Cream of the crop: #1 Prince Fielder (Milw) #2 Albert Pujols(STL) #3 Ryan Howard (Phil) #4 Derrek Lee (CHI) #5 Justin Morneau (Minn) #6 Mark Teixeira (Atl) #7 Carlos Delgado (NYM) #8 Richie Sexson (Sea)

The next best: #9 Paul Konerko (CHW) #10 Adrian Gonzalez (SD) #11 James Loney (LAD) #12 Adam LaRoche (Pitt) #13 Todd Helton (Col) #14 Kevin Youkilis (Bos) #15 Ryan Garko (Clev)

You could do worse: #16 Conor Jackson (ARZ) #17 Casey Kotchman (LAA) #18 Joey Votto (Cin) #19 Aubrey Huff (Balt) #20 Mike Jacobs(FLA) #21 Dmitri Young (Wash) #22 Lyle Overbay (Tor)

Hope and Prey: #23 Ben Broussard (Tex) #24 Billy Butler (KC) #25 Daniel Ortmeier (SF) #26 Daric Barton (Oak) #27 Dan Johnson (Oak) #28 Marcus Thames (Det) #29 Ross Gload (KC) #30 Scott Hatteberg (Cin)

Career Year: Prince Fielder (Milw) Hasn't he already had a career year? No! The "Prince" is mad after the Brewers renewed is contract for well under seven figures. The biggest bargain in baseball is eligible for arbitration after this year. I like the fact that half of his games are at hitter-friendly Miller Park. Don't hesitate to take him over Pujols.

Sleeper: James Loney (LAD) Finally! James Loney enters the season as the starting First Baseman. I have called for this sooner and management is finally listing. James Loney is a hitting machine who will gradually hit a lot of HR's during his career. In 446 career at-bats, James Loney is hitting .321, with 19 HR's, 24 doubles, and 84 Rib eyes. That's almost the equivalent of one full season. Expect even better numbers in 2008 for the former PCL Batting champion.

His career on-base percentage is a whopping .373 and at Dodger Stadium he is hitting .296. Dodger stadium has long been known as a pitchers-park but if you look at the numbers from last two years you might be surprised. Dodger Stadium was the 10th best park to score runs since 2006. Keep this in mind---Dodger Stadium tends to be lower scoring in April, May, and June. It's not until July that it warms up enough at night to produce more runs. The Pitchers are also more fatigued in humid air.

Bust: Carlos Delgado (NYM) This one is too easy! If Carlos Delgado makes it through the entire season without spending time on the DL, it will shock me to my very core. Results of his MRI were negative, but here's what Delgado did reveal shortly after his arrival: The condition, which affects the hip socket, feels as if something is "catching" inside the joint. The symptoms are not specifically caused by hitting or running, but Delgado can make it happen by twisting his leg in a certain way.

You need your legs to hit a baseball. Stay away!
 

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