PHILADELPHIA - Scott Rolen 27 R/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS 1999 PHI 112 421 113 28 1 26 74 77 67 114 268 368 525 12 2 2000 PHI 128 483 144 32 6 26 88 89 51 99 298 370 551 8 1 2001 PHI 151 554 160 39 1 25 96 107 74 127 289 378 498 16 5       Rolen had some problems hitting home runs, but the Phillies didn't mind; they were just glad that he was healthy and in the lineup. He is a good hitter and a very good defensive player; injuries have been his biggest problem so far. He should be entering his prime years now; if he can stay healthy, he can win an MVP Award.

ST LOUIS - Albert Pujols 22 R/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS 2000 A 130 476 151 40 7 19 73 94 38 36 317 373 550 3 5 2001 STL 161 590 194 47 4 37 112 130 69 93 329 403 610 1 3       Pujols was 21 years old last season, and had only played one year of pro ball; all he did was go out and have one of the greatest rookie seasons in baseball history. His season was quite similar to Alex Rodriguez' in 1996; obviously, he is already a great player, and he still has enormous growth potential.       I could rate Pujols ahead of Rolen, but I will wait another year. First, I want to see him have another big season; I also want to make sure that he plays third base (he was kind of all over the place last season).       MID-SEASON UPDATE: Pujols has played a third of the season at third base, the rest in left field. He is having a tremendous year with the bat, proving beyond a doubt that he is one of the best young players in baseball.

PITTSBURGH - Aramis Ramirez 24 R/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS 1998 PIT 72 251 59 9 1 6 23 24 18 72 235 296 351 0 1 2000 PIT 73 254 65 15 2 6 19 35 10 36 256 293 402 0 0 2001 PIT 158 603 181 40 0 34 83 112 40 100 300 350 536 5 4       Ramirez' road to The Show has not been a pretty one; he rushed to the majors in 1998, then the Pirates spent two years trying to figure out what to do with him. Last year he showed what all the fuss was about. He is very young, and he should hit a lot of home runs over the next few years.       MID-SEASON UPDATE: Has been a tremendous disappointment, batting .217 with 6 homers. Look for him to get back on track in 2003.

NEW YORK METS - Edgardo Alfonzo 28 R/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS 1999 NYM 158 628 191 41 1 27 123 108 85 85 304 385 502 9 2 2000 NYM 150 544 176 40 2 25 109 94 95 70 324 425 542 3 2 2001 NYM 124 457 111 22 0 17 64 49 51 62 243 322 403 5 0       An MVP candidate in both 1999 and 2000, Alfonzo had injury problems last season, and his hitting suffered badly. He also lost his position during the off-season; the Mets have acquired Robbie Alomar, and Alfonzo will move to third base. If healthy, he is a tremendous player.

LOS ANGELES - Adrian Beltre 23 R/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS 1999 LA 152 538 148 27 5 15 84 67 61 105 275 352 428 18 7 2000 LA 138 510 148 30 2 20 71 85 56 80 290 360 475 12 5 2001 LA 126 475 126 22 4 13 59 60 28 82 265 310 411 13 4       The wait continues. Beltre is a tremendous young talent whom the Dodgers have been waiting to emerge as a superstar. Last year, he regressed badly, but had a solid excuse: his appendix burst before the season, and was removed by a doctor who apparently didn't understand the concept of sterilization.       An infection set in early in the year, and Beltre lost 20 pounds. Bad luck, but I guess it could have been worse; the doctor might have accidentally removed his spleen or something. Believe it or not, Beltre is still only 23 years old; he will be back in fighting shape this year, and a monster season is still a very real possibility.       MID-SEASON UPDATE: Another major disappointment, Beltre hasn't produced at all for the Dodgers. Now, repeat after me: he's only 23, he's only 23, he's only 23...

FLORIDA - Mike Lowell 28 R/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS 1999 FLO 97 308 78 15 0 12 32 47 26 69 253 317 419 0 0 2000 FLO 140 508 137 38 0 22 73 91 54 75 270 344 474 4 0 2001 FLO 146 551 156 37 0 18 65 100 43 79 283 340 448 1 2       A line-drive hitter who is in his prime, Lowell is a solid member of the Marlins' lineup. After two identical seasons, I think we have him pegged down pretty well as a hitter. Probably capable of hitting .300, could possibly hit 30 homers in another park, but probably not in Florida.       MID-SEASON UPDATE: Having a sensational season, batting .311 with 14 homers but also 31 doubles.

CINCINNATI - Aaron Boone 29 R/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS 1999 CIN 139 472 132 26 5 14 56 72 30 79 280 330 445 17 6 2000 CIN 84 291 83 18 0 12 44 43 24 52 285 356 471 6 1 2001 CIN 103 381 112 26 2 14 54 62 29 71 294 351 483 6 3       While his older brother was putting up some big numbers on the West Coast, Boone quietly had another solid season with the Reds, though injuries cut into his playing time. He's yet to play 140 games in a season, so his durability is still a question mark... but given the number of problems that the Reds have, I think they have to feel comfortable about their third baseman.

CHICAGO CUBS - Bill Mueller 31 S/R and Chris Stynes 29 R/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS MUELLER 1999 SF 116 414 120 24 0 2 61 36 65 52 290 388 362 4 2 2000 SF 153 560 150 29 4 10 97 55 52 62 268 333 388 4 2 2001 CHC 70 210 62 12 1 6 38 23 37 19 295 403 448 1 1 STYNES 1999 CIN 73 113 27 1 0 2 18 14 12 13 239 310 301 5 2 2000 CIN 119 380 127 24 1 12 71 40 32 54 334 386 497 5 2 2001 BOS 96 361 101 19 2 8 52 33 20 56 280 322 410 4 5       Mueller shared the Cubs' third base job with Ron Coomer, and had a dynamite season. The moral of the story: don't play Bill Mueller every day. Coomer is gone, but the Cubs have acquired Chris Stynes, who is probably a better player than Coomer. Stynes can play anywhere, and the Cubs may need him at second base, but he should share a fair amount of playing time at third with Mueller.

ARIZONA - Matt Williams 36 R/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS 1999 ARI 154 627 190 37 2 35 98 142 41 93 303 344 536 2 0 2000 ARI 96 371 102 18 2 12 43 47 20 51 275 315 431 1 2 2001 ARI 106 408 112 30 0 16 58 65 22 70 275 314 466 1 0       Aging third baseman, doesn't stay in the lineup very often anymore. Williams' prodigious power has deserted him the past couple of years, plus he still swings at everything and doesn't get on base much. Still, he keeps his average respectable, he's a veteran who plays good defence, and he plays for the World Champions. I can't imagine that he will play better than he did last year.

MILWAUKEE - Tyler Houston 31 L/R or Ronnie Belliard 27 R/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS HOUSTON 1999 CHC-CLE 113 276 62 10 1 10 28 30 31 78 225 275 377 1 1 2000 MIL 101 284 71 15 0 18 30 43 17 72 250 292 493 2 1 2001 MIL 75 235 68 7 0 12 36 38 18 62 289 343 472 0 0 BELLIARD 1999 MIL 124 457 135 29 4 8 60 58 64 59 295 379 429 4 5 2000 MIL 152 571 150 30 9 8 83 54 82 84 263 354 389 7 5 2001 MIL 101 364 96 30 3 11 69 36 35 65 264 335 453 5 2       A tale of two players: Houston had a surprisingly good season, hitting for a decent average with some power in a platoon role.       Belliard, on the other hand, struggled a bit at the plate, and had his season ended early by injury problems; he has also developed a weight problem, and has lost his job at second base to Eric Young.       Having said that, I still like Belliard a lot more than Houston. Belliard's off-season wasn't much different from Houston's career-year, in terms of production. If things even out this year, then Belliard should be much better at the plate. I expect that Belliard will emerge as the regular third baseman - assuming, of course, that he doesn't grab his old second base job back from Old Man Young.

SAN DIEGO - Sean Burroughs 22 L/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS 1999 A 128 449 163 33 3 6 68 85 77 62 363 465 490 17 16 2000 AA 108 392 114 29 4 2 46 42 58 45 291 383 401 6 8 2001 AAA 104 394 127 28 1 9 60 55 37 54 322 386 467 9 2       The Padres are moving Phil Nevin to first so that Burroughs can take over at third. Burroughs is young, but he's got nothing left to prove in the minors, and he should be ready to hit major league pitching. At the moment, he is a high-average hitter with line drive power, and he is young enough and good enough to improve in other areas.

ATLANTA - Vinny Castilla 35 R/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS 1999 COL 158 615 169 24 1 33 83 102 53 75 275 331 478 2 3 2000 TAM 85 331 73 9 1 6 22 42 14 41 221 254 308 1 2 2001 TAM-HOU 146 538 140 34 1 25 69 91 35 108 260 308 467 1 4       Castilla had a terrible start to the season with Tampa Bay, but a trade to Houston saved his career. It's been three years since you could argue that he was a good player; my guess is that the Braves will be looking for help at third base before the season is over.

COLORADO - Todd Zeile 37 R/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS 1999 TEX 156 588 172 41 1 24 80 98 56 94 293 354 488 1 2 2000 NYM 153 544 146 36 3 22 67 79 74 85 268 356 467 3 4 2001 NYM 151 531 141 25 1 10 68 62 73 102 266 359 373 1 0       Zeile has played first base the past two seasons, but only 10 home runs in over 500 at bats earned him a ticket out of New York. He's obviously not going to play first in Colorado, so I guess he'll be moving back to third. Playing in Colorado will, of course, pad his hitting stats; the Rockies, I think, have to be concerned about whether Zeile, at age 37, can still swing the bat and play third base. Greg Norton is still hanging around as a backup if needed.

HOUSTON - Morgan Ensberg 27 R/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS 1999 A 123 427 102 25 2 15 72 69 68 90 239 353 412 17 6 2000 AA 137 483 145 34 0 28 95 90 92 107 300 416 545 9 12 2001 AAA 87 316 98 20 0 23 65 61 45 60 310 397 592 6 3       Chris Truby had an awful start to the season, and the Astros wasted little time in replacing him with Vinny Castilla. Castilla is gone, so once again third base becomes a problem position for Houston; unfortunately for Truby, he is considered to be a big part of that problem.       Morgan Ensberg hit well last year at New Orleans, and the job may be his to lose. Ensberg is too old to be considered a prospect, but I like his chances of having a surprise season; given their options, the Astros' best bet is probably to see what Ensberg can do.       ADDENDUM: Truby has been dealt. The guy they got back, Geoff Blum, can also play third base, but Ensberg should be the starter on Opening Day.

SAN FRAN - Pedro Feliz 25 R/R or David Bell 30 R/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS BELL 1999 SEA 157 597 160 31 2 21 92 78 58 90 268 331 432 7 4 2000 SEA 133 454 112 24 2 11 57 47 42 66 247 316 381 2 3 2001 SEA 135 470 122 28 0 15 62 64 28 59 260 303 415 2 1 FELIZ 1999 AA 131 491 124 24 6 13 52 77 19 90 253 282 405 4 2 2000 AAA 128 503 150 34 2 33 85 105 30 94 298 337 571 1 1 2001 SF 94 220 50 9 1 7 23 22 10 50 227 264 373 2 1       Exit Russ Davis, enter David Bell. Bell is a pretty lousy hitter, but I guess he is a better option than Pedro Feliz, who had one of the worst rookie seasons in recent memory. I don't consider Bell to be a quality third baseman, but he has to be at least a small improvement over what the Giants had last year.

MONTREAL - Fernando Tatis 27 R/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS 1999 STL 149 537 160 31 2 34 104 107 82 128 298 404 553 21 9 2000 STL 96 324 82 21 1 18 59 64 57 94 253 379 491 2 3 2000 MON 41 145 37 9 0 2 20 11 16 43 255 339 359 0 0       Fernando Tatis was supposed to be Montreal's third baseman last season, but he was hurt for most of the year. His place was taken by Geoff Blum and Mike Mordecai, neither of whom hits nearly well enough to play third.       The Expos will be hoping that Tatis can get healthy and start hitting home runs again, but he's had serious injuries two years in a row. And he has some other, um, issues. During the offseason, Tatis was supposed to rehab his knee, but stayed home instead, citing "personal problems". I doubt that Frank Robinson will be impressed.       ADDENDUM: The Expos just acquired Chris Truby is a trade. That's not encouraging.       MID-SEASON UPDATE: A 180 degree reversal. Tatis is healthy and has been outstanding, hitting for power and driving in runs. He's a major part of the Expos' surprising season.

THIRD BASE - BOTH LEAGUES
1 Scott Rolen	11 Mike Lowell	21 Tony Batista
2 Troy Glaus	12 Aaron Boone	22 Vinny Castilla
3 Albert Pujols	13 Travis Fryman	23 Eric Hinske
4 Eric Chavez	14 Jose Valentin	24 Joe Randa
5 Aramis Ramirez	15 Bill Mueller	25 Todd Zeile
6 Edgardo Alfonso	16 Matt Williams	26 Craig Paquette
7 Corey Koskie	17 Aubrey Huff	27 Morgan Ensberg
8 Adrian Beltre	18 Ron Belliard	28 David Bell
9 Jeff Cirillo	19 Sean Burroughs	29 Shea Hillenbrand
10 Robin Ventura	20 Mark Lamb	30 Fernando Tatis