We already went over the top 20 catchers for 2009 and the top 20 1st first basemen for 2009. Today, it’s all about the top 20 2nd basemen. The 2nd basemen pool is shallow (not as kiddie-sized as the shortstops, but we’ll get to them in the next post). Because of this shallowivity (Made Up Word Of The Day!), the 2nd basemen rankings can be split up into two tiers. The guys you want and the tomato-tomahto guys. The Guys You Want’s names kinda give them away. The Tomato-Tomahto Guys are a whole group of 2nd basemen that are so close to each other in rank, it really didn’t matter which one of them you owned. At one time or another during the season, you probably dropped one of the Tomato-Tomahtos for a different Tomato-Tomahto. Everyone probably has one Tomato-Tomahto guy that they hated during the season. I have a few. Anyway, here’s the top 20 2nd basemen for 2009 fantasy baseball and how they compare to where I originally ranked them:
1. Chase Utley – He was my choice for NL MVP in the preseason. He’s going to be my 2010 NL MVP preseason selection. Probably will be my 2011 preseason NL MVP choice and maybe my pick in 2012. Then, one day when Pujols is not only hurt, but plays hurt, Utley will win it. Preseason Rank #1, 2009 Projections: 105/29/105/.295/10, Final Numbers: 112/31/93/.282/23
2. Aaron Hill – Let’s get it out of the way upfront, there was some surprises in the 2nd basemen rankings. We (or you) can sit there and say to yourself, “Gadzooks, Grey did a terrible job of ranking the 2nd basemen.” First, who says gadzooks? Are you in a comic strip? Second, no one ranked Aaron Hill, Ben Zobrist, Marco Scutaro, Adam Kennedy et al anywhere near the top fifteen coming into the season. There’s the top guys and there’s the bottom guys at MI. This is why I usually punt the middle and avoid middle infielders between rounds 7 and 15. Either get a top one, or ignore and take a flier later. More will be said on this in the offseason. Preseason Unranked, Final Numbers: 103/36/108/.286/6
3. Robinson Cano – Someone has a terrific season the previous year (Pedroia, Hamilton) and I pulled back for 2009. A player craps the bed in the previous season (Robinson Cano) and I got excited about them for 2009. This is the story of my life with women too. Kick me in the nads and I’ll buy you steel-tipped boots. Preseason Rank #8, 2009 Projections: 80/18/85/.310/3, Final Numbers: 103/25/85/.320/5
4. Brian Roberts – My predicted numbers weren’t that far off from where he ended up. Didn’t like him in April of 2008, didn’t like him in April of 2009, I think I might like him a bit more in 2010 because he’s finally become predictable. Predictable is a good thing, maybe the best of things and no good thing ever dies. Preseason Rank #6, 2009 Projections: 105/10/50/.285/30, Final Numbers: 110/16/79/.283/30
5. Ben Zobrist – Almost surprising as his season is his Christian faith (come on, his name is screaming for a mohel). Everyone knows the good, so let’s look at the glass half empty. 17/52 and 11 steals with a .297 average in the 1st half. In the 2nd half, 10/39 in 9 more at-bats. Not terrible, just not as good. His eligibility definitely helped offset the regression. Nevertheless, it was there. Preseason Unranked, Final Numbers: 91/27/91/.297/17
6. Ian Kinsler – It’s great to finally see what he’s capable of over an entire season. He’s a liability on average, plus speed and nearly as solid as Utley elsewhere. Preseason Rank #2, 2009 Projections: 110/23/80/.280/25, Final Numbers: 101/31/86/.253/31
7. Dustin Pedroia – This was the season I was worried about when I advised people (that’s you!) to stay away from Pedrioa. Was 2009 a terrible season? No, I never thought for one second he’d be terrible. I just didn’t buy into him as a 2nd round pick and a repeat of his MVP season. Preseason Rank #5, 2009 Projections: 110/15/75/.310/15, Final Numbers: 115/15/72/.296/20
8. Brandon Phillips – For some reason, no one seems to trust Phillips. 20/20 for three seasons straight and he gets no respect. Whatevs, I’ll keep owning him since no one else wants to. Preseason Rank #3, 2009 Projections: 90/25/80/.270/25, Final Numbers: 78/20/98/.276/20
9. Asdrubal Cabrera – With a swift kick to the nuts, the tomato-tomahto portion of the program begins. It didn’t really matter which of these guys you owned, they were all productive at some points during the season and yawnstipating at other times. Preseason Rank #21, 2009 Projections: 90/12/60/.275/10, Final Numbers: 81/6/68/.308/17
10. Marco Scutaro – If you would’ve told me in February there would be two Blue Jay 2nd basemen in the top 10, I would’ve punched you in the mouth. MAR…co… SCUT…aro… had a decent season for a guy that probably wasn’t even owned in your league for a third of the season and returned from Asia with pasta. Preseason Unranked, Final Numbers: 100/12/60/.282/14
11. Adam Kennedy – Gene Rayburn, “2nd base is so shallow…” You, “How shallow is it?” Kennedy had only a good May and September and he’s ranked 11th overall. Preseason Unranked, Final Numbers: 65/11/63/.289/20
12. Felipe Lopez – You would think a guy whose ADP was 213 and who is ranked this high would have been a huge success. You’d be dead wrong. So many times I wanted to cut the Fe-Lopezian tubes, then he’d go and have a 1-for-3 game with 1 Run and I’d hold him. Ugh, he had one of the more frustrating seasons. How does he only steal 6 bases all year?! Ryan Howard stole 8 bases! Preseason Unranked, but he did make the Cheap Alternatives post, Final Numbers: 88/9/57/.310/6
13. Jose Lopez – I usually go with speed at MI, but, if you needed power there, J. Lo turned in a perfectly respectable season. I would’ve taken his season over F. Lo any day of the week and twice on Muesday. Preseason Rank #10, 2009 Projections: 80/15/85/.280/5, Final Numbers: 69/25/96/.272/3
14. Alexei Ramirez – When you’re ranked within sneezing distance of Luis Castillo, I hope you get Swine Flu. Ramirez had one good month (May, 7 homers, 2 steals while batting .283) and 4 yawnstipating months. How does he only steal 4 bases from June 19th on? I think I’ve found my first candidate of the offseason that I won’t be drafting on any teams in 2010. No matter what stories come out of spring training. Alexei has never seen the ball this well before! Alexei gained 120 of muscle mass! Alexei can go to hell. Preseason Rank #4, 2009 Projections: 95/22/90/.285/15, Final Numbers: 71/15/68/.277/14
15. Maicer Izturis – Maicer, what goes on? Maicer… It’s funny all the people ending the season at exactly .300 or just over it. Don’t make me get Vin Scully to recount the story of how Ted Williams started both sides of a doubleheader while sitting on .400 for the season. Preseason Unranked, Final Numbers: 74/8/65/.300/13
16. Alberto Callaspo – I liked him in the preseason, but even with that like, I couldn’t generate the enthusiasm to draft him anywhere. Let’s face it, his mother barely gets excited about his hitting. Was also mentioned in that Cheap Alternatives thingamapost, Final Numbers: 79/11/73/.300/2
17. Luis Castillo – Please don’t make me say anything about Castillo. Preseason Unranked, Final Numbers: 77/1/40/.302/20
18. Placido Polanco – Placido Polanco is Yoda to Callaspo’s Luke. Can we just call these guys Polancallaspo? Preseason Rank #14, 2009 Projections: 90/7/55/.310/7, Final Numbers: 82/10/72/.285/7
19. Dan Uggla – Even with how awful this list is, Aramis Ramirez, with 2nd base eligibility, would not have made this list. Yes, 2nd base was deeper than 3rd base. Bring back steroids! Preseason Rank #7, 2009 Projections: 85/30/100/.255/5, Final Numbers: 84/31/90/.243/2
20. Clint Barmes – This is one of my big problems with the ESPN Player Rater (this is where these rankings come from; makes it less subjective). I’d rank Barmes as the last guy you’d want and above all the tomato-tomahtos. I don’t really mind the average, but his homers and steals were valuable. This is how I ended up with Mark Reynolds on all my teams in 2009 and how I will probably have Barmes on some 2010 teams. (This is not official yet, we’re still recapping. Barmes needs an everyday job.) Was ranked 20th as a Shortstop, 2009 Projections: 75/12/55/.270/12, Final Numbers: 69/23/76/.245/12
