Monday's Forum: Second base draft preview

Second base, like catcher, has been the traditional spot where fantasy teams just hope to get by. That's not the case anymore. While Chase Utley is clearly the top player at the position (what doesn't he do?), there are another three to five guys that will put up numbers usually only seen at the corner positions. And even beyond that, there are at least five or six more than should put up respectable fantasy numbers.
What does this mean? If you don't grab Utley, you can probably afford to wait until the mid rounds to fill this position. The guys you can grab in rounds 10-17 are not going to be appreciably different than the ones you'll grab three or four rounds earlier, they'll probably just have better name recognition.
The nice thing is, this position has a little of everything. There are plenty of base-stealer, run-scorer types, but there are some guys that could drive in close to 100 runs and hit 20-30 homers. Anyone of the guys we have ranked in the top 10 could hit .300, and, in fact, have at some point in their career.
One thing to keep in mind, neglecting this position can cause huge problems. Although there should be plenty talent to go around, don't get stuck with someone outside the top 10 as your starter, and trust me, someone in your league will. While gambling on someone like Ian Kinsler or Rickie Weeks is not a horrible idea because of their upside, you don't want to be the guy trotting Luis Castillo out there everyday. It's place you can easily lose ground, and fast.

Second Base Rankings

1	2	3	4	5
Chase Utley(30 votes)	Robinson Cano (24)	Chone Figgins (24)	Brian Roberts (15)	Jorge Cantu (15)

6	7	8	9	10
Jeff Kent (14 votes)	Freddy Sanchez (13)	Dan Uggla (11)	Ian Kinsler (9)	Jorge Lugo (4)

The Elite: By Free San Jose

The elite tier of this position is really just one name long: Chase Utley. But there are other guys that should be very good.
Chase Utley: It would not be hard to imagine him leading his position in every significant category, except stolen bases where he could still get 15-20. Assuming he stays healthy, a conservative projection has Utley hitting 25 homers, driving in 100, scoring 100, hitting better than .300 and stealing 10 bases. I don't think I'd take him with a top 5 pick, but he's fair game after that.
Robinson Cano: There are some who believe the Yankees have the next great player at this position. While the book is still open, he could challenge for a batting title while providing some power. He hit 15 HRs after the All-Star break, but he's not going to do that for an entire season. He will, however, collect hits in bunches, drive guys in and score runs.
Chone Figgins: He's probably not going to start very often at second as long as Howie Kendrick is playing, but he should be eligible at 2b in most leagues. This guy can win the stolen bases category by himself and will score runs in bunches. The fact that he can probably play three different positions isn't bad either.

Fallback second basemen: By Newspaperman

Once the top-notch guys are gone, you might think you’re left with slim pickings. Well, guess again. Second base has become kind of a surprising fantasy position as there are about a dozen guys -- including those in the elite class -- who can be plugged into any fantasy lineup.
After Utley, Cano and Figgins are gone, owners should be looking at a group of seven guys headlined by a solid contributor of steals, two former top-second sackers, and a pair of newbies:
Brian Roberts: If you’re in need of a second baseman who will run the base paths with a vengeance while helping your team in other categories, then Brian Roberts is your guy. While playing for the Baltimore Orioles is definitely a drawback, Roberts is one of two bats on the team who have any fantasy relevance. Roberts has averaged about 30 stolen bases over the last three seasons while hovering around the .300 mark and will likely do so again. He’s just a notch below the multi-positional Chone Figgins.
Jorge Cantu: Entering the 2006 season, Jorge Cantu shot to the top of the second base ranking after leading the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in homeruns the year before. Things have changed. Cantu was easily tabbed as one of the biggest busts in fantasy baseball last season as he was hampered by leg injuries. He still managed to get 400-plus at bats, but the results weren’t good: .249 average, 103 hits, 14 homers, 62 RBIs and 40 runs. Coming into this season, many owners will swear off of him. You shouldn’t. As long as you don’t take him before the aforementioned top four, you’ll be OK. He’s a big risk-reward guy who could bounce back and approach his ’05 totals.
Jeff Kent: Before there was Chase Utley, there was Jeff Kent. A former National League Most Valuable Player, Kent can still be a decent fantasy player, just don’t expect him to be the fantasy superstar he once was. He’ll longer break the 30-homer mark, but he’s still a 100-run, 100-rbi, 20-plus homer guy who will hit close to .300 if healthy. Word of warning though, he will be 39 this year.
Freddy Sanchez: What kind of game is this when the National League batting champion won’t even be ranked in the top five at his own position? Sanchez blew fantasy owners away with his high batting average (.344), high hit total (200) and position eligibility (2b, 3b, SS). (Side note: If you’re playing yahoo leagues, he’s still eligible at all three positions) Don’t confuse Sanchez as a top-tier guy or a super young stud. The guy is 29, but he’s been one of those bound-to-breakout “prospects” who scouts have always raved about. Look for him to approach his ’06 totals and possibly enjoy an increase in runs scored as the Pirates obtained Adam LaRoche to join Jason Bay in hitting behind Sanchez.
Dan Uggla: If you thought we were ludicrous for ranking Sanchez so low, what can you say about where Uggla has been placed? If it weren’t for Jorge Cantu’s less-than-stellar sophomore season, Uggla might be a top-five second baseman. But because Cantu taught many owners a lesson last season, some will let others take the gamble on Uggla. His ’06 final stats were beautiful: 27 homers, 172 hits, 90 RBIs, 105 runs and a .282 average. If you’re a gamblin’ man, take Uggla as he could be your savior and burn owners who shunned him.

Sleepers: By The Jon

Second base looks like a throwaway position, but look at the depth chart. There will be productive players available at the end of the draft. Placido Polanco, Kaz Matsui, Mark Loretta and possibly Julio Lugo can be had in the last two rounds. With the exception of Kaz, they have proven track records and will do just enough to not hurt your team. Matsui will get another chance to play everyday in Colorado, but isn't that 30-homer hitter known in small-ballpark Japan. If he learns how to hit the gaps with the Rockies, he could have relevance again. But you know that. Here are three young guys that have shown flashes of breakout seasons.
Jose Lopez: He's an All-Star, posted 170 hits with 10 homers and 79 RBI and he didn't even make TheBaseballStars Top 10 rankings. An injured ankle will keep him out early in the season, but Lopez deserves a spot on your team if you missed out on the top-six second baseman. He is another version of an early Jose Vidro when Vidro used to be healthy. So what type of player is that? Oh, the one that can notch 9 hits in any given week and keep you in the running in the previous stat and will help out in batting average. He can be an everyday player with a steady statline that will only add to stats you got from picking better offensive options at other positions early in the draft.
Howie Kendrick: FreeSanJose and Newspaperman can spew off Kendrick's performance in the Angels' farm system and tell you how much upside he has. Whatever. I look at his production in his 72 games: .285, 4 homers, 30 RBI and 6 stolen bases. Would I grab him early like Robinson Cano last year when I picked him in the 8th round in a keeper league? No, his average shows he's still learning to adjust to the majors. I will pick him in the last two rounds of any draft and take credit when he produces in all categories. Even if he only hovers around 15 homers and a .280 average, it will better than Craig Biggio or Jeff Kent that will have gotten picked five rounds earlier.
Rickie Weeks: He's a Brewer who played 95 games last season. His power is questionable with 8 homers, but it is his 100 hits that have to look at. A safe gambler would expect 165 to 175 hits with 10-17 homers this season with half of his games played in a hitter's park. That is a safe bet. A longshot would expect the same 165 to 175 hits with 20 homers. Either bet would be a solid pickup that won't cost much in a draft.