NL East Preview 2012: First Baseman

We will continue today with the NL East Preview of the 2012 first baseman. First base is not a set position in the NL East as of yet. The Washington Nationals are still on hot pursuit of Prince Fielder. Since they are the favorites to land Fielder, I will include him as their first baseman. If Fielder signs elsewhere, I will have an update this post to show the changes. Also, Philadelphia Phillies first baseman, Ryan Howard, is expected to miss opening day, but since he clearly is the best first baseman the Phillies have, and will have a job upon arrival, he is included as well.

Update: Prince Fielder has signed with the Detroit Tigers. Here is the updated rankings.

Here is a glimpse of the starting first baseman for each NL East team in 2012.

Atlanta Braves: Freddie Freeman
Miami Marlins: Gaby Sanchez
New York Mets: Ike Davis
Philadelphia Phillies: Ryan Howard
Washington Nationals: Adam LaRoche

Freddie Freeman

Projection	PA	AVG	OBP	SLG	wOBA	WAR	HR
Bill James	592	.286	.350	.459	.350	1.6	20
Roto Champ	622	.280	.352	.461	.354	1.9	23
Fans	640	.285	.344	.463	.349	2.4	22

Gaby Sanchez

Projection	PA	AVG	OBP	SLG	wOBA	WAR	HR
Bill James	624	.276	.360	.452	.353	2.8	20
Roto Champ	629	.272	.358	.440	.351	2.5	19
Fans	642	.271	.348	.436	.344	2.7	19

Ike Davis

Projection	PA	AVG	OBP	SLG	wOBA	WAR	HR
Bill James	593	.288	.377	.504	.316	4.5	25
Roto Champ	568	.263	.357	.365	.467	3.2	22
Fans	591	.278	.362	.360	.484	4.1	24

Ryan Howard

Projection	PA	AVG	OBP	SLG	wOBA	WAR	HR
Bill James	675	.266	.360	.525	.372	3.1	40
Roto Champ	331	.255	.347	.490	.358	0.9	17
Fans	478	.263	.343	.488	.354	1.9	24

Adam LaRoche

Projection	PA	AVG	OBP	SLG	wOBA	WAR	HR
Bill James	293	.255	.333	.445	.341	0.9	11
Roto Champ	455	.244	.327	.415	.328	1.5	15
Fans	506	.259	.335	.420	.331	1.6	15

According to these projections, we can draw this:

Ike Davis
Gaby Sanchez
Freedie Freeman
Ryan Howard
Adam LaRoche

The projections love Ike Davis and the new dimensions at Citi Field should work in his favor. Gaby Sanchez is the starting first baseman for your Marlins. His standing in the NL East is the same as it would be in the MLB. He is a middle of the pact guy. He is not going to be a superstar ever, but is a very solid everyday player. I expected Freeman to be ahead of Sanchez, but the projections did not see the same thing. Ryan Howard is probably the second best first baseman in the NL East when he is 100% healthy. The Nationals lost out big time. Adam LaRoche is nowhere near the level of Fielder. They went from potentially having the best to the worst first baseman.

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