With these top 20 3rd basemen for 2009 fantasy baseball, we finish off the twenty lists for the infield.  From weakest to strongest, the top 20s go top 20 catchers, top 20 shortstops, top 20 2nd basemen, top 20 third basemen then top 20 1st basemen.  The outfielders will be coming up next, and I’m sure they’ll be deeper than all of these lists, but that’s just by virtue of the sheer number of them.  If you want some overall perspective, look at our 2009 Fantasy Baseball Player Rater.  In addition, there’s a list of every player who has multiple position eligibility.  Anyway, here’s the top 20 3rd basemen for 2009 fantasy baseball:

1. David Wright – See the top 10 for 2009 fantasy baseball for David Wright’s projections.

1 1/2. Miguel Cabrera – He may not have 3rd base eligibility in your league so he gets a 1/2.  See the top 10 for 2009 fantasy baseball for Miguel Cabrera’s projections.

2. Evan Longoria – See the top 20 for 2009 fantasy baseball for Evan Longoria’s projections.

3. Aramis Ramirez – Welcome to a new tier.  This tier goes from Aramis to Chipper.  I call this tier, “Your last chance for a rock solid 3rd baseman.”  As for Aramis, he was a bit underwhelming in 2007 to follow that up with more underwhelming shizz in 2008.  That he ranks 4th on the list is more of a condemnation of 3rd basemen than an endorsement of Aramis.  I like him, but only to a certain extent.  2009 Projections:  105/30/115/.295

4. Kevin Youkilis – I liked Youuuuuk going into the 2008 season and he didn’t disappoint.  Now, like with Dusty “The American Dream” Pedroia, Youuuuuuk’s getting slightly overrated.  Though Youuuuuk will have a better chance of matching expectations than Pedroia.  Remember I said match, not exceed.  Recognize!  2009 Projections:  95/27/110/.290/5

5. Alex Rodriguez – Drugs bad, A-Rod good, Cyst bad.  Any questions?  2009 Projections:  70/24/75/.295/4

6. Chipper Jones – Sure, the Glass Chipper is never going to make it a full 150 games ever again, but you forget how many guys are available on waivers during the season.  You get Chipper Jones for 120 games then grab a hot waiver pickup for the other 30 games and you end up with a much more productive player than Atkins for 155 games.   2009 Projections:  80/20/85/.320/5

7. Garrett Atkins – Here’s a new tier.  This tier goes from Atkins to Zimmerman.  I call this tier, “Guys with question marks but upside.”  See the top 20 1st basemen for 2009 fantasy baseball for Garrett Atkins’s projections.

8. Chris Davis – See the top 20 1st basemen for 2009 fantasy baseball for Chris Davis’s projections.

9. Jorge Cantu – See the top 20 1st basemen for 2009 fantasy baseball for Jorge Cantu’s projections.

10. Ryan Zimmerman – If only I liked Martin and Huff more, so I could have dropped Zimmerman even further.  Bummerman!  Someone once asked why I dislike Zimmerman so much, I replied, “Read Razzball!”  To which they said, “Razz what?”  I said, “Ball.”  They said, “Ball what?”  We went on like that for twenty minues.  Honestly, if Zimmerman’s on the board late, I could see myself grabbing him this year, unlike last year when there was no chance I was getting him on any team.  The reason I’m saying there’s a chance this year is because he’s now being severely underrated.  He can still hit 20+ home runs and he’s not that old.  Last year, I hated the wrist surgery.  Now we’re an extra year away from it…  Okay, I’m going to stop now bef0re someone catches me defending Zimmerman.  2009 Projections:  80/20/90/.285/7

10 1/2. Russell Martin – Here’s a new tier.  This tier goes from Martin to Encarnacion.  I call this tier, “Guys with fewer question marks and less upside.”  He may not have 3rd base eligibility in your league so he gets a 1/2.  See the top 20 catchers for 2009 fantasy baseball for Martin’s projections.

11. Aubrey Huff – See the top 20 1st basemen for 2009 fantasy baseball for Aubrey Huff’s projections.

12. Adrian Beltre – I had ’04 Beltre.  His 48 home runs.  I got them off waivers.  I knew it would never be that good again. And it won’t.  But he’s actually not putting up awful numbers from year to year.  What, you don’t want 25/10?  Of course you do.  He’s only just turning 30 at the beginning of the 2009 season.  2009 Projections:  80/25/85/.270/10

13. Edwin Encarnacion – Edwin’s one of those guys that I would draft in all leagues.  He’s not going to blow you away with numbers, but he’ll keep you afloat and let other guys carry your team.  In September of 2009, you’ll look at Encarnacion and say nothing good or bad. And that’s the best I can say about him.  2009 Projections:   75/25/90/.285/5

14. Mark Reynolds – Here’s a new tier.  This tier is just Reynolds and Figgins.  I call this tier, “Guys who could potentially kill your team.”  A guy who admittedly doesn’t mind striking out 200 times isn’t usually worth the headache.  But one of these years, Reynolds might hit 40+ home runs and .270 just from having one of those lucky BABIP years.  Later in a draft, if you feel like your team is really weak on power, I’d take a flier on Reynolds.  2009 Projections: 75/31/100/.255/7

15. Chone Figgins – Figgins is exactly the kind of guy I’ve never had on any team.  Why, Grey?  Please explain! Okay, random italcized voice, but lower the eagerness a bit, it’s weird.  Figgins always goes in the mid-rounds and he gives you essentially one category (steals).  This puts way too much pressure on your other guys to bolster Figgins’s power shortage.  Also, if he gives you 35 steals and Emmanuel Burriss (fill-in any speed schmohawk SAGNOF player) at a better position gives you the same ten rounds later, why draft Figgins?  I don’t know, Grey! Why?! That was rhetorical; I just explained why.  2009 Projections:  95/5/55/.295/35

16. Mark DeRosa – This is a new tier.  This tier goes from DeRosa to Lowell.  This tier I call, “Guys I’d prefer not to have on my team, but if they get hot I’d pick one up.”  See the top 20 2nd basemen for 2009 fantasy baseball for Mark DeRosa’s projections.

17. Hank Blalock – Honestly, I had Mike Lowell here then looked at reports of his recovery from hip surgery, looked at his age and decided I’d prefer this schmohawk then Lowell.  But, the thing is, I don’t really want Blalock either.  It was a tough call and in the end Blalock won because I think he’d get injured and I’d be able to drop him, where Lowell would play through injuries and end up costing me much more.  2009 Projections:  55/17/65/.280 in 100 games.

18. Carlos Guillen – See the top 20 1st basemen for 2009 fantasy baseball for Carlos Guillen’s projections.

18 1/2. Pablo Sandoval – He may not have 3rd base eligibility in your league so he gets a 1/2.  See the top 20 catchers for 2009 fantasy baseball for Sandoval’s projections.  BTW, I like Sandoval, just not so much as my 3rd baseman.

19. Mike Lowell – “Hip surgery on an old doode,” my trepidation says.  2009 Projections:  75/20/85/.275

20. Alex Gordon – Here’s the last tier.  It’s called, “Fliers that could pay dividends.”  I’ve said it many times before, and I’ll say it again.  When you’re this deep into a position, you take a flier on a guy rather than the safe, aging vet.  It’s worth the risk.  As for Gordon, can you believe I’m pushing this schmohawk for another year?  Old habits die hard, ask John Holmes.  I already went over Alex Gordon as a 2009 fantasy sleeper.  Listen, I just know know KNOW (Yes, the regular-italicized-caps emphasis.  That’s like the triple dog dare of emphasis.) Alex Gordon’s going to come around.  He’s like that really awkward girl in your eleventh grade gym class that had Doritos in her hair.  You know the one — the one that asked your stupid ass out and you turned down.  Then you ended up going out with Psycho Sally and her crazy-ass ex-boyfriend keyed your ’87 Camaro.  Well, the girl with the Doritos in her hair grows up to be Cindy Crawford.  Don’t you see you’re making the same mistakes in life over and over again?  Geez!  2009 Projections:  85/22/90/.270/10 (<–optimistic, but doable)

After the top 20 3rd basemen for 2009 fantasy baseball, there’s a lot of names, but here’s three that stand out:

Dallas McPherson – I covered him in a 2009 fantasy sleeper post.  Search the site!  2009 Projections:  60/20/80/.245/5

Kevin Kouzmanoff – No, he didn’t explode on the scene like some (me!) would’ve hoped, but he’s still young and… Well, he plays in Petco and I don’t think Ryan Howard could hit 40 home runs in that park so keep expectations in check.  2009 Projections:  75/25/95/.270

Troy Glaus – Don’t even bother drafting him.   Anyone who decides to have shoulder surgery in January isn’t worth the ulcer.   2009 Projections:  Old/Doode/Injured/Shoulder

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James
James
14 years ago

I am intrigued by Reynolds because his weakness, average, has the potential to get better. He had solid averages in the minors, came out and hit .279 in his rookie year, and then regressed last year hitting .239. What does this tell us? The league discovered his weaknesses and exploited them. What do young baseball player do? They adjust! Can this happen? It can — let’s remember he went from AA to the majors (his skills are still being honed).

Does anyone else like him this year? I believe he is a great late round option that has potential to be pretty good. I understand his BABIP was crazy high in ’80, but if you look at his career number, they have always been high. A guy that strikes out a lot will always have a high BABIP right?

Petr
14 years ago

“You get Chipper Jones for 120 games then grab a hot waiver pickup for the other 30 games and you end up with a much more productive player than Atkins for 155 games.”

What if you own Chipper and Atkins? You get Chipper for 120 then Atkins for the rest.

BigFatHippo
BigFatHippo
14 years ago

@Grey: Damm, Glaus is hurt? Who’da thunk it?

Now who’s gonna protect Khahlihl Ghreehn in that lineup?

BigFatHippo
BigFatHippo
14 years ago

@Grey: Please don’t do a post on the art of the Reacharound.

Tim
Tim
14 years ago

Just happened to be making my rounds and it seems that Glaus has had shoulder surgery and won’t be around for at least April. Maybe just me, but why wait until the end of January, what happened to Oct-Dec?

Tony
14 years ago

@Frank Rizzo:

I guess my post was kinda about reaching, LOL, but I did include GORDON!

And a “reaching” post would be good. You def’ly couldn’t reach last year on HAMILTON enough, but thats kind of a one in a million shot. A few rounds on guys you absolutely have to have…. WHY NOT

Steve
Steve
14 years ago

Great idea on the reaching post. Yup. I have a “what have you done TO me lately?” attitude towards certain players.
Why am I up so early? Fishing!

Frank Rizzo
Frank Rizzo
14 years ago

@Tony: Um…….what?

Tony
14 years ago

I dont think Gordon will be going in ROUND 20 in any “real” drafts.

10-14th rounds are a good spot probably… Depends on his Spring.

I think What people need to realize is the mock preranks will be different from your ranks, and league ranks, plus people in Mocks usually scroll within the next 10-20 guys, and take someone in that range (unless you’re an awesome thiefing mocker like me).

EX: I took Stephen Drew in a mock in the late 6th and some guy goes “why’d you take him there you could get him 2 rounds later” or I take him where I want him and where I think he’s going to perform? DIRRRRRRR……

The only reason Gordon is going in the 20’s which I personally have not seen, is because he’s pushed way down there. Come draft day don’t expect that even for a min….

sean
sean
14 years ago

Speaking of value, in my mocking experiences, Beltre and Gordon have been available in the 20s when some other guy is drafting futility men.

One thing that I think most people don’t give proper weight to is the effect that the default rankings for whatever service you are using has on drafters when they get under the gun. We’ve all panicked with the clock at :10 seconds after you get scooped and you can’t sort through the list fast enough. It’s easy to catch steals like Beltre and Gordon super late for the simple reason that they aren’t on the first screen’s worth of names on the default rankings. The same is especially true for starters coming off of injury (Gallardo, Chris Young, etc) and relievers.

Jason
14 years ago

No love for Melvin “I look like E.T.” Mora? He put up some good numbers last year and I’d consider him as a late round CI… or at least lump him in with Guillen, Lowell, Glaus and the other old schmohawks.

Frank Rizzo
Frank Rizzo
14 years ago

Is Longoria going to end up a reach if he needs to be picked within the 1st two rounds? Love the guy but can we already put him up there with the huge names he’s next to? And, how come you’re only predicting 7 steals Grey?

101 M.P.H.
101 M.P.H.
14 years ago

Grey, I’m sure it’s just a coincidence (as opposed to some sort of Freudian slip), but I can’t believe you used the phrase “explode on the scene” and made a reference to John Holmes in the same post.

And speaking of porn stars, I see that Jeff Kent retired yesterday….

Steve
Steve
14 years ago

Ha!

What I meant of course is “… combined with your answers to my banal questions… “

Steve
Steve
14 years ago

Nice work Grey. Combined with my banal questions, I’m finding these rankings really useful.

Another reason to hate on Figgins? He’s just the sort of prick who, regardless of whether you or your opponent has him, can ruin your march to glory in an H2H league.