By far the weakest position in fantasy. There's one true stud in Utley, two very solid players in Cano and Roberts, a few young players with potential in Kendrick, Weeks and Uggla, than a surprisingly solid options in the middle with Barfield, Kinsler and Cantu, and then it plummets.
1. Chase Utley, Philadelphia Phillies - Utley is far and away the best 2nd baseman in baseball. He puts up solid average, great power numbers and even sprinkles in some steals. It's not even debatable that he's the #1 guy.
2. Robinson Cano, New York Yankees - People seem to be forecasting a down year in production from Cano and I just don't see it. He's the best pure hitter on the Yankees, including ARod and Jeter. He puts the ball in play, he hits the ball hard and he hits a ton of line drives. Perhaps he doesn't vastly increase his power numbers. But if he plays 162 games this season his R, RBI and SB totals will go up.
3. Brian Roberts, Baltimore Orioles - Were the power numbers in 2005 an aberration or can he get them back? Roberts will provide you a bunch of steals atleast and a decenet average and runs scored. He's a solid early mid round pick.
4. Tadahito Iguchi, Chicago White Sox - Put up very good power numbers for a second baseman last season. Hits in a fantastic lineup in a terrific position in the lineup and even put up double digit steals.
5. Julio Lugo, Boston Red Sox - Eyes and Ears must know all the different position eligibilty. Lugo is set for a bounce back season now thrust into the wonderful fantasy world that is the Red Sox lineup. Dual 2B/SS eligibility vastly increases Lugo's value.
6. Rickie Weeks, Milwaukee Brewers - Rickie Weeks is a young multi-talented player who is the perfect examplec of a risk reward guy. He could come out hit around .280 and give you 20/20, or he could go out and like the past two seasons get injured and provide you nothing and neither would be surprising.
7. Howie Kendrick, LAA Angels - Not sure what Kendrick will do in his first full season in the bigs. He has all the pedigree to hit in the .300s but where will the power numbers or steals wind up.
8. Dan Uggla, Florida Marlins - Everyone and their mother has Uggla marked down for a sophomore slump. But really who knows. He had fantastic numbers in 06, was relatively consistant so why not big numbers in 07.
9. Freddy Sanchez, Pittsburgh Pirates - Sure he's not going to play any 2B this year, but he's got the 20+ games there last season to gain position eligibility.
10. Josh Barfield, Cleveland Indians - I am very high on Josh Barfield this season. He moves from a difficult ballpark for power to the Jake, and into a terrific lineup. He also put up double digit homers last year and had 20+ steals. I think he's got an opportunity to be a top 5 2B at the end of the season.
11. Ian Kinsler, Texas Rangers - Missed 40 games last season but still put up double digits in both steals and homers. In my league I will be protecting Cano and will need another 2nd baseman, when I see Kinsler, Cantu or Barfield come off the board I will be jumping on the remaining guy.
12. Jorge Cantu, Tampa Bay Devil Rays - The batting average plummeted last season, but he did hit 14 homers in 107 games coming back from an injury. Someone that was regarded as a top flight 2B in 06 has plummeted on the rankings this year for really no reason.
13. Brandon Philips, Cincinatti Reds - Were the 17 HRs and 25 steals last season a fluke?
14. Jeff Kent, LA Dodgers - Getting older, missed a bunch of games last season. Sure he could bounce back, but my guess is he will be drafted well before I would want to pull the trigger on him.
15. Ray Durham, San Francisco Giants - Excuse me for not believing in the fact that Ray Durham hit 26 homeruns last year. I'd rather not overvalue his 2006 stats when I foresee a significant decline.
16. Luis Castillo, Minnesota Twins - Almost hit .300 and swiped 20+ bases and should be able to do both again this season. Certainly don't expect any power though.
17. Mark DeRosa, Chicago Cubs - Ponderosa gets a starting gig in Chitown after hitting .296 with 13 dingers in the utility role for the Rangers. His transition to a full time job is one that could be very fruitful for fantasy players.
18. Marcus Giles, San Diego Padres - Will the move to the hometown with his brother revitalize his career?
19. Jose Lopez, Seattle Mariners - Had a terrific first half in 06 then the power numbers completely stopped in the 2nd half. Not the worst option for the 2nd 2B but certainly not the best.
20. Orlando Hudson, Arizona Diamondbacks - The O-Dawg hit 15 homers last year? Who knew? But someone that quick in the field should be able to swipe more than 9 bags right?
21. Chris Burke, Houston Astros - Eligibile at 2nd base despite what should be a starting job in CF. Burke's numbers last season in a part time role were solid, so if he can do it for a whole season he's a good option for your 2nd 2nd baseman.
22. Placido Polanco, Detroit Tigers - Almost hit .300 last season, but he gives you nothing with regards to power or speed.
23. Craig Biggio, Houston Astros - Old man river. His numbers are on the decline. He hit .246 last season and has Mark Loretta backing him up. I would try to avoid Mr. Biggio.
24. Jose Castillo, Pittsburgh Pirates - Double Digit homers last year, thats about it.
Note #1: Ronnie Belliard & Felipe Lopez - Right now Lopez is slotted at 2nd base and Christian Guzman at SS. If Lopez gains second base eligibilty he jumps up to Lugo's spot in the order. However, if he plays SS that would give Belliard a decent shot at being a viable second 2B. Watch how this develops prior to your draft.
Note #2: Chone Figgins didn't play 20+ games at 2B last year and thus is not elligible in my league.
1. Chase Utley, Philadelphia Phillies - Utley is far and away the best 2nd baseman in baseball. He puts up solid average, great power numbers and even sprinkles in some steals. It's not even debatable that he's the #1 guy.2. Robinson Cano, New York Yankees - People seem to be forecasting a down year in production from Cano and I just don't see it. He's the best pure hitter on the Yankees, including ARod and Jeter. He puts the ball in play, he hits the ball hard and he hits a ton of line drives. Perhaps he doesn't vastly increase his power numbers. But if he plays 162 games this season his R, RBI and SB totals will go up.
3. Brian Roberts, Baltimore Orioles - Were the power numbers in 2005 an aberration or can he get them back? Roberts will provide you a bunch of steals atleast and a decenet average and runs scored. He's a solid early mid round pick.
4. Tadahito Iguchi, Chicago White Sox - Put up very good power numbers for a second baseman last season. Hits in a fantastic lineup in a terrific position in the lineup and even put up double digit steals.
5. Julio Lugo, Boston Red Sox - Eyes and Ears must know all the different position eligibilty. Lugo is set for a bounce back season now thrust into the wonderful fantasy world that is the Red Sox lineup. Dual 2B/SS eligibility vastly increases Lugo's value.
6. Rickie Weeks, Milwaukee Brewers - Rickie Weeks is a young multi-talented player who is the perfect examplec of a risk reward guy. He could come out hit around .280 and give you 20/20, or he could go out and like the past two seasons get injured and provide you nothing and neither would be surprising.
7. Howie Kendrick, LAA Angels - Not sure what Kendrick will do in his first full season in the bigs. He has all the pedigree to hit in the .300s but where will the power numbers or steals wind up.
8. Dan Uggla, Florida Marlins - Everyone and their mother has Uggla marked down for a sophomore slump. But really who knows. He had fantastic numbers in 06, was relatively consistant so why not big numbers in 07.
9. Freddy Sanchez, Pittsburgh Pirates - Sure he's not going to play any 2B this year, but he's got the 20+ games there last season to gain position eligibility.
10. Josh Barfield, Cleveland Indians - I am very high on Josh Barfield this season. He moves from a difficult ballpark for power to the Jake, and into a terrific lineup. He also put up double digit homers last year and had 20+ steals. I think he's got an opportunity to be a top 5 2B at the end of the season.11. Ian Kinsler, Texas Rangers - Missed 40 games last season but still put up double digits in both steals and homers. In my league I will be protecting Cano and will need another 2nd baseman, when I see Kinsler, Cantu or Barfield come off the board I will be jumping on the remaining guy.
12. Jorge Cantu, Tampa Bay Devil Rays - The batting average plummeted last season, but he did hit 14 homers in 107 games coming back from an injury. Someone that was regarded as a top flight 2B in 06 has plummeted on the rankings this year for really no reason.
13. Brandon Philips, Cincinatti Reds - Were the 17 HRs and 25 steals last season a fluke?
14. Jeff Kent, LA Dodgers - Getting older, missed a bunch of games last season. Sure he could bounce back, but my guess is he will be drafted well before I would want to pull the trigger on him.
15. Ray Durham, San Francisco Giants - Excuse me for not believing in the fact that Ray Durham hit 26 homeruns last year. I'd rather not overvalue his 2006 stats when I foresee a significant decline.
16. Luis Castillo, Minnesota Twins - Almost hit .300 and swiped 20+ bases and should be able to do both again this season. Certainly don't expect any power though.
17. Mark DeRosa, Chicago Cubs - Ponderosa gets a starting gig in Chitown after hitting .296 with 13 dingers in the utility role for the Rangers. His transition to a full time job is one that could be very fruitful for fantasy players.
18. Marcus Giles, San Diego Padres - Will the move to the hometown with his brother revitalize his career?
19. Jose Lopez, Seattle Mariners - Had a terrific first half in 06 then the power numbers completely stopped in the 2nd half. Not the worst option for the 2nd 2B but certainly not the best.
20. Orlando Hudson, Arizona Diamondbacks - The O-Dawg hit 15 homers last year? Who knew? But someone that quick in the field should be able to swipe more than 9 bags right?21. Chris Burke, Houston Astros - Eligibile at 2nd base despite what should be a starting job in CF. Burke's numbers last season in a part time role were solid, so if he can do it for a whole season he's a good option for your 2nd 2nd baseman.
22. Placido Polanco, Detroit Tigers - Almost hit .300 last season, but he gives you nothing with regards to power or speed.
23. Craig Biggio, Houston Astros - Old man river. His numbers are on the decline. He hit .246 last season and has Mark Loretta backing him up. I would try to avoid Mr. Biggio.
24. Jose Castillo, Pittsburgh Pirates - Double Digit homers last year, thats about it.
Note #1: Ronnie Belliard & Felipe Lopez - Right now Lopez is slotted at 2nd base and Christian Guzman at SS. If Lopez gains second base eligibilty he jumps up to Lugo's spot in the order. However, if he plays SS that would give Belliard a decent shot at being a viable second 2B. Watch how this develops prior to your draft.
Note #2: Chone Figgins didn't play 20+ games at 2B last year and thus is not elligible in my league.
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