Fantasy Baseball: 2011 Second Base Ranks

Rare to see a position that can cause as much debate while being as completely top-heavy as second base, yet here we are. As shortstop produced some of the more elite offensive talent in the middle part of the 1990's, so is second base today. With players like Dan Uggla, Robinson Cano, and Chase Utley, the position is in good hands for years to come from a fantasy perspective. It also opens the door for debate. Certainly, there are going to be people that disagree with my rankings below. I expect it certainly on one player in particular. Still, it would not be fun if everyone agreed.

In fact, let me get this out of the way before we start: I would not draft Chone Figgins if you paid me. The fact that a player with just one discernible skill is going as the ninth second basemen overall when we have the players we do at the position astounds me. Since hitting .330 in 2007, Figgins has not batted .300 and has been below .280 in two out of three years. After stealing 62 bases in 2006, Figgins has settled in closer to 40 steals in his last four campaigns. Only two times in the last five years has he scored more than 90 runs and he has never had more than nine home runs. Additionally, he has lost the positional flexibility that once made him a commodity. Second base only now, people.

To me, there is better value for the money. There. I said it.

Here we go:

Just ignore the teams, as per usual. I will admit to being lazy and copying the names strictly from the ESPN site. Unfortunately, the day job can get in the way sometimes!

Some notes:

• Run-scoring is one of the more available statistics at this position. Five players scored better than 100 runs, more than at any other position. This tends to be a spot where owners should capitalize on this and, to a degree, speed. There is certainly more power than in years past as well, but there are plenty of three- and four-category players.
• Cano is number one in most ranks and he should be. He provides some of the best value across multiple categories, plays in a friendly ballpark, and hits in a potent lineup. One of only two players to both score 100 and drive in at least 100. While it would be nice to see more speed from him, 25 home runs with 100 RBI, 100 runs scored, and a .300 average is not too shabby.
• Kelly Johnson came out number one when I did math to come up with my ranks based on last year's values and 2011 projections. There still is too much risk for some regression in Johnson for me to want to move him that high. It speaks to the depth of the position that he is only at number nine on this list. An early ADP of 113 makes him a nice value selection for teams waiting longer to fill this hole and certainly for those filling in MI spots to their lineup.
• Dustin Pedroia missed a fair amount of the season due to injuries but should be back and healthy come Spring Training. Pedroia has shown no signs that he is necessarily injury prone overall and a rebound in 2011 should be expected. He is still highly valued in fantasy circles and to me represents little gamble in terms of numbers risk.
• Brian Roberts is another rebound candidate, but be careful. Roberts has had his number of steals drop every year since his high of 50 in 2007. That said, is 12-15 home runs and 30-40 steals at a .280 clip a better value at pick 130 than what you would get from Figgins 40 picks earlier? I think so.
• Best Value - Aaron Hill and Juan Uribe. Combined, they belted 50 home runs (26 and 24 respectively). The concern is more on average. Hill specifically fell off to a .205 mark. That number will come around and the power has been similar in each of the past two years. Uribe hit just .248 but made himself a regular in the San Francisco lineup. Hill is being picked at an ADP of 169 while Uribe checks in at pick 295. Good value for the money for certain!
• Rebound Year - Not much surprise that I needed a place to talk about Gordon Beckham. I do not see how he has as bad a year as he did in 2010. Beckham is young and will be anxious to prove himself. Right now with a 227 ADP, there is nothing but upside for owners. I would look for 15-20 home runs, 80 RBI, and a .270 average.
• Sleeper Selection - Scott Sizemore, for a name not on this list. Neil Walker for a name on it. I wrote about Walker in an earlier "Draft This, Not That" column and feel strongly that he has the potential to make some waves given that he will receive regular playing time this year. Sizemore failed miserably in his first go-round with the Tigers, but he refined his game again in Triple-A. He should be given a shot to win the job and could get it almost by default.
• Situation to Avoid - No major position battles here that would threaten your draft plans.
• Situation to Watch - Seattle. They have Dustin Ackley set and penciled in as the primary player. He is young but represents a lot of upside for savvy owners and keeper leagues. Figgins has the ability to play a lot of positions and it may behoove Seattle to play the rookie once the early part of the season passes by.
• Biggest Risk - Honestly, I worry about Ian Kinsler. Not because he would not produce, but because he has not been healthy enough to do so consistently. Kinsler has played more than 121 games just twice in five years. He continues to be drafted early because he can put up numbers, but there have to be concerns about continued durability.