Fantasy Baseball Part 2: Draft This, Not That

As you take a look at some positions this year, there is more depth than you might expect in the middle infield this season.

Specifically, as you look at second base, there are options available later in the draft that you may not have otherwise looked to draft just a year ago. For whatever reason, there are some players that are consistently over valued for one reason or another.

That is what we are here to look at as we open up another edition of “draft this, not that.”


Take a look at the compares below:

Player A: .279 AVG, 10 HR, 75 RBI, 67 runs, 14 SB, 158 games

Player B: .296 AVG, 12 HR, 66 RBI, 57 runs, 2 SB, 110 games

Is the compare perfect? Not at all. The fact is that the number of games played really does skew the runs and RBI statistics. If we were to gross it up to the full 158 games, the numbers are much closer.

In that case, Player B would in fact move up to 95 RBI and 82 runs scored using the same rates. Steals is obviously the biggest difference. At second base, owners need to value steals slightly less. The fact is that only two players with second base eligibility in 2010 stole better than 20 bases. Gaining speed at this position is a benefit but not a likelihood.

In this case, Player A is Howie Kendrick. Kendrick has had issues in the last several years. Though he has increased his number of games played in each of the last four seasons, his average and OBP has subsequently dropped. Though we may look at him and think speed, the 14 steals is the most he has had in any season to date.

Kendrick was taken near pick 100 last season. Does that number drop this year? It certainly would seem like it should. Especially when we look at who Player B is in this scenario.

The masked man here is Neil Walker of the Pirates. Walker is certainly unheralded as many players who put on a Pittsburgh uniform are. Still, he has found ways to produce in what is going to be (or at least could be) a young and exciting lineup with players like Pedro Alvarez getting more regular time. Walker has some pop in his bat and could easily represent a threat at 20 home runs and 80 RBI. The potential for a late-round steal here is very high.

When you factor in that he went undrafted last season and is likely to end up a late-round pick again this year, Walker is the type of low-risk/high-upside player fantasy owners should look for in rounding out their rosters.

Walker and Kendrick certainly show the type of talent available at second base this year as you look deeper in drafts. While there are still top-heavy names that will attract fantasy owners early, there is less concern in holding off this year than in years past. Just make sure to look at the numbers.