ST LOUIS - Scott Rolen 28 R/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS 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 2002 PHI-STL 155 580 154 29 8 31 89 110 72 102 266 357 503 8 4       Rolen played 100 games in a Phillies uniform, waiting for an inevitable trade while not lighting things up at the plate. He went on a power tear after he was dealt to the Cardinals, and finished with good numbers, not his best. He is in his prime years, and has been healthy two years in a row; with his power, walks and defense, he probably ranks as the best third sacker in the league right now.

SAN FRAN - Edgardo Alfonzo 29 R/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS 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 2002 NYM 135 490 151 26 0 16 78 56 62 55 308 391 459 6 0       Losing Jeff Kent will be tough, but I think the additions of Alfonzo and Ray Durham were awfully good moves for the Giants. Kent has clearly been the better then Alfonzo the past two seasons, but he is also six years older. Alfonzo looked like a budding superstar in 2000; injuries have derailed his career the past two seasons, but he was still very good last year with the Mets. Alfonzo is a fine defensive player, and he should have better seasons ahead.

FLORIDA - Mike Lowell 29 R/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS 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 2002 FLO 160 597 165 44 0 24 88 92 65 92 276 346 471 4 3       After three identical seasons, it is probably safe to say that we know what his level of ability is. The Marlins may not be convinced; Lowell had a great first half, but struggled badly after the break. I think he still has a career year in him, a year in which he hits around .300 with 25-30 homers.

COLORADO - Jose Hernandez 34 R/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS 2000 MIL 124 446 109 22 1 11 51 59 41 125 244 315 372 3 7 2001 MIL 152 542 135 26 2 25 67 78 39 185 249 300 443 5 4 2002 MIL 152 525 151 24 2 24 72 73 52 188 288 359 478 3 5       Just when you've given up on the Rockies and Dan O'Dowd, they go out and get themselves a player. Well, I shouldn't give them too much praise; Hernandez is, after all, 34 years old and coming off a career year, and his value is almost certain to plummet within the next two years. But at least the Rockies made an effort to put a real player in their infield and not resign Neifi Perez.

CHICAGO CUBS - Mark Bellhorn 29 S/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS 2000 AAA 117 436 116 17 11 24 111 73 94 121 266 399 521 20 5 2001 AAA 43 156 42 6 0 12 30 36 22 60 269 370 538 3 0 2002 CHC 146 445 115 24 4 27 86 56 76 144 258 374 512 7 5       Bellhorn was a 22-year-old rookie with the Athletics back in 1997; he had a decent season, but it took him five years to get established in the big leagues. He is the kind of player you would have expected the Athletics to like — he has power, speed and gets on base — but things didn't work out, due to injuries and bad luck.       How surprising, then, that he should thrive with the Cubs, a team that normally can't tell a good player from a groundskeeper. But Bellhorn was great last year, and I presume that he will be a fixture at the top of the Cubs' lineup this season. I don't know if he will hit as many home runs this year, but he will still get on base in front of Sosa and that's what the Cubs really need.

PITTSBURGH - Aramis Ramirez 25 R/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS 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 2002 PIT 142 522 122 26 0 18 51 71 29 95 234 279 387 2 0       Ramirez had a rough season. I am going to assume that Ramirez is not the second coming of Fernando Tatis, that he will come back and hit a lot of home runs over the next few seasons. He is very young and strong.

LOS ANGELES - Adrian Beltre 24 R/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS 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 2002 LA 159 587 151 26 5 21 70 75 37 96 257 303 426 7 5       Beltre had another disappointing season; after looking like a brilliant young player when he was 20 years old, his career has stalled.       I can understand if the Dodgers and their fans are frustrated, but there is still good reason to think that he will be a very good player. He struggled terrible in May and June, but also sizzled during the summer, batting over .300 in July and August. And he is still incredibly young; he has been in the league for five years and has played 650 games, yet is still 20 months younger than Eric Hinske, the AL Rookie Of The Year. I would like to have Beltre on my team in 2003.

PHILADELPHIA - David Bell 31 R/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS 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 2002 SF 154 552 144 29 2 20 82 73 54 80 261 333 429 1 2       Bell did okay for himself last year, starring for a Giants team that won the pennant, then signing a $17 million contract with the Phillies during the winter. He's a decent player, not a very good hitter but a fine defensive third baseman. Last season was probably a career year, and a well-timed one at that.

SAN DIEGO - Sean Burroughs 23 L/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS 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 2002 AAA 50 179 54 16 2 2 29 23 21 16 302 380 447 1 0 2002 SD 63 192 52 5 1 1 18 11 12 30 271 317 323 2 0       At age 22, Burroughs took over the third base job in San Diego, and was a favourite to be the top rookie in the league. That didn't work out; Burroughs' bat was lacking in punch, and he was sent back to the minors. He was also hampered by a shoulder injury that he suffered in May; he had the shoulder operating on to repair a torn labrum after the season.       Burroughs and the Padres will try again in 2003. He's still very young, and he should be a .300 hitter with doubles power. Some people think that he will hit for more power as his body fills out (his dad was Jeff Burroughs), but so far there is no evidence that he can hit home runs. I wouldn't expect a power explosion this season.

HOUSTON - Morgan Ensberg 27 R/R or Geoff Blum 30 S/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS ENSBERG 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 2002 AAA 83 292 84 12 3 7 50 37 50 56 282 401 421 9 5 2002 HOU 49 132 32 7 2 3 14 19 18 25 242 346 394 2 0 BLUM 2000 MON 124 343 97 20 2 11 40 45 26 60 283 335 449 1 4 2001 MON 148 453 107 25 0 9 57 50 43 94 236 313 351 9 5 2002 HOU 130 368 104 20 4 10 45 52 49 70 283 367 440 2 0       Ensberg has played well in the minor leagues the past three years, but can't buy any playing time with the Astros. There is no doubt that he can get on base, and he has the potential to hit for power as well (especially in the park). But, at age 27, time is getting away from him.       Geoff Blum got the bulk of the playing time at third, and you can't argue with the decision; Blum had his best season and was a solid contributor in the Astros' lineup. Both of these guys can play a little bit, neither is a long term, everyday solution.

ARIZONA - Craig Counsell 33 L/R and Matt Williams 37 R/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS COUNSELL 2000 ARI 67 152 48 8 1 2 23 11 20 18 316 400 421 3 3 2001 ARI 141 458 126 22 3 4 76 38 61 76 275 359 362 6 8 2002 ARI 112 436 123 22 1 2 63 51 45 52 282 348 351 7 5 WILLIAMS 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 2002 ARI 60 215 56 7 2 12 29 40 21 41 260 324 479 3 1       The Diamondbacks attempted to trade Williams during the winter, but he vetoed the deal. Williams really doesn't have a lot left; he's 37 years old, and he can't stay in the lineup; he still has a lethal power stroke, but his inability to hit for average or get on base is a problem.       On the other hand, the DBacks still need him because the left side of their infield is pretty weak. Counsell is a very good utility player and could be a decent second baseman, but I don't see him as a good third sacker. He has no power, and while he does a decent job of getting on base his other contributions with the bat are limited.       Unless the Diamondbacks have another Junior Spivey hidden away somewhere, the left side of the infield will likely be a major liability on a rapidly disintegrating team.

NEW YORK METS - Ty Wigginton 24 R/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS 2000 AA 122 453 129 27 3 20 64 77 24 107 285 319 490 5 5 2001 AAA 78 260 65 12 0 7 29 24 27 66 250 323 377 3 3 2002 AAA 104 383 115 26 3 6 49 48 43 50 300 366 431 5 3 2002 NYM 46 116 35 8 0 6 18 18 8 19 302 354 526 2 1       God only knows what kind of player Wigginton is going to be. He may hit for power; he may not. He may have good command of the strike zone, he may not. But he has played well enough that he deserves to be in the lineup; I think he is an interesting young player who could be good.

ATLANTA - Vinny Castilla 35 R/R or Matt Franco 34 L/R or Mark DeRosa 28 R/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS CASTILLA 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 2002 ATL 143 543 126 23 2 12 56 61 22 69 232 268 348 4 1 FRANCO 2000 NYM 101 134 32 4 0 2 9 14 21 22 239 340 313 0 0 2001 AAA 124 433 106 25 1 8 49 47 52 72 245 325 363 5 2 2002 ATL 81 205 65 15 4 6 25 30 27 31 317 395 517 1 0 DEROSA 2000 AAA 101 370 108 22 3 3 62 35 38 36 292 359 392 13 4 2001 AAA 49 186 55 18 0 2 31 17 17 22 296 351 425 7 3 2001 ATL 66 164 47 8 0 3 27 20 12 19 287 350 390 2 1 2002 ATL 72 212 63 9 2 5 24 23 12 24 297 339 429 2 3       Last I checked, Vinny Castilla was still on the Braves' roster, despite having a horrible, horrible season at third base. "The Braves love his defense" is what we were told during the playoffs, while the Braves were being unceremoniously booted out of the postseason. Castilla still might be able to help off the bench, but is all done as a regular.       Sooo... well, last year at first base, the Braves used the Franco's, Matt and Julio. Rob Fick has that job this season, but Franco and Franco are still around, and both are infinitely better options than Castilla. Matt Franco actually played really well and more than deserves a chance to claim the job. Another option is Mark DeRosa, who hits better than Castilla and is also seven years younger.       Julio Franco is still a good player, and would be in the Hall Of Fame if he had spent even half the years in Colorado that Castilla did.

CINCINNATI - Brandon Larson 27 R/R or Russell Branyan 26 L/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS LARSON 2000 AA-AAA 128 490 134 33 1 22 72 68 35 138 273 330 480 15 5 2001 AAA 115 424 108 22 2 14 61 55 24 123 255 312 415 5 6 2002 AAA 80 297 101 20 1 25 47 69 24 70 340 393 667 1 1 2002 CIN 23 51 14 2 0 4 8 13 6 10 275 362 549 1 0 BRANYAN 2000 CLE 67 193 46 7 2 16 32 38 22 76 238 327 544 0 0 2001 CLE 113 315 73 16 2 20 48 54 38 132 232 316 486 1 1 2002 CLE-CIN 134 378 86 13 1 24 50 56 51 151 228 320 458 4 3       Bob Boone was quoted in January saying that he thinks Brandon Larson is capable of hitting 40 home runs in a season. The Reds have even moved Aaron Boone to second base, to give Larson a chance to play everyday. I'm all for giving young players an opportunity to play... but in this case, the Reds are going to be disappointed. Yes, Larson had a tremendous year at Louisville, but he was 26 years old. Before that, his minor league record was unexceptional; his command of the strike zone is also very poor. He's not a good young player; if the Reds get real lucky, he'll be Shea Hillenbrand, get hot for a couple of months and give them decent production in the short term.       Now, Russell Branyan, on the other hand... he just might hit 40 homers in a season, though he might also strike out 250 times. My guess is that Boone will be back at third before the end of the year.

MILWAUKEE - Wes Helms 27 R/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS 2000 AAA 136 539 155 27 7 20 74 88 27 92 288 325 475 0 6 2001 ATL 100 216 48 10 3 10 28 36 21 56 222 293 435 1 1 2002 ATL 85 210 51 16 0 6 20 22 11 57 243 283 405 1 1       Helms began the year as the Braves' first baseman, but didn't hit and spent a lot of time on the bench. The Brewers are going to try him out as their third baseman; Helms has some power but doesn't hit for average and has terrible command of the strike zone.       What's that? A Brewer who doesn't understand the strike zone? Can't be!

MONTREAL - Fernando Tatis 27 R/R

YEAR TM GM AB HT DB TP HR RUN RBI BB SO AVG OBA SLU SB CS 2000 STL 96 324 82 21 1 18 59 64 57 94 253 379 491 2 3 2001 MON 41 145 37 9 0 2 20 11 16 43 255 339 359 0 0 2002 MON 114 381 87 18 1 15 43 55 35 90 228 303 399 2 2       A poster boy for non-guaranteed contracts. Tatis makes over $5 million per year, compensation for the great season he had in 1999. Since then, he has been utterly frustrating; last year, Tatis missed the first month of last season with an injury, then came back and played very well for two months... and then he hit .179 after the All-Star break. Tatis' 1999 season seems like a distant memory now; though he is only 28, he has become unwanted, expensive baggage.

THIRD BASE - BOTH LEAGUES
1 Scott Rolen	11 Joe Crede	21 Craig Counsell
2 Eric Chavez	12 Robin Ventura	22 Ricky Gutierrez
3 Edgardo Alfonso	13 Adrian Beltre	23 Ty Wigginton
4 Troy Glaus	14 Hank Blalock	24 Jared Sandberg
5 Corey Koskie	15 David Bell	25 Mark DeRosa
6 Mike Lowell	16 Tony Batista	26 Brandon Larson
7 Eric Hinske	17 Sean Burroughs	27 Wes Helms
8 Jose Hernandez	18 Shea Hillenbrand	28 Jeff Cirillo
9 Mark Bellhorn	19 Joe Randa	29 Dean Palmer
10 Aramis Ramirez	20 Geoff Blum	30 Fernando Tatis