Second Basemen

Second Base Rankings

By Tim Dierkes [February 2, 2009 at 4:45pm CST]

Using 20 games for eligibility, here are our tentative rankings for second basemen. These are based on a standard 12 team 5x5 mixed league (categories: AVG, HR, RBI, R, SB). Draft round is in parentheses.

Ian Kinsler - $22.12 (1)
Chase Utley - $20.16 (2)
Dustin Pedroia - $18.38 (3)
Brian Roberts - $16.31 (4)
Brandon Phillips - $14.92 (3)
Alexei Ramirez - $14.90 (5)
Dan Uggla - $12.53 (6)
Robinson Cano - $9.98 (7)
Rickie Weeks - $9.58 (20)
Kelly Johnson - $9.19 (19)
Howie Kendrick - $8.50 (11)
Mark DeRosa - $7.33 (16)
Placido Polanco - $6.84 (20)
Jose Lopez - $5.76 (14)
Felipe Lopez - $5.54 (27)
Mike Aviles - $5.50 (13)
Asdrubal Cabrera - $2.04 (28)
Aaron Hill - $1.70 (28)
Alexi Casilla - $1.00 (28)

A few on the fringes, some of whom could jump up with more ABs: Mark Ellis, Kaz Matsui, Akinori Iwamura, Freddy Sanchez, and Orlando Hudson. Mike Fontenot could be a $6-7 sleeper if he can find 550 ABs despite Aaron Miles' presence.

I like to try to get Kinsler, Utley, or Ramirez as my starting 2B. Failing that, Weeks and Johnson are decent guys who could turn a profit.

As far as the aggressive draft positions on Cano, Kendrick, and Jose Lopez, does anyone think they're justified?

Full Story | Comments (19) | Categories: Second Basemen

Second Baseman Ranking Comparison

By Tim Dierkes [October 1, 2008 at 3:56pm CST]

My second baseman rankings back in March, including round drafted on average:

Name	$ VAL	Round
Chase Utley	22.37	1
Brian Roberts	18.84	3
B.J. Upton	16.35	2
Brandon Phillips	14.99	2
Robinson Cano	12.58	6
Ian Kinsler	9.23	6
Kelly Johnson	8.91	14
Dan Uggla	6.41	8
Placido Polanco	5.67	15
Howie Kendrick	5.42	10
Rickie Weeks	5.40	11
Dustin Pedroia	4.32	14
Freddy Sanchez	3.27	17
Orlando Hudson	3.05	14
Luis Castillo	2.36	19
Jeff Kent	2.34	17
Ty Wigginton	2.27	18
Kaz Matsui	2.24	16
Yunel Escobar	1.74	17
Asdrubal Cabrera	1.23	17
Ryan Theriot	1.09	19
Aaron Hill	0.51	18
Mark Ellis	0.38	19

As you might expect, I often ended up with Roberts and Johnson based on these rankings. Here are the actual 2008 ratings, based on ESPN's player rater (which uses AVG, HR, RBI, R, and SB):

Name	Round
Dustin Pedroia	14
Chase Utley	1
Ian Kinsler	6
Brian Roberts	3
B.J. Upton	2
Mark DeRosa	21
Jose Lopez	24
Brandon Phillips	2
Dan Uggla	8
Alexei Ramirez	N/A
Ryan Theriot	19
Placido Polanco	15
Kelly Johnson	14
Mike Aviles	N/A
Ty Wigginton	18
Kaz Matsui	16
Clint Barmes	N/A
Yunel Escobar	17
Robinson Cano	6
Akinori Iwamura	18
Rickie Weeks	11
Orlando Hudson	14
Ray Durham	30
Marco Scutaro	54

Busts: Phillips, Cano, Weeks,Kendrick. Phillips didn't provide second round value, though we here at RotoAuthority didn't expect him to. Cano was just an out and out flop. As a sixth-round pick, owners were probably reluctant to give up on him.

Surprises: Pedroia, DeRosa, Lopez, Ramirez, Theriot, Aviles. If you had a problem at second base, there were plenty of opportunities to upgrade via free agency. Ramirez and Aviles will get ROY votes for sure. Pedroia might win the MVP. And you have to love DeRo's flexibility, as he's eligible at 3B and OF as well. All these surprises just underscore the importance of free agency in your typical 12-team mixed league.

Possibly sleepers for '09: Wigginton, Alexei, and Lopez.

Full Story | Comments (6) | Categories: Second Basemen

Weeks' Stock Dropping

By Tim Dierkes [March 17, 2008 at 3:47pm CST]

Rickie Weeks' hand is hurting, and he's had a terrible spring. This is a breakout pick that's gotten a bit too trendy. He's going in the tenth round, but I've seen people reach for him much earlier.

Los Genius snagged him in the sixth round in the RotoAuthority League (not to question Los Genius' genius). But picked that early, Weeks really needs to deliver. I'd rather have Aaron Harang, Robinson Cano, Matt Kemp, or Javier Vazquez, who all went later than Weeks in our league. I have Weeks hitting .261-16-49-90-22 in 445 ABs. That's an AB level that Weeks has yet to approach in the bigs for various reasons. He is a pretty risky pick right now.

Here's what's going to happen. You grab my boy Kelly Johnson in the 14th instead of Weeks (unless that jerk Santa's Magic Janitor takes him in the tenth). You get a five category leadoff hitter in KJ. Weeks has a craptastic month or two in '08, and people start dropping him in droves. Then you think about picking him up and letting him hang on your bench until he starts hitting. Weeks might have that tantalizing 30/30 ability, but he can't hit for average or stay healthy.

2008 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers: Second Basemen

By Tim Dierkes [March 12, 2008 at 11:26am CST]

Sleepers, undervalued, profitable players, call 'em what you will. In general, some guys who may not be getting enough respect in your mixed league.

Unless Brian Roberts slips to the fifth round, I often find myself taking Kelly Johnson as my second baseman this year. Johnson is going 164th, tenth among 2Bs. He's seventh in my rankings and a possible five-category guy.
Rickie Weeks is a popular breakout pick (again). I have him at .261-16-49-90-22 in 445 ABs. If you think he's likely to beat that, then perhaps his ninth round ADP doesn't look so bad. It's not a risk I'm keen on taking though. I have a similar opinion of Howie Kendrick, though I do own him in my keeper league for $4.
I've been quick to dismiss Aaron Hill, giving him a $0.63 value with a .283-12-65-73-3 projection. Zachary of Sportszilla got me to think a little more about Hill, and I found myself agreeing that he's a nice sleeper. Even if he just replicates his '07 he's right there with Johnson in value. Mark Ellis is interesting to me as a poor man's Hill in a contract year. Orlando Hudson is also playing for his next deal; could he muscle up for 20 HR? All should be found in the 15th round or later.
Freddy Sanchez is intriguing given his nine second half home runs and tendency to hit .300.