Red Sox vs the AL East: first basemen
Sep 4, 2014; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira (25) rounds the bases on his game tying home run during the ninth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium. New York Yankees won 5-4. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
5. Mark Teixeira, Yankees
I must admit, it’s a bit strange to be ranking Teixeira last on this list. Just a few years ago, he was clubbing baseballs over the short porch in Yankee Stadium’s right field and crushing the dreams of Red Sox fans. However, the days of Teixeira’s dominance are gone and his 8 year/$180M contract is now looking like a bust, with the Yankees saddled with two more seasons of Teixeira. Coming off a season in which he slashed only .216/.313/.398 with 22 home runs in 123 games with the Yankees, Teixeira is clearly well into his decline and doesn’t appear to be rebounding anytime soon. He still has impressive power and continues to walk at an impressive rate but his strikeouts have spiked in the past two seasons and he no longer is hitting enough to reach base at a respectable level.
Sep 16, 2014; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Rays first baseman James Loney (21) at bat against the New York Yankees at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
4. James Loney, Rays
Loney, who appeared to be finished as a reliable major leaguer after a miserable 2012 season, continued his resurgence in Tampa Bay with his second consecutive solid year in 2014. Playing in 155 games for the Rays, he slashed .290/.336/.380 and remained a high-average threat in Tampa Bay’s lineup. Loney has plenty of faults– he has virtually no power (particularly for a first baseman), plays unspectacular defense, and doesn’t walk as much as one would like given his lack of power. However, his consistently solid batting averages lead to a relatively high floor for Loney and that’s more than one could say for Teixeira.
Aug 8, 2014; Anaheim, CA, USA; Boston Red Sox first baseman Mike Napoli (12) rounds the bases after hitting on a solo home run in the fifth inning as Los Angeles Angels catcher Chris Iannetta watches at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
3. Mike Napoli, Red Sox
Napoli slipped a bit in his second season with the Red Sox, as he played in only 119 games while dealing with a multitude of injuries. And while those injuries clearly sapped some of Napoli’s power, as his .171 isolated power was significantly lower than his .223 mark in the previous season, he still managed to reach base at an incredible rate, walking a career-high 15.6% of the time. That led to a slash line of .248/.370/.419 for Napoli, who also posted 17 home runs in a power-starved Red Sox lineup and played excellent defense at first base. Now 33 years old, Napoli’s numbers should hover around last season’s stats, though he could gain a bit more power after an offseason of rest. He won’t be a sexy option for the Red Sox, but when healthy, he should be a consistently good option both at the plate and in the field.
Sep 4, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles first baseman Chris Davis (19) doubles in the first inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports
2. Chris Davis, Orioles
I feel that it’s worth mentioning that Davis just barely edged Napoli in these rankings, but while Davis is coming off a tough 2014 season, his upside is undeniable. Davis was a legitimate MVP candidate in 2013, finishing third in voting while slashing .286/.370/.634 with a league-leading 53 home runs and 138 RBIs. However, he came back down to earth in a big way last season. Davis’s slash line dropped to .196/.300/.404 while playing just 127 games between trips to the disabled list and a suspension for adderal. And while factors such as his rising strikeout rate (33.0% compared to 29.6% the season before) and his isolated power taking a big hit (.348 in 2013 to .209 last season), the main factor in his down year was a substantial drop in BABIP as his .242 mark last season was well below his career average of .320. Davis is the stereotypical high-strikeout slugger, but next season, he should reach base enough to put himself back into the conversation of best power hitters in the league.
Sep 19, 2014; Bronx, NY, USA; Toronto Blue Jays designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion (10) hits a two-run home run against the New York Yankees during the first inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
1. Edwin Encarnacion, Blue Jays
However, the top player on this list is already firmly in the discussion of best power hitters in the league as Encarnacion has been one of the more feared hitters in baseball during his last three seasons. And while he did miss some time last season, playing in just 128 games, he was unstoppable when he was in the lineup, slashing .268/.354/.547 for the Jays. Encarnacion is 32 years old, but it’s reasonable to expect that he can continue this performance for at least another season or two. Even if his numbers slide down a bit, though, it shouldn’t be enough to strip him from his title of top first baseman in the AL East.