We continue our 2010 fantasy baseball rankings with the top 20 2nd basemen for 2010 fantasy baseball. 2nd base is an odd duck. Shortstops have speed. You can find speed in the outfield. There’s even some legitimate speed at 3rd base. All of these 2nd basemen must have grown up watching Bret Boone and Jeff Kent because you’re more likely to find power at 2nd base than speed. Sure, there’s Brian Roberts, but he’s 32 years old and only stole 30 bases last year. I want a 40 steal 2nd baseman. Eh, maybe it’s just me. As with the previous ranking lists, tiers and my projections are noted. Anyway, here’s the top 20 2nd basemen for 2010 fantasy baseball:
1. Chase Utley – In the top 10 for 2010 fantasy baseball post is Utley’s projections.
2. Ian Kinsler – In the top 20 for 2010 fantasy baseball post is Kinsler’s projections.
3. Brandon Phillips – This is a new tier. This tier goes from here to Cano. I call this tier, “Locks for certain stats.” After just missing a 20/20 season in 2006, Phillips has put up one for three straight years. Without a whole lot of luck, he’s not going to hit 30 homers and 30 steals seems out of his reach, but you’re kicking a 20/20 season out of bed from your 2nd baseman? Please. Phillips is a poor man’s Ian Kinsler. 2010 Projections: 80/22/95/.275/22
4. Brian Roberts – I haven’t been a fan of Roberts for the last two years because of his inconsistency. Were you paying for a 50 steal guy? A 40 steal guy? A 30 steal guy? A 18 homer guy? A 10 homer guy? Finally, I feel like Roberts has figured out who he is (or I have). A 12-15 homer guy with 30 steal speed. There’s value knowing what you’re going to get and getting what you’re going to get… Hmm… That made sense in my head. 2010 Projections: 105/13/75/.285/30
5. Dustin Pedroia – Pedroia feels a lot less overrated this year than going into 2009, so there’s a chance that I might end up with him on a team, but it’s still not likely when I see some people rank him above Roberts and Phillips. Roberts is 12-15 homers and 30 steals, Phillips is 20-plus homers, 20-plus steals and Pedroia is a 15/15 guy with great Runs. Personally, I’ll take 20/20 or 15/30 over 15/15 every day of the week and twice on Muesday. 2010 Projections: 110/15/70/.305/15
6. Robinson Cano – Cano could be outproduced by Aaron Hill, but I ranked them in this order because I trust Cano more. With Cano going to be the magical 27 years old in 2010 when power tends to peak, I hope Cano can pull a high-20s homer season out of his hat. 2010 Projections: 90/27/100/.315/5
7. Aaron Hill – This is a new tier. This tier goes from here to Zobrist. I call this tier, “These 2nd basemen are being drafted like they’re locks, but I don’t think they are.” I ranked Hill lower than most because I don’t believe the 36 homers he hit last year. Seems like a reach for him to do it again. There’s a good possibility I write an entire overrated post for Aaron Hill. As I said in previous rankings posts, I look at other projections. So, CBS has Aaron Hill down for 103/36/106/.287/8 in 2010. Since last year he had a line of 103/36/108/.286/6, I’m assuming they think he’s going to be exactly the same minus one extra base hit that drove in two. Say what you want about ESPN, Yahoo, etc, but CBS is by far the worst fantasy advice. I think they are so bad they actually get some lenience from people because no one actually takes them seriously. 2010 Projections: 85/24/80/.280/5
8. Ben Zobrist – I know, it’s Zorilla! How dare I! Why do I have to hate on guys that have career years? He’s ranked far below where he should be considering his numbers last year. His position eligibility does give him value. Shoot, I’d draft Lyle Overbay if you gave him shortstop eligibility. Zobrist’s homers don’t seem as fluky as they might appear. He maintained a 17.5 HR/FB in 2009 and a 17.4 HR/FB in 2008. Granted, that was a smaller sample size. So he may look like David Eckstein, but the only thing they have in common is neither is Jewish though their names sound like they are. Zobrist’s average seems out there; he looks closer to a .270 hitter. He was a utility man coming into 2009 and I wouldn’t be surprised if he left 2010 back in that role. 2010 Projections: 75/20/85/.270/12
9. Dan Uggla – This is a new tier. This tier goes from here to Lopez. I call this tier, “These guys are okay, but they might give you fits of boredom.” Uggla hasn’t had a full month of at-bats over a .300 average since May of 2008 when he hit .348. That pretty much tells you all you need to know. 2010 Projections: 90/32/100/.250/3
10. Jose Lopez – He’s okay on your team. He’ll work. But it’s like masturbating to The Golden Girls. It’ll get the job done, but why not switch the channel? 2010 Projections: 75/22/90/.275/3
11. Ian Stewart – This is a new tier. This tier starts and ends here. I call this tier, “The one guy I’d really like to have at 2nd base.” I love Stewart this year. First guy I feel like can completely outproduce his ranking. If I could’ve ranked Stewart 3rd overall without having to give back my diploma from the College of Fantasy Baseball at Charleston, I would’ve. Stewart feels like the Mark Reynolds of this year. (That doesn’t mean a 45/20 line. It doesn’t mean a guarantee. Remember Reynolds looked like he was splitting time with Chad Tracy in the preseason last year. It means a line like I thought Reynolds capable of in the preseason last year, around 30/12.) Need I say more? If you said yes, then proceed to the Ian Stewart Sleeper post-a-ma-whosie-whatsies. 2010 Projections: 85/29/100/.260/10
12. Asdrubal Cabrera – This is a new tier. This tier ends at Weeks. I call this tier, “This is your last chance to even try for something from your 2nd baseman. With varying degrees of something.” Asdrubal is a peak of 12 homers and 25 steals, while Barmes hit 23 homers last year with 12 steals. So why is Asdrubal above Barmes? Good question, random italicized voice. Barmes’s 23 homers last year looks fluky, while Asdrubal can steal 25 pretty easily. Barmes’s over/under for homers is 15, while Asdrubal’s over/under for steals is at 20. 2010 Projections: 95/8/65/.300/20
13. Clint Barmes – See Asdrubal Cabrera or 1/10th of an inch above. 2010 Projections: 65/15/75/.255/12
14. Rickie Weeks – He’s a lock for 20/20 but he needs 150 games. That “but” is J. Lo-sized. 2010 Projections: 75/17/55/.255/15 in 120 games.
15. Howie Kendrick – This is a new tier. This tier ends at Lopez. I call this tier, “People will draft these guys, but I’m passing.” Frankly, I wouldn’t draft Kendrick with your team. The upside isn’t interesting enough to me to warrant the gamble. For instance, the best case scenario has him giving a Pedroia-type year. Eh, it’s okay, but you’d be surprised how bored you get with a guy who’s offering 12/12. 2010 Projections: 85/12/70/.310/12
16. Casey McGehee – McGehee screams of a guy that is drafted and ends up on waivers by June. His minor league numbers are utility man-ish. He’s a cold month away from yielding to Mat Gamel, who is legit minus his glove. And McGehee has no speed whatsoever. He’s definitely more interesting at 2nd base than 3rd, but I’m passing. 2010 Projections: 55/17/65/.280
17. Placido Polanco – Don’t overestimate Crapolanco’s move to Philly. He’s the definition of yawnstipating. Literally. 2010 Projections: 100/10/70/.300/10
18. Felipe Lopez – The FeLopezian might be capable of 20/20, but it’s more likely going to be 10/10. 2010 Projections: 85/10/60/.285/10
19. Scott Sizemore – This is the last tier. This tier goes from here to the end. I call this tier, “Upside, snitches.” As I’ve been saying for as long as I can remember. If you’re late in the draft and you need a MI, take a flier on upside. You’re probably going to drop one of these guys to waivers anyway, so you may as well take a shot on someone that can outproduce their oudraft spot. I could’ve put Freddy Sanchez, Callaspo or Getz here (in that order), but what fun are those schmohawks? re: Sizemore; been here, talked about this: Scott Sizemore fantasy post. 2010 Projections: 80/14/70/.275/16
20. Eric Young Jr. – Young can steal 40 bases in 2010. Just give him the job. Please. Oh, and if he gets the job, it’ll play havoc on Barmes’s projections or Fowler’s or CarGo’s… There’s only so much upside for one team. 2010 Projections: 65/1/40/.290/30
There’s a lot of names after the top 20 2nd basemen for 2010 fantasy baseball, but these two stand out:
Kelly Johnson – Already went over my excitement for Kelly Johnson on the Diamondbacks. I ranked him this far down because I wanted to highlight him. If I didn’t want to highlight him, I would’ve ranked him above Kendrick, but who reads the middle of these godforsaken posts? Not me! 2010 Projections: 85/15/65/.270/10
Sean Rodriguez – Iwamura was sent to the 247th largest baseball market, Pittsburgh (which ranked just ahead of Nairobi). Now Sean Rodriguez has a chance to see playing time. Zobrist should start at 2nd base, but he can play everywhere, so Rodriguez could work into the mix. Outside of deep leagues, you’re going to want to make sure Rodriguez has playing time before getting crazy with yourself and drafting him, but if he does have an every day job… 2010 Projections: 65/20/75/.250/5 in 400 ABs.
