Fantasy Baseball: NL Second Base-The New Power Position

by Ray Guilfoyle on Sep 23, 2009 9:30 AM EDT in Baseball

A few weeks ago, I wrote an article stating that 3B will be a scarce position in NL-only lagues in 2010. Well, it appears that 2B is the new power position in the NL. There are currently 3 second baseman with a SLG % over .500, and 12 with an OPS over .780.

Player	AB	R	H	2B	HR	RBI	BB	KO	SB	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
Utley, Chase 2B PHI	527	105	155	27	31	91	85	102	22	0.294	0.411	0.533	0.945
McGehee, Casey 3B MIL	320	53	97	17	15	61	33	59	0	0.303	0.366	0.503	0.869
Weeks, Rickie 2B MIL	147	28	40	5	9	24	12	39	2	0.272	0.34	0.517	0.857
Uribe, Juan 2B SF	354	45	103	24	13	47	22	72	3	0.291	0.33	0.492	0.821
Lopez, Felipe 2B MIL	561	81	175	35	9	53	63	96	6	0.312	0.382	0.433	0.815
Uggla, Dan 2B FLA	520	79	125	24	29	81	87	138	1	0.24	0.353	0.458	0.811
Prado, Martin 3B ATL	404	55	122	32	10	48	30	52	0	0.302	0.349	0.455	0.804
Stewart, Ian 3B COL	395	71	91	19	24	69	51	126	7	0.23	0.322	0.476	0.798
Phillips, Brandon 2B CIN	534	70	149	28	20	90	42	70	24	0.279	0.333	0.459	0.792
Roberts, Ryan 3B ARI	281	40	79	15	7	24	39	53	7	0.281	0.374	0.416	0.79
Baker, Jeff 2B CHC	181	22	55	10	3	20	14	43	1	0.304	0.357	0.431	0.788
Lugo, Julio SS STL	231	34	67	13	3	19	25	43	7	0.29	0.358	0.429	0.786
DeRosa, Mark 2B STL	483	76	124	23	23	76	46	111	3	0.257	0.326	0.451	0.777
Hudson, Orlando 2B LA	525	70	151	33	9	60	53	93	8	0.288	0.354	0.417	0.771
Schumaker, Skip CF STL	499	82	153	33	4	34	47	66	2	0.307	0.366	0.401	0.766
Counsell, Craig 3B MIL	379	54	107	21	4	35	38	50	3	0.282	0.354	0.412	0.765
Castillo, Luis 2B NYM	450	76	140	12	1	36	67	54	17	0.311	0.399	0.358	0.756
Velez, Eugenio 2B SF	231	31	63	12	5	28	15	43	8	0.273	0.321	0.433	0.754
Harris, Willie LF WAS	286	44	64	17	7	24	54	53	10	0.224	0.363	0.385	0.748
Sanchez, Freddy 2B SF	457	56	134	29	7	41	22	76	5	0.293	0.326	0.416	0.742

I have sorted this list by OPS, and in all there are 5 second baseman with 20+ homers lead by Chase Utley's 31 bombs and Dan Uggla who slugged his 30th last night. And another "hidden" source of power is the Braves Martin Prado who has 32 doubles and 10 HRs in 400+ ABs. He should get an addition 100 ABs next season for the Braves, and should turn a few of those doubles into HRs in 2010.

Another guy I have my eye on is Diamondbacks 2010 second baseman Ryan Roberts. In just under 300 ABs, he has 7 HRs and 7 SBs, to go along with a .281-.374-.416-.790 slash stats. He has an excellent eye at the plate judging by his 53/39 K/BB ratio. You will see him on sleeper lists by 2010 draft day.

A couple things to keep in mind is that the Brewers will get Rickie Weeks back at 2B in 2010, meaning 2009 breakout Casey McGehee should move over to 3B, but will still be eligible to be drafted at 2B.

Also, the Marlins Dan Uggla will more than likely be traded in the offseason, and given the Dodgers lack of pop in the infield, I could see them dealing for Uggla with Orlando Hudson a free agent at the end of the season. Everyone knows he has 30 HR power, but he also walks alot, which Joe Torre and Don Mattingly love to see in a hitter.

By the way, what happened to Felipe Lopez stealing a base every now and then? Six stolen bases???

Poll

After Chase Utley and Brandon Phillips, which second baseman gets drafted next?

Dan Uggla-can't pass up that power

30 votes

Rickie Weeks-he will go 20-20 again

11 votes

Mark DeRosa-especially if he returns to the Cubs

8 votes

Martin Prado-the power breaks out in 2010

16 votes

65 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

How about "other"?

Chris Coghlan

by Surrogates on Sep 23, 2009 10:51 AM EDT reply actions

+1

Absolutely like Coghlan for this poll…once Uggla is a Dodger, CC will be starting 150+ games @ 2B for the Marlins and will outrank all of the above. Among the choices listed though, I picked Prado. His swing is so strong & smooth, the power will come.

Giants: World Series Champions...in 2011.

by Giants_Junkie on Sep 23, 2009 4:36 PM EDT up reply actions