MLB All-Star Countdown: NL Second Basemen

There are two second basemen in the National League that stand out from the crowd, but only one of them can truly say that he is the best that the NL has to offer. The battle for National League first-base supremecy is barely a two-horse race.

5. Mark DeRosa, Chicago Cubs
I’ll admit, a little bit of Chicago bias got DeRosa in over Atlanta’s Kelly Johnson, but still, DeRosa has put up some numbers that definitely qualify him for this list. For example, DeRosa has 32 runs batted in on seven home runs, and he has a .296 batting average for the best team in Major League Baseball.

4. Orlando Hudson, Arizona Diamondbacks
Orlando Hudson is no stranger to my admiration. This guy is a ball player. He has 14 doubles, six home runs, and three triples, for a total of 31 runs batted in to compliment his .294 batting average. Hudson has struck out 27 times this season compared to DeRosa’s 45.

3. Brandon Phillips, Cincinnati Reds
Brandon Phillips does not have the most impressive batting average on this list by any stretch of the imagination, hitting only .270, but he makes up for it in other areas. He has 34 runs batted in on 11 home runs, and is second amongst National League second basemen in stolen bases, only trailing to Kaz Matsui. He also has only committed one error.

2. Dan Uggla, Florida Marlins
Dan Uggla has had a fantastic season. He has 70 hits, 44 runs batted in, 23 doubles, 18 home runs, and a stellar .310 batting average. Uggla’s only downfall is the amount of times that he strikes out. The Louisville native has whiffed 69 times, the most of any second baseman in the National League.

1. Chase Utley, Philadelphia Phillies
No one can argue that Chase Utley is the best second baseman in the National League. No one. Not even a Floridian. He has 51 runs on 78 hits. He has 18 doubles and has driven in 56 runs. Moreover, he leads all of Major League Baseball in home runs with 21.

American League
C         A.J. Pierzynski, Chicago White Sox
1B        Kevin Youkilis, Boston Red Sox
2B        Ian Kinsler, Texas Rangers
3B        (Next up, tentatively schedule for Wednesday June 11)
SS       
OF      
OF      
OF      
P

National League
C         Brian McCann, Atlanta Braves
1B        Lance Berkman, Houston Astros
2B        Chase Utley, Philadelphia Phillies
3B       
SS       
OF      
OF      
OF      
P