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by **CPHFighter1** » Fri May 13, 2005 2:36 pm

Barry Bonds and Nomar are out. Larry Walker is old and no longer in Coors, so who will be in the race for the batting title? Here are my five picks, along with three sleepers. Feel free to comment or contribute other names.

1. Clint Barmes. It may sound cheesy to pick the guy hitting .400 but there is a reason for it. He's got ultra quick hands and is spraying the ball all over the place. He is showing he can hit outside of Coors too.
Projected BA: .342 (.380 in Coors, .300 away)

2. Albert Pujols. You all know him.
Projected BA: .339

3. Todd Helton. He is not hitting lefties this year, and is still hitting only .316 at home. That will change very soon.
Projected BA: .337

4. Mark Loretta. No reason to think last year was an anomaly. He's a late bloomer and still on an upward trend.
Projected BA: .332

5. Miguel Cabrera. He just turned 22. He's got protection in his lineup and is getting good pitches to hit. Next year, expect Pujols-like numbers.
Projected BA: .329

Sleepers who could crack the top 5:

Nick Johnson- Health is of course a concern, but he can hit.

Lyle Overbay- He wore down at the end of August last year, but barring a trade he could have a nice year.

Milton Bradley- seems to have chilled out this year. He's breaking out and finally harnessing his skills.

by **Box** » Fri May 13, 2005 2:52 pm

I think Derrek Lee has a solid shot this year too. He's known as a slow starter, so if this is his slow period, look out.

by **big shot** » Fri May 13, 2005 2:58 pm

how about chipper jones. i think he has a pretty good chance

by **CPHFighter1** » Fri May 13, 2005 3:16 pm

I considered both Lee and Jones.
Jones is better than his .248 average of last year, but I don't see him hitting .330 all year. His foot worries me too. I'd say .320 is his ceiling this year.
Lee is far too streaky for my liking, and has consistently hit between .270 and .280 his entire career. To me, that is a recipe for him to come back to Earth real soon. Even if has a spectacular year, I don't see him hitting over .310, maybe .315.
Granted my figures are all arbitrary; I did not run them through a forecast model, even though that is what I do for a living. I'm afraid once I start doing that, I'd never get real work done.