Draft Preview: Third Base

Fogelberg (written by Ry) – Today we take a look at third base, the hot corner. And this year the hot corner might turn into the not corner if you don’t act fast in the draft.

With the likes of John McGraw and Bill Joyce going in the single season draft, the choices at third become very tough. Wade Boggs will be the best career disc left, but there is a chance that he could be gone as well. My guess is he will still be there, but you never know.

Boggs, Eddie Yost and Edgar Martinez are the best chance a manager has of rounding out a good lineup with a player who has strikeout totals that aren’t through the roof. Once you get into the likes of Harmon Killebrew and Dick Allen you really are taking a chance, but with that chance comes the equalizer…Home Runs. Eddie Mathews is a great power surge along with some nice base on balls numbers. Mathews, Killebrew and Allen can play first base as well so double switching becomes a great option with those players.

The next level of player available at third allows a manger to fill out the spot and not fall to far behind the likes of Killebrew, Allen and Mathews. Tony Phillips is a great utility player that can be used for double switching, Joe Sewell, with his limited strikeouts, can be a great rabbit along with Cap Anson who is the ultimate no strikeout guy (none on the disc). George Kell and Johnny Pesky are players that aren’t going to tear the cover off the ball, but can suffice if necessary.

And then there is Bobby Bonilla, the Frisch award winner. His disc does not have the numbers as the rest of these guys, but his mojo makes up for it. If you are looking for a guy to perform late in the draft, watch out for Bobby Bonilla.

All in all, the right choice is to get on third base early in the draft if you want someone that can help you in the top to middle of your lineup.