More position High Fives: First Base | Third Base
In conjunction with our second base primer, Yahoo! experts Brandon Funston, Brad Evans and Scott Pianowski offer their top-5 takes on the second base position. Topics include second basemen to seek or avoid, rookies and a nod to the past.
Top 5 second basemen you'll reach for |
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Howie Kendrick – Prime-aged with .300, 20/15 skills and three-position eligibility. Michael Cuddyer – Calls Coors home now, where he could add 3B to his current three-position eligibility status. Michael Young – The next time he doesn't deliver a satisfactory ROI will be his first. Ben Zobrist – As expected, his '10 dip was nothing a little luck couldn't fix. Jason Kipnis – For fantasy purposes, he's Dustin Ackley sans the hype.
| Ben Zobrist – BA and HRs rebounded. 20/20 flirt. Versatile. Undervalued. Jemile Weeks – Should finish north of 30 SBs with solid BA and 80-plus RS. Kelly Johnson – Will benefit greatly hitting in front of Jose Bautista. Michael Cuddyer – Multi-eligible, in great park, 30 HRs not unlikely. Howie Kendrick – This could be the year Swiss Army knife finally breaks 20 HRs.
| Robinson Cano – Consistency and durability pushes him into Top 6 argument. Brandon Phillips – Balanced stat profiles routinely get undervalued. Michael Cuddyer – Thin air, multiple positions, count me in. Danny Espinosa – Follow the category juice (21 homers, 17 bags). Neil Walker – The Pittsburgh screen keeps the cost down.
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Top 5 second basemen you'll try to avoid |
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Kelly Johnson – He's a roto box of chocolates, and I like to know what I'm going to get. Aaron Hill – It's a matter of trust, as in I have none. Gordon Beckham – Sure, he might turn things around, but he can't build a high ceiling with his bag of tools. Ryan Roberts – Like I said in 3B High Fives, liked him as a feisty utility guy, but I’m not buying a 19/18 repeat. Brian Roberts – 34 years old and just a combined 98 games the past two seasons.
| Chase Utley – Knee problems more frightening all "Paranormal Activity" flicks. Dustin Pedroia – Category stuffer but prefer Kinsler a little later. Dan Uggla – Rebounded nicely in second half but long droughts a headache. Aaron Hill – Full season in 'Zona could help, but doubt ’09 power ever resurfaces. Gordon Beckham – Mega disappointment. Best season may remain first.
| Dan Uggla – Likely drain in two categories and entering Age 33 season. Rickie Weeks – Captain collision, both in the field and at the plate (high HBP count). Kelly Johnson – You're dancing with strikeouts and batting-average risk. The steals aren't bettable. Dustin Ackley – Love the talent but I don't pay for sophomore buzz. Gordon Beckham – It's been a clinic in prospect mismanagement, at bat and in the field.
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Top 5 late-round lottery tickets |
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Jose Altuve – Pocket rocket has pop in his bat and fleet feet. Allen Craig – Health is the question, certainly not his ability to hit. Mike Aviles – Loved him in KC, love him even more in Boston. Daniel Murphy – This Murphy's Law is that baseballs must be hit on a line. Ryan Raburn – Struggles with righties, but has proven 15-HR, .270 potential.
| Jose Altuve – Projected two-hitter with .290-10-55-75-25 upside. Mike Aviles – Jack of all trades could be invaluable with regular SS gig Allen Craig – Mashed when provided opportunities. Should return in May. Daniel Murphy – Easy on the eyes in BA terms and qualifies at 1B/3B Tyler Greene – If he can stake claim as starting 2B, 15-15 not out of question.
| Mike Aviles – Back Bay Bonanza: career .809 OPS in Fenway Park. Allen Craig – Get healthy soon, breakout boy; new skipper will find a spot for you. Omar infante – I like one Swiss Army Knife on the roster. Jose Altuve – Talented mighty-mite has a shot at a 10-25 season. Alexi Casilla – Rabbit run: he's 50-for-58 on the bases for his career.
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Top 5 rookie second basemen |
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Kolten Wong – Can hit and run, and will move fast, especially with no major obstacles in STL. Taylor Green – .996 OPS in Triple-A in '11; Needs only a Weeks or Aramis injury for regular PT. Steve Lombardozzi – Can hit for average and run a bit; has immediate utility potential in WAS. Reese Havens – Mets are now playing for the future, so he may not have to wait long for his shot. Cory Spangenberg – Great speed and on-base skills, but likely no better than a September call-up this year.
| Cory Spangenberg – Heir apparent to O-Dawg possibly by September Kolten Wong – Hawaii product could be 15-15 paradise in NL leagues by '13 Charlie Culberson – Pitch recognition an issue but has great raw tools Scooter Gennett – Classic grinder was a standout in Arizona Fall League Reese Havens – Injury prone but great strike-zone recognition
| Matt Antonelli – A post-hype kid, first-rounder from 2006. Roberts and Andino aren't set in stone. Taylor Green – Maybe he'll see 2B bag when inevitable Weeks injury hits. Steve Lombardozzi – Decent wheels and pedigree, but someone would have to get hurt in DC. Cord Phelps – Mashed at Columbus (.294/.376.492), blocked in Cleveland. Ivan DeJesus Jr. – A strong year at Triple-A, but LA seems to prefer stopgap veterans.
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Top 5 favorite second basemen of your lifetime |
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Lou Whitaker – They don't make MI combos like Whitaker and Trammell anymore. Juan Samuel – Had roto-rific game; .272, 28 HR, 100 RBI, 113 R, 35 SB in '87. Jeff Kent – Any enemy of Barry Bonds is a friend of mine. Craig Biggio – Like Whitaker, another one-team icon; Only Speaker, Rose, Cobb and Musial had more doubles. Bret Boone – Power spike was suspect, but at least it produced more of his sweet bat flips.
| Ryne Sandberg – "Ryno" poster adorned my wall for a decade. Adored him. Steve Sax – The Elvis Andrus of his era – speed, runs galore. Jeff Kent – Absolute masher with questionable truck-washing history Lou Whitaker – Sweet Lou was object of consistency for decade-plus Ray Durham – One of the most underrated 2Bs of late 90s, early 00s.
| Dustin Pedroia – He symbolizes everything Boston is about. Always leaves it on the field. Tony Phillips – Played everywhere, scored a gaggle of runs, forever underrated. Mark McLemore – If I blogged in the 1990s, he would have won a few Wiggys. Willie Randolph – The classiest player, by far, in The Bronx Zoo. Harold Reynolds – The player, not the announcer. I penned a suburban Reynolds Rap in the 80s.
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