| Third Baseman Rankings |
| Rank |
Team |
Player |
Avg. |
Runs |
HR |
RBI |
SB |
| 1 |
 |
Alex Rodriguez |
.314 |
143 |
54 |
156 |
24 |
|
A-Rod is the best player in fantasy baseball. Entering 2008, it's not even close.
|
| 2 |
 |
David Wright |
.325 |
113 |
30 |
107 |
34 |
|
Wright just continues to get better, showing an elite comination of speed and power, as well as the ability to hit for average. The scary part is that Wright is only 25 years old. |
| 3 |
 |
Ryan Braun |
.324 |
91 |
34 |
97 |
15 |
Braun posted gigantic numbers despite playing only two-thirds of the season in the bigs. He's almost certain to put up even bigger numbers in his first full season, especially since a position switch to left field will take some of the defensive burden off of him.
|
| 4 |
 |
Miguel Cabrera |
.320 |
91 |
34 |
119 |
2 |
Cabrera should keep on crushing despite the move from Florida to Detroit. He'll have an even better lineup surrounding him this year, meaning more RBI opportunities and runs.
|
| 5 |
 |
Chipper Jones |
.337 |
108 |
29 |
102 |
5 |
|
Injuries are definitely a concern for Jones, who has missed at least 25 games in each of the past four seasons. But Chipper continues to put up MVP-caliber numbers when he's healthy. |
| 6 |
 |
Chone Figgins |
.330 |
81 |
3 |
58 |
41 |
|
Figgins continues to fly, stealing a combined 155 bases over the past three seasons. He missed time with injuries early last season then got off to a terrible start, but hit an amazing .376 after June 1.
|
| 7 |
 |
Garrett Atkins |
.301 | 83 | 25 | 111 | 3 |
|
Atkins is coming off a second straight season with at least 100 RBIs and a .300 batting average. He'll continue to put up big numbers hitting behind Matt Holliday and Todd Helton.
|
| 8 |
 |
Aramis Ramirez |
.310 |
72 |
26 |
101 |
0 |
|
Ramirez is one of baseball's steadiest run producers. He has driven in 100 runs or more in four of the past five seasons. |
| 9 |
 |
Mike Lowell |
.324 |
79 |
21 |
120 |
3 |
|
Lowell has felt right at home in front of Fenway Park's Green Monster. He his .373 with 14 homers and 73 RBIs at home last season.
|
| 10 |
 |
Adrian Beltre |
.276 |
87 |
26 |
99 |
14 |
|
Beltre is a solid power hitter, coming off back-to-back seasons with at least 25 homers and 85 RBIs. Belte also had double-digit steals in each of the past two years.
|
| 11 |
 |
Alex Gordon |
.247 |
60 |
15 |
60 |
14 |
|
One of baseball's most-promising young hitters, Gordon started to figure out the big leagues after a terrible first two months. He hit .275 with 12 homers and 10 steals after June 1. Gordon has the potential to hit for power and steal bases, making him a sleeper in fantasy leagues.
|
| 12 |
 |
Ryan Zimmerman |
.266 |
99 |
24 |
91 |
4 |
|
Zimmerman is still just 23 years old and improving. His power numbers should get a boost with the Nationals moving into a new, more hitter-friendly park. Even though he hit .283 at home last season, but just 11 of his homers came at RFK Stadium.
|
| 13 |
 |
Edwin Encarnacion |
.289 |
66 |
16 |
76 |
8 |
|
In a terrible move, the Reds actually demoted Encarnacion to the minors at one point last season. But the promising young third basemen should perform better under new manager Dusty Baker. The 25-year-old Encarnacion finished strong last season, hitting .309 with 10 homers after the All-Star break, and should improve in 2008.
|
| 14 |
 |
Evan Longoria |
DID NOT PLAY |
|
|
|
|
|
If there's going to be anyone who repeats Ryan Braun's amazing rookie season, it will probably be Longoria. He's one of baseball's elite hitting prospects, batting .299 with 26 homers and 95 RBIs in just 136 minor league games last season. If Longoria plays well enough in spring training to open the season in the big leagues, he'll be the favorite to win American League Rookie of the Year.
|
| 15 |
 |
Hank Blalock |
.293 |
32 |
10 |
33 |
4 |
|
Blalock missed most of last season with a nerve problem, but looks to be 100 percent coming into the season. If he can stay healthy, Blalock could easily re-gain his 25-home run form and drive in a lot of runs hitting in the middle of the Rangers' lineup.
|
