2nd Base rankings

Here are my 2nd Base rankings:

(Please note that I didn't rank B.J. Upton...he is eligible in most fantasy leagues at 2nd, but I'm only ranking the potential starters for each team)

This list vs. others:

Name-Mine--> ESPN
Brian Roberts- 7-->4
Dan Uggla- 4-->7
Polanco- 5-->11
Jeff Kent-16-->9
Matsui-25-->14
Jose Lopez- 17-->25



1) Chase Utley, Phillies

Utley is the consensus #1 second baseman, and for good reason. He’s got great stats, plays in a great hitters park, and has a great lineup. There’s no reason for him not to be the first second baseman taken.

Prediction: 127 runs, 28 HRs, 115 RBIs, 14 SBs, .317 AVG


2) Brandon Phillips, Reds

Phillips had a huge break out year last year, and he more than doubled his career HRs. However, expect him to regress a little, as evidence in his slight slip in September. Even with a little bit of a regression, he’s still going to give you great stats, especially for a second baseman.

Prediction: 92 runs, 26 HRs, 88 RBIs, 26 SBs, .279 AVG

3) Robinson Cano, Yankees

Cano is a 4 category stud that gets a lot of help from the potent Yankees lineup. Expect him to improve on his overall numbers from last year, especially considering he hit over .340 after the break in ’07.

Prediction: 95 runs, 18 HRs, 102 RBIs, 4 SBs, .321 AVG

4) Dan Uggla, Marlins

All of Uggla’s numbers other than his average have been very good the last two years, and he’s entering his 3rd year in the league as well as his prime. However, there’s no more Miguel Cabrera backing him up, so expect for his runs to go down while the rest of his numbers go up.

Prediction: 92 runs, 34 HRs, 92 RBIs, 3 SBs, .262 AVG

5) Placido Polanco, Tigers

Polanco’s another player whose numbers will go up due to a better lineup. With the addition of Cabrera and Renteria, he’ll have Sheffield, Ordonez, and Cabrera knocking him in all year, and Pudge/ Granderson batting in front of him, his “counting stats” will sky rocket, to go along with his great average.

Prediction: 110 runs, 7 HRs, 78 RBIs, 5 SBs, .327 AVG.

6) Ian Kinsler, Rangers

Kinsler’s another player that’s entering his prime and could surprise some people. He’ll give you some decent power numbers.

Prediction: 99 runs, 24 HRs, 67 RBIs, 22 SBs, .271 AVG

7) Brian Roberts, Orioles

Roberts, who happened to be in the Mitchell Report, had a breakout year in ’05, but hasn’t come even close to those numbers since. The Orioles are going younger this year, so don’t expect him to be able to do it this year. He had 50 SBs last season, but don’t expect the 30 year old to even reach the 40 level this year.

Prediction: 92 runs, 11 HRs, 53 RBIs, 37 SBs, .285 AVG

8) Aaron Hill, Blue Jays

Hill had a huge spike in numbers last year, and expect them to stay up, especially after batting over .400 in September. He turns 26 in March, so look out.

Prediction: 92 runs, 21 HRs, 86 RBIs, 4 SBs, .291 AVG

9) Kelly Johnson, Braves

Johnson missed all of ‘06 with an elbow injury, but he bounced back nicely in ’07. Johnson batted in the one whole for the majority of the year, but look for him to drop to #8 in ’08. His runs will suffer.

Prediction: 78 runs, 16 HRs, 72 RBIs, 12 SBs, .284 AVG

10) Freddy Sanchez, Pirates

Sanchez, who signed an extension in the off-season, could see an increase in his RBIs this year if Jason Bay can come back and the rest of the lineup can emerge like I think it will. Solid fantasy starter here.

Prediction: 87 runs, 9 HRs, 82 RBIs, 1 SB, .317 AVG

11) Asdrubal Cabrera, Indians

Cabrera came up for the Indians mid year and helped them make their push into the ALCS. Cabrera will be hitting in the 2 whole for most of the year in front of two of the best hitters in the game, Travis Hafner and Victor Martinez. Expect him to get a ton of runs, and RBIs for that matter with Grady Sizemore hitting in front of him.

Prediction: 92 runs, 7 HRs, 75 RBIs, 1 SB, .278 AVG

12) Howie Kendrick, Angels

Kendrick has yet to play a full season, mostly due to injury. He’s had some good stats, but it’s still a question of if he can remain injury free. His value will go up if you are in a keeper league.

Prediction: 87 runs, 7 HRs, 72 RBIs, 11 SBs, .315 AVG

13) Rickie Weeks, Brewers

Weeks has been one of the most annoying players for fantasy owners since his rookie 2005 season. It seems like every year he’s hurt in some capacity, and it has affected his potential numbers. There will be other productive second baseman this year, and definitely some with better value, so I would not take him unless you want to deal with whether or not you should start him all year, and if he’s even going to play.

Prediction 92 runs, 17 HRs, 42 RBIs, 28 SBs, .254 AVG.

14)Mark Ellis, A’s

Part of the A’s lineup was traded away in the off season, so expect Ellis’ team related stats to go down.

Prediction: 74 runs, 21 HRs, 69 RBIs, 7 SBs, .269 AVG

15) Dustin Pedroia, Red Sox

Pedroia came up big for the Red Sox last year in his rookie season. Pedroia was consistent most of the year, and if he can improve on the putrid .182 he hit in April, look for him to improve. However, he is due for the “sophomore slump”, and I don’t think he’ll match the numbers he had last year, unless he can improve on the .263 he hit with RISP, and .241 with RISP and 2 outs.

Prediction: 88 runs, 7 HRs, 58 RBIs, 8 SBs, .309 AVG

16) Jeff Kent, Dodgers

Kent is getting old, and his numbers are stating to slip. Look for them to drop a lot more sharply this year, even after a second half in which he raised his average 58 points. He’ll still get you solid stats, but don’t expect him to be a top 10 second baseman as some say he will be-40 is just too old.

Prediction: 69 runs, 13 HRs, 70 RBIs, 0 SBs, .285 AVG

17) Jose Lopez, Mariners

Lopez is entering his 3rd season as a 24 year old, and looks like a possible sleeper pick. He’ll score a decent amount of runs hitting in front of Ichiro and Jose Vidro, but he won’t get that many RBI opportunities. What it may come down to is which Jose Lopez shows up- the one that had a .284 AVG and 8 HRs in the first half, or the one who hit .213 with 3 in the second half. I expect him to stay consistent this year.

Prediction: 75 runs, 13 HRs, 68 RBIs, 1 SB, .275 AVG.

18) Orlando Hudson, D’Backs

Hudson has been an average 2B for the last few years, and don’t expect that to change. He’s not going to save your season, but he won’t kill it either.

Prediction: 64 runs, 11 HRs, 62 RBIs, 8 SBs, .292 AVG

19) Brendan Harris, Twins

It looks like Harris is going to start for the Twins at second this year. I believe the Rays lineup is better top to bottom, where he was last year, than the Twins, but expect Harris’s RBIs to go up do to who’s hitting in front of him. He batted .256 after the break and all of his numbers dropped, however.

Prediction: 74 runs, 11 HRs, 67 RBIs, 3 SBs, .279 AVG

20) Akinori Iwamura, Rays

Iwamura came to the Rays last year and put up decent stats. Look for his runs to go up even more, with Carl Crawford and Carlos Pena hitting behind him. Also look for his RBIs up, as the bottom of the Rays lineup continues to improve.

Prediction: 94 runs, 9 HRs, 47 RBIs, 15 SBs, .279 AVG

21) Luis Castillo, Mets

One of Castillo’s best fantasy stats has been his SBs, but he’s not getting any younger, and turns 33 at the end of the year.

Prediction: 83 runs, 1 HR, 35 RBIs, 15 SBs, .297 AVG

22) Mark Derosa, Cubs

Derosa’s getting up there in age, but you can still expect him to produce at about the same rate as last year, especially with the Cubs lineup. It doesn’t look like there are any younger prospects coming up to take his spots, so he should still get his ABs.

Prediction: 66 runs, 9 HRs, 69 RBIs, 1 SB, .289 AVG

23) Mark Grudzielanek, Royals

Grudzielanek has had solid stats the last years, but nothing special. He’s a good backup second baseman in a deep league that won’t hurt you in any categories when you need him to start, but won’t necessarily help you either.

Prediction: 78 runs. 5 HRs, 49 RBIs, 4 SBs, .297 AVG

24) Ronnie Belliard, Nationals

Belliard will give you solid numbers, but nothing special. He hits in a horrible hitters park, but he still managed to hit 11 out last year.

Prediction: 55 runs, 10 HRs, 62 RBIs, 2 SBs, .282 AVG

25) Kazuo Matsui, Astros

Matsui, who signed a 3 year contract with the Astros in the off-season, will possibly have even more protection than he did in Colorado with Miguel Tejada, Lance Berkman, and Carlos Lee behind him. However, Matsui’s numbers away from Coors are horrible. Do not draft him unless you desperately need the SBs.

Prediction: 65 runs, 1 HR, 25 RBIs, 27 SBs, .267 AVG

26)Danny Richar, White Sox

Richar came up to the majors midway through last season, and Ozzie Guillen has said that he thinks Richar can make an immediate impact in the majors. If he wins the spot, which he’s the odds on favorite to do, I agree that he’ll make an impact for the White Sox, but not necessarily for your fantasy team.

Prediction: 68 runs, 14 HRs, 35 RBIs, 2 SBs, .255 AVG


Players to avoid:
Jayson Nix, Rockies

Nix looks to be the starting second baseman for the Rockies, but don’t expect him to be your starting baseman. He had decent stats in AAA last year, but nothing to be overly impressed with.


Tadahito Iguchi, Padres
Iguchi came over from the Phillies in the off season, and I see his numbers dropping- he’s going to be in a worse lineup, a much tougher pitchers division, and a worse hitter’s parks. His numbers dropped off a ton as it is in ’07 from ’06, so I wouldn’t waste a pick on him.

Ray Durham, Giants.
Durham’s getting old, the Giants lineup is worse than it was last year, his stats from last year weren’t that good as it is. Why bother with him?

Brendan Ryan/ Adam Kennedy, Cardinals
Look for LaRussa to platoon the two players at second, along with possibly Aaron Miles. Ryan would have been a decent sleeper pick if not for LaRussa loving his veterans.