J.T. Snow

Snow had to compete with Pedro Feliz and Damon Minor for time at first base after he returned from the knee surgery that kept him out a month, but it did him good. He made contact with the ball better than ever, though his power numbers remained similar to what they have been for the past three seasons. Snow has hit better than .280 just twice in his 13-year tenure, so fantasy owners ought to keep his career average of .267 in mind come draft day.

Snow is a lousy fantasy first baseman because Pac Bell Park just kills left-handed hitters who didn't come down from a higher league. Snow adds value through his walks, and would be even more valuable if left in the #2 lineup slot. Nagging injuries the last few years have dragged down his numbers as well. Consider him a cornerman, not a starting first baseman.

After a fine .284-19-96 year in 2000, Snow has hit the skids offensively. He's batted only .246 in each of the last two seasons, his OPS has dropped steadily over the last three years (.830 to .767 to .704), and his home runs have fallen off the map (just eight and six, respectively, for the last two years; after hitting one homer every 28 at-bats in 2000, that ratio went to one every 36 AB's in 2001 and then one every 70 (!) at-bats last year). Yes, he plays defense very well at first base, as he showed us in the postseason. But he turns 35 in the offseason, and it's about time for people to realize that Snow no longer hits at an adequate level for a first baseman in the major leagues. We're not sure if Snow will get Felipe Alou's vote to be the everyday first baseman over Damon Minor; with declining performance and uncertain playing time, we don't recommend Snow very highly for your 2003 draft.