PHILADELPHIA - Jim Thome 33 L/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS 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 2002 CLE 147 480 146 19 2 52 101 118 122 139 304 445 677 1 2       Even in the prime of his career, Thome still hasn't quite figured out southpaws, batting .245 against them with 12 home runs. But he demolishes right-handed pitching as well as anybody not named Bonds.       Thome loved to hit at the Jake in Cleveland and put up his best numbers there. But I don't expect he will have too much trouble in Philadelphia; Veterans Stadium has always been a good park for home runs and strikeouts, two things that Thome excels at. As for the new park, who knows?       As a general rule, I hate it when teams give outrageous long-term contracts to 33-year-old players coming off their best season. Thome's seven-year contract will almost certainly be a fiscal disaster for the Phillies, unless they can win this year or next.       But then, they stole Kevin Millwood from the Braves... and all of the sudden, a playoff spot this season is a real possibility. Jason Giambi was booed in this first week with the Yankees — but, if anything, Thome faces even more intense pressure this season.

HOUSTON - Jeff Bagwell 35 R/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS 2000 HOU 159 590 183 37 1 47 152 132 107 116 310 424 615 9 6 2001 HOU 161 600 173 43 4 39 126 130 106 135 288 397 568 11 3 2002 HOU 158 571 166 33 2 31 94 98 101 130 291 401 518 7 3       A Jeff Bagwell off-year is pretty damn impressive, but it was still an off-year. Bagwell struggled the first half of the season, then terrorized pitchers in the second half.       I, for one, don't care much for the body armour that batters are wearing these days, and obviously I'm not alone. One curious argument, however, goes along the lines of "Barry Bonds shouldn't be allowed to wear body armour, but Jeff Bagwell, who has broken his hand, should be allowed to wear protection".       I am a Bagwell fan and I don't want to see him break his hand again, but I gotta think that the rules should apply to everyone. I can't think of another sport that gives injured players the advantage of extra equipment, except maybe professional wrestling. Injury risks are part of the game, and Bagwell is a risk (albeit a very minor one, given his exceptional health record the past seven years).

COLORADO - Todd Helton 30 L/L

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS 2000 COL 160 580 216 59 2 42 138 147 103 61 372 463 698 5 3 2001 COL 159 587 197 54 2 49 132 146 98 104 336 432 685 7 5 2002 COL 156 553 182 39 4 30 107 109 99 91 329 429 577 5 1 2002 HOME 79 275 104 22 1 18 71 65 53 40 378 475 662 4 0 2002 ROAD 76 278 78 17 3 12 36 44 46 51 281 383 493 1 1       Helton's numbers were pretty good, but not as eye-poppinglicious as in past years. He was hobbled a bit by injuries, missed time in midseason with a sore lower back, then had bone spurs removed from his left elbow after the season. His numbers should be back to their usual levels in 2003.

MILWAUKEE - Richie Sexson 28 R/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS 2000 CLE-MIL 148 537 146 30 1 30 89 91 59 159 272 349 499 2 0 2001 MIL 158 598 162 24 3 45 94 125 60 178 271 342 547 2 4 2002 MIL 157 570 159 37 2 29 86 102 70 136 279 363 504 0 0       For the most part, last year was Sexson's best season. His batting average and on-base percentage were both career highs, and he cut down dramatically on the strikeouts. Only his power numbers were down; after a fine first half, Sexson hit only 10 home runs after the All-Star break. He was diagnosed in July with hamstring tendinitis behind his left knee, which likely robbed him of some of his power. Sexson is a formidable power hitter who has made some remarkable improvements at the plate; if he's healthy then he should have another big year.

SAN DIEGO - Ryan Klesko 32 L/L

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS 2000 SD 145 494 140 33 2 26 88 92 91 81 283 393 516 23 7 2001 SD 146 538 154 34 6 30 105 113 88 89 286 384 539 23 4 2002 SD 146 540 162 39 1 29 90 95 76 86 300 388 537 6 2       Klesko hit .287, with power, against left-handers, his best performance ever against southpaws. He has come a long way since his Braves days, when he often sat on the bench because of his ineptness against lefties. Klesko began the year in right field, then moved to first base after Nevin's injury. He had a good year, and will open 2003 at first.       Klesko hit .300 for the first time since 1995. He has never had that monster 45-homer season that seemed in store for him when he was younger. But he has succeeded in resurrecting a career that three years ago had fallen on hard times. And in today's game, anyone at any age can have a breakthrough season; Brady Anderson was 32 when he had his 50-homer year, Luis Gonzalez was 33.

FLORIDA - Derrek Lee 28 R/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS 2000 FLO 158 477 134 18 3 28 70 70 63 123 281 368 507 0 3 2001 FLO 158 561 158 37 4 21 83 75 50 126 282 346 474 4 2 2002 FLO 162 581 157 35 7 27 95 86 98 164 270 378 494 19 9       Lee has a history of slow starts; in his career, he is a .218 hitter in April, a .220 hitter in May. Last year was more of the same. Too bad, because otherwise he had a terrific year at the plate, and would be an All-Star if he put up some decent numbers in the spring. Lee is a very large man who has real power; last year he hit 18 home runs on the road, but only nine at home. In his career, he has hit 69 home runs on the road, but only 30 in his home park. Lee is a good hitter but he is in the wrong park.

CINCINNATI - Sean Casey 29 L/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS 2000 CIN 133 480 151 33 2 20 69 85 52 80 315 385 517 1 0 2001 CIN 145 533 165 40 0 13 69 89 43 63 310 369 458 3 1 2002 CIN 120 425 111 25 0 6 56 42 43 47 261 334 362 2 1       Casey had a disappointing season, the result of a torn muscle in the rotator cuff in his left shoulder. He didn't play much the second half of the season, and had surgery in September. Assuming that the shoulder heals, he should be back over .300 in 2003.

ARIZONA - Mark Grace 39 L/L and Lyle Overbay 26 L/L

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS GRACE 2000 CHC 143 510 143 41 1 11 75 82 95 28 280 394 429 1 2 2001 ARI 145 476 142 31 2 15 66 78 67 36 298 386 466 1 0 2002 ARI 124 298 75 19 0 7 43 48 46 30 252 351 386 2 0 OVERBAY 2000 AA 62 244 86 16 2 8 43 49 28 39 352 420 533 3 2 2001 AA 138 532 187 49 3 13 82 100 67 92 352 423 528 5 4 2002 AAA 134 525 180 40 0 19 83 109 42 86 343 396 528 0 0       Overbay has been a victim of success. The Diamondback's success, that is; while Arizona has been winning championships, Overbay has been wasting his life away at El Paso, knocking the cover off the ball but not making much upward progress. In five years in the minors, his lowest batting average was .332; he has line drive power, and is similar in many ways to the man he's trying to replace, Mark Grace. At age 26, he finally has a chance to get some at bats; with luck, he may become Arizona's regular first baseman before he is 30.

LOS ANGELES - Fred McGriff 39 L/L

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS 2000 TAM 158 566 157 18 0 27 82 106 91 120 277 373 452 2 0 2001 TAM-CHC 146 513 157 25 2 31 67 102 66 106 306 386 544 1 2 2002 CHC 146 523 143 27 2 30 67 103 63 99 273 353 505 1 2       McGriff played as well as the Cubs could have hoped. He endured a miserable April but was pretty darn good the rest of the season. The Dodgers are hoping that he can give them at least one more good year; he needs 22 home runs to reach 500 for his career, 97 hits to reach 2500. He should be good for both milestones, though not much more... McGriff struggled against left-handers last season, batting .213 with only two home runs. Historically, he's done well against southpaws; last year might have been a fluke, but more likely is the first sign of rapidly advancing age.

ATLANTA - Rob Fick 29 L/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS 2000 DET 66 163 41 7 2 3 18 22 22 39 252 340 374 2 1 2001 DET 124 401 109 21 2 19 62 61 39 62 272 339 476 0 3 2002 DET 148 556 150 36 2 17 66 63 46 90 270 331 433 0 1       The Braves tried out a few first basemen, eventually settling on the Franco's, Julio and Matt. Matt played pretty well, Julio did a decent job for a 43-year-old who holds the bat over his head, but the Braves decided try something else, and signed Rob Fick.       Fick had an interesting season. Fick was the lone Tiger at the All-Star Game; he was decent with the bat, but is capable of doing better. A converted catcher, Fick led all outfielders in assists (21) and errors (12). He's really not all that much better than what the Braves had (Franco and Franco combined for 12 homers, 60 RBI), but he's a guy who I always thought should be good, and he might do better away from Detroit.

CHICAGO CUBS - Hee Seop Choi 24 L/L or Eric Karros 35 R/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS CHOI 2000 A 96 345 102 25 6 15 60 70 37 78 296 369 533 4 1 2000 AA 36 122 37 9 0 10 25 25 25 38 303 419 623 3 1 2001 AAA 77 266 61 11 0 13 38 45 34 67 229 313 417 5 1 2002 AAA 135 478 137 24 3 26 94 97 95 119 287 406 513 3 2 KARROS 2000 LA 155 584 146 29 0 31 84 106 63 122 250 321 459 4 3 2001 LA 121 438 103 22 0 15 42 63 41 101 235 303 388 3 1 2002 LA 142 524 142 26 1 13 52 73 37 74 271 323 399 4 2       It's hard to say what the Cubs are going to do here. Hee Seop Choi had a wonderful season at Iowa, and appears ready to step in and become the team's regular first baseman. The Cubs cleared his way by letting Fred McGriff go... then got cold feet and signed Eric Karros.       Karros has been awful the past two seasons, and at age 35 is past his expiry date. My guess is that Choi will start the year at first, while Karros will serve as a pinch-hitter and backup. But then, this is the Cubs; you can never be quite sure of what they are thinking.

NEW YORK METS - Mo Vaughn 35 L/L

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS 2000 ANA 161 614 167 31 0 36 93 117 79 181 272 365 498 2 0 2001 INJURED 2002 NYM 139 487 126 18 0 26 67 72 59 145 259 349 456 0 1       Big Mo looked all done in 2002, but it looks like the Mets are going to stick with him for another year. The good news is that he hit much better after the All-Star break, and also did a good job of handling left-handers. The bad news is that he is 35 years old and is carrying several spare tires around his waist.... even if he does hit a little better in 2003, he'll probably just get hurt again. The end is near.

ST LOUIS - Tino Martinez 35 L/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS 2000 NYY 155 569 147 37 4 16 69 91 52 74 258 328 422 4 1 2001 NYY 154 589 165 24 2 34 89 113 42 89 280 329 501 1 2 2002 STL 150 511 134 25 1 21 63 75 58 71 262 337 438 3 2       2002 started badly for Tino and never got much better, but apparently he will come back for another year. Actually, he played about as well as he did in 2000, except that his RBI were way down (I guess RBI are harder to come by in St. Louis than in the Bronx, go figure). His worst months were his first two, but even his best month paled badly next to the top first sackers in the league. His postseason was also a disaster.       I have never been a big fan of Martinez, have always thought that his reputation was overblown by playing for the Yankees. He's a wonderful defensive player and occasionally has a good year with the bat, but he's never been one of the league's top ten players, or even close. He'll be 35 this year, and my guess is that he has little left to offer.

SAN FRANCISCO - JT Snow 35 L/L

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS 2000 SF 155 536 152 33 2 19 82 96 66 129 284 365 459 1 3 2001 SF 101 285 70 12 1 8 43 34 55 81 246 371 379 0 0 2002 SF 143 422 104 26 2 6 47 53 59 90 246 344 360 0 0       Snow had a miserable season with the bat, and also struggled with a bout with turf toe in midseason. He still has a terrific glove and he had a few big hits in the playoffs, so it appears that the Giants are going to stick with him for another year. He's 35 years old, and even in his prime he was a mediocre talent; he's not going to make a comeback.

PITTSBURGH - Randall Simon 28 L/L or Kevin Young 34 R/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS SIMON 2001 DET 81 256 78 14 2 6 28 37 15 28 305 341 445 0 1 2002 DET 130 482 145 17 1 19 51 82 13 30 301 320 459 0 1 YOUNG 2000 PIT 132 496 128 27 0 20 77 88 32 96 258 311 433 8 3 2001 PIT 142 449 104 33 0 14 53 65 42 119 232 310 399 15 11 2002 PIT 146 468 115 26 1 16 60 51 50 101 246 322 408 4 6       Baseball-Reference.com tracks Similarity Scores for every major league player; Simon's list of most similar players is one of the strangest I have ever seen. The most similar player to Simon (at the same age) is Bill Terry, a Hall Of Famer; he's followed by two first basemen, Hal Morris and Lamar Johnson; then a pitcher, Wes Ferrell; two more first basemen, Nick Etten and Vic Power; then another pitcher, Hall Of Famer Red Ruffing.       I suspect that Simon is closer to Lamar Johnson than he is to Bill Terry, but anyways, he should be an improvement over Kevin Young. Simon is a .300 hitter with line drive power; unfortunately, he almost never takes a walk, and the result is a poor on-base percentage (and only 51 runs scored, compared to 82 RBI).

MONTREAL - Jeff Liefer 29 L/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS 2000 AAA 120 445 125 29 1 32 75 91 53 107 281 356 566 2 3 2001 CHW 83 254 65 13 0 18 36 39 20 69 256 313 520 0 1 2002 CHW 76 204 47 8 0 7 28 26 19 60 230 295 373 0 0       A minor-league slugger, Liefer put himself on the map when he hit 18 homers in half a season for the White Sox in 2001. Last year his power stroke disappeared and he was quickly forgotten; the Expos, in desperate need of an inexpensive first baseman, are going to give him a try. Capable of hitting 20-25 homers; he's similar in some ways to the man he's replacing, Lee Stevens.

FIRST BASE - BOTH LEAGUES
1 Jason Giambi	11 Ryan Klesko	21 Hee Seop Choi
2 Jim Thome	12 Derrek Lee	22 Doug Mientkiewicz
3 Jeff Bagwell	13 Carlos Pena	23 Mo Vaughn
4 Carlos Delgado	14 Sean Casey	24 Tino Martinez
5 Todd Helton	15 Mark Grace	25 JT Snow
6 Mike Sweeney	16 Fred McGriff	26 Jeff Conine
7 John Olerud	17 Scott Spiezio	27 Scott Hatteberg
8 Richie Sexson	18 David Ortiz	28 Randall Simon
9 Paul Konerko	19 Rob Fick	29 Travis Lee
10 Rafael Palmeiro	20 Travis Hafner	30 Jeff Liefer