We continue our 2011 fantasy baseball rankings with the top 20 2nd basemen for 2011 fantasy baseball. For the first time in a while, there’s no 2nd baseman in the top 10. At least by my calculation. Some ‘perts are putting Cano in the top 10, but I talk more about that later this afternoon. (Yes, we’re moving back to two posts a day. You’re excited.) There’s a few 2nd basemen that really stand out. I want a 40 steal 2nd baseman. Eric Young Jr., “I’ll be your huckleberry, Grey.” Aw, thanks, Junior. I want a 2nd baseman with Uggla-like power but for half the price. Ryan Raburn, “May I interest you in some Raburn?” You may, but only if you have eligibility in my league. As with the previous ranking lists, tiers and my projections are noted. Anyway, here’s the top 20 2nd basemen for 2011 fantasy baseball:
1. Robinson Cano – In the top 20 for 2011 fantasy baseball post is Cano’s projections.
2. Ian Kinsler – This is a new tier. This tier goes from here until Uggla. I call this tier, “Your last chance for a legit 2nd baseman.” Let’s face it, legit’s overextending itself in that sentence. One or more of these first six 2nd basemen are gonna Triple Lindy into an empty pool and it ain’t gonna be pretty. Luckily, the difference between the first couple of 2nd basemen and the next couple really isn’t that big of a difference. I.e., you can recover from one of these guys flopping. I keep lowering your expectations because I really don’t trust Kinsler, but now that he’s a bit cheaper at drafts, I’m willing to give him a chance for a bounce back. He’s gotta stay healthy one of these years, right? How’s that for confidence! 2011 Projections: 85/22/60/.270/17
3. Brandon Phillips – He’s younger than Ryan Raburn. That’s to say, Phillips seems like he’s been around forever, but he can still put up the 20/20 season. Granted, everything went right last year for the Reds in 2010, even Marge Schott’s ghost didn’t say anything inappropriate to Jackie Robinson’s ghost. Everything, except Brandon Phillips’ season. His worst season since his rookie year back in 2003. He was also battling injuries. Through the injuries he still played in 155 games and put up a 18/16 season. A modest bounce back and he’s a top 4 ranked 2nd baseman. 2011 Projections: 85/20/70/.270/17
4. Dustin Pedroia – The surgically-repaired left foot should be fine for the start of the season. Until it’s not, of course. No, it should. I’m not too concerned with Pedroia. Sparky Anklebiters don’t let little things like rust or injury rehab slow them down. He’s basically the same as Philips fantasy value-wise. A few more homers and steals with Phillips, a few more runs and average here. If you want Pedroia 4th, I won’t hate. 2011 Projections: 105/15/65/.290/15
5. Dan Uggla – When Uggla was traded, I went over my Uggla fantasy. It’s all there in 10 point Times New Roman. The reason why he’s ranked below some of the guys above but his projections look as good if not better because A) Kinsler has the biggest upside. B) Phillips and Pedroia are safer. C) Uggla has the biggest downside in one category, he could hit .240. D) There’s no D. 2011 Projections: 90/32/100/.265/5
6. Rickie Weeks – This is a new tier. This tier goes from here until Figgins. I call this tier, “Do you feel lucky? Well, do you punk?” Makes sense that there are two question marks in the tier name because all of these guys have question marks. Before 2010, Weeks had the health of that Texas oil tycoon Anna Nicole married five years after he died. Weeks used to call up Glass Chipper for doctor referrals. His nickname was Sickie. All that wouldn’t matter if Weeks wasn’t so talented. He can repeat his power output from last year and add more steals if he’s healthy, but that “if” is the size of Gilbert Grape’s mom. 2011 Projections: 85/18/65/.250/14
7. Aaron Hill – I already threw an Aaron Hill sleeper post at you. Go read up on that and come back and tell me what a dummkopf I am. The reason why he’s in the “Feel lucky” tier and not the straight out excitement tier is because I’m being optimistic with Hill. If he hits only 17 homers, then you’re gonna wanna become a mailman just so you can go postal. 2011 Projections: 80/25/85/.275/5
8. Ben Zobrist – Power really got pulled out from underneath Zobrist in 2010. His HR/FB% went from a 17.4% in 2008, 17.5% in 2009 to 6.0% last year. So if you believe the former numbers, he’s going to hit 20 homers again. If you believe the latter number and assuming I’m using latter and former correctly, he’s going to barely crack 10 homers again. Or just split the difference… 2011 Projections: 70/15/70/.260/15
9. Chase Utley – UPDATE: Don’t draft Utley. I still got love for you, Utley. It’s just not the kind of love that finds its way on my fantasy team. 2011 Projections: 50/14/55/.280/5
10. Brian Roberts – He returned to decent numbers if you prorate them over a full year (59 games, 230 ABs, 4 homers, 12 steals). Unfortunately, he’s now 33 years old and collecting back issues of Men’s Health. Counting on Roberts to give you 155+ games and 30+ steals is being a tad bit optimistic. 2011 Projections: 80/7/45/.285/22
11. Chone Figgins – On one hand, I kinda hate Figgy. On the other hand, I kinda despise Figgy. On my third, lesser known hand, I think he’ll probably be more valuable than Brian Roberts. Stupid irrational hate over a splash of confirmation bias. You are a deadly cocktail! 2011 Projections: 80/3/40/.270/35
12. Ryan Raburn – This is a new tier. This tier goes from here until Beckham. I call this tier, “I’m on board with these guys.” I shouldn’t even have ranked Raburn because of his lack of 20 games at 2nd base, but I’m kinda totally in love with him. Unfortunately, he only played in 18 games at 2nd base so he’s not eligible in all leagues. I touched on him briefly already in a Raburn sleeper post. Since the restraining order hadn’t gone through yet, that touching wasn’t prohibited by law. Phew. This fantasy shizz is serious! This is the last year Raburn will be a sleeper. Not because he’s going to breakout and be overvalued next year. Well, that could be the reason. Not because he’ll never come close to 20 games at 2nd base again. Well, that could be the reason too. But more likely because he’s going to be 30 years old in 2011. He has 25 homer power. At 2nd base, you shouldn’t need to know more. If he doesn’t have 2nd base eligibility in your league, then ignore this blurb. 2011 Projections: 70/21/80/.275/3
13. Kelly Johnson – Member last year when he hit a few homers and I called him Kelly Kapowski? The times we had! I was kinda crazy about Johnson last preseason and he repaid the trust. He also got a bit lucky. He’s really not a 26 homer, .284 hitter. Sorry, now don’t go running back to his family to tell them I said that. He can still be productive. Just a bit less so. 2011 Projections: 80/17/.260/60/12
14. Howie Kendrick – I like Posada for the first time ever and now I’m liking Kendrick. Call an ambulance, you’re about to faint! Kendrick still seems like a poor man’s Pedroia, but what the eff in the suckhole, there’s value in that. Get on board, this train’s leaving! BTW, Outside of deep leagues, you probably will grow hella bored with Kendrick. A guy whose most exciting category is average can only excite you so much, unless you’re Wee Willie Keeler. 2011 Projections: 65/12/85/.305/15
15. Neil Walker – Aw, and you thought I forgot about Walker. Reader, please! Okay, now I’m going to pull back a bit, because I don’t fully trust Walker and his BABIP was on the lucky side and his walks weren’t great and his Ks weren’t either and he’s a Pirate and what does him being a Pirate have to do with anything and should I punctuate this sentence at some point? Don’t get caught up in the hype. (Ha! A Pirate hitter hyped? Pfft.) Walker is a decent late round flier, but don’t necessarily assume you guys are gonna be BFFs. 2011 Projections: 65/15/75/.260/7
16. Gordon Beckham – Since he’s only 24-years-old, I’m gonna have to overlook all the stress he caused me last year when he went from totally chic to totally geek. He started to show signs in the 2nd half (in 171 ABs, 6 home runs and a .310 average). Some continuation of that progress and he’ll outproduce his draft spot. There’s still 15 homer power in his mollywhoppers and 10 steal speed in his gams. 2011 Projections: 70/15/60/.285/7
16 1/2. Placido Polanco – This is a new tier. This tier goes from here until Uribe. I call this tier, “Skip ’em.” There’s a point in every draft where you should just forgo a known commodity and cross your fingers and grab some upside. This is the point. I’ve never been a fan of Crapolanco. If you didn’t know that, welcome to the site. Click around, I get 1/40th of a penny for every page view. Blogs make money! (Note: Polanco got a half because he only has 12 games at 2nd base.) 2011 Projections: 80/8/60/.300/8
17. Martin Prado – Keep in mind that I kinda wanted to drop Prado even further down this list, but at a certain point I’m risking my diploma from the College of Fantasy Baseball at Charleston. Prado reminds me of Crapolanco without the speed. Fongool to that. 2011 Projections: 85/12/60/.300/5
18. Ryan Theriot – His stats look nice at the end of the year, but I’ll make a $20 bet with you that in almost all mixed leagues, you will draft Theriot and want to drop him at the first sign of a slump. Seriously, 20 steals over the course of the year looks okay in October. When he’s giving you 3 steals per month, you want to kill someone. 2011 Projections: 60/2/30/.275/20
19. Mike Aviles – Last year was a career year and it wasn’t even that good. Aviles is the new blech. 2011 Projections: 65/8/40/.295/8
20. Juan Uribe – He kinda has better numbers than quite a few of the guys above him, but I couldn’t stand to see Uribe any higher up on the list. Here’s you drafting Uribe, “I’m smarter than everyone! He has 20-plus homer power! I’m going to win my league!” Here’s you on April 3rd, “Grey, should I drop Uribe?” Yeah, you should. 2011 Projections: 60/20/75/.240
After the top 20 for 2011 fantasy baseball, there’s a bunch of names, but these five stick out:
Danny Espinosa – This is a new tier. This tier goes from here until the end. I call this tier, “Fliers! Or is it flyers?” Figured I’d end the rankings on a positive note. And by positive I mean relatively. You’re pretty deep into a terrible position at this point. I already dropped a Danny Espinosa fantasy on your melon. Since then, he’s had some hand troubles. Not a great sign, but he’s a late flier worth taking for upside. All projections in the flier tier are optimistic, but whatevs. 2011 Projections: 60/15/70/.245/17
Tsuyoshi Nishioka – I already popped my collar on a Tsuyoshi Nishioka fantasy post. There were only three or four mildly offensive references in that post. An off day, for sure. Before you say, “Nishioka in the 10th round!” I say, “Kaz Matsui looked impressive in Japan too.” 2011 Projections: 80/5/45/.290/22
Sean Rodriguez – I already went over my Sean Rodriguez sleeper thing-a-ma-whosie. Rodriguez will probably be a top 7 overall ranked 2nd baseman when the season is over. Or he’ll be unownable and be dropped by April 5th. It’s called a flier, people! 2011 Projections: 65/18/75/.245/20
Eric Patterson – Now that Adrian Gonzalez is (a) gone, there’s really no need to look at Padres hitters, except if you’re in a very deep league and you’re dying for some speed (junkie!). In most leagues, I’d ignore Patterson. (Note: He only has 14 games at 2nd base.) 2011 Projections: 60/3/35/.250/20
Eric Young Jr. – Sure, Jose Lopez could steal time, but Young will get his ABs. At least that’s what I keep telling myself. I love Eric Young Jr. I’ll probably talk about him some more before we drop the curtain on this preseason. First, I really need to see how much playing time the Rockies are going to give him. Second, who cares about the playing time? It’s a last round flier that could pay dividends. Do me a favor and draft him before I have a flippin’ conniption. My freakin’ forehead vein is about to burst. You can take an upside hit at middle infield a lot easier than at, say, 1st base. Even if he only gets 350 ABs, he can get 40 steals. Like Jeffrey Jones, give a Young man a twirl. 2011 Projections: 65/2/35/.255/40
