing last year. Spiezio's a decent player, can play several positions, but is extremely stretched to play first.

FIRST BASE - BOTH LEAGUES
1 Jason Giambi	11 Rafael Palmeiro	21 David Segui
2 Jeff Bagwell	12 Richie Sexson	22 Mo Vaughn
3 Todd Helton	13 Fred McGriff	23 Eric Karros
4 Carlos Delgado	14 Derrek Lee	24 Craig Wilson
5 Jim Thome	15 Mark Grace	25 Steve Cox
6 Mike Sweeney	16 Doug Mientkiewicz	26 Travis Lee
7 John Olerud	17 Tino Martinez	27 JT Snow
8 Phil Nevin	18 Tony Clark	28 Wes Helms
9 Sean Casey	19 Carlos Pena	29 Lee Stevens
10 Paul Konerko	20 Dmitri Young	30 Scott Spiezio