Fantasy Baseball Sleepers, Deepers, Studs and Duds for Second Base...

Ahhh, second base. When did it become such a barren landscape for fantasy players? It used to be that catcher was the land of slim pickings, and maybe even shortstop, but this year the cream of the crap crop seems to exist at second base. So what do we do when faced with such a dilemma? Well, let's take a look, shall we?

Studs:
1. Alfonso Soriano - Texas Rangers : Highs: Supposedly, he just had his 29th birthday in January - but he is a Dominican, which means he might be pushing the AARP envelope anyday now for all we know. But in the land of second base shit, he's as good as we get for a diamond. Always capable of hitting 35+ HRs and close to 100RBI, 2004 was not his greatest season. This is a man that was one HR away from joining the rare 40/40 club in 2002, so to see a season where he hit only 28 HR and steal 18 bases is a disappointment. Even his number of runs dropped severely, as he fell out of the lead-off spot, and dealt with some injury issues. Already in spring training in 2005, he's complaining of hamstring issues. But, we are talking about a very potent lineup in Texas, and the possibility of him moving back to the lead-off spot. Listen, when you're talking about a position where utility men sometimes look like golden possibilities, having a guy with 40/40 potential is amazing. Do I think he does that this season? No. Do I think he's the most productive 2B and the guy with most upside? Undoubtedly. If he stays healthy and bats lead-off, expect a season of .290/30-35HR/95RBI/25steals/105runs. If he doesn't bat lead-off, lower everything except the average for him a smidge. Still the best option available. Lows: Is coming off the hamstring issues last season, and already bitching about it. Last year was an adjustment season for him by being his first not in the Yankee pinstripe. Still strikes out too much, but he's improved the past three seasons on that. He's a better plyer than he showed last year, and even last year's numbers put him near or at the top for 2B. If you want him, you'll have to draft him by the middle of round one most likely, mainly for all his potential. Don't underestimate the value in drafting him that high. When you consider some of the garbage most of your league mates will end up with at second base, Soriano gives you a strong advantage over them.

2. Jeff Kent - Los Angeles Dodgers : Highs: Six out of the last seven seasons he's had over 100 RBI, including last season, and he's the model of consistency when it comes to producing. A career .289 hitter, in 2004 he hit exactly that, though his average has gone down the past three seasons. Lows: He just celebrated his 37th birthday on March 7th, but his numbers haven't dipped too quickly as he's aged. The belief is that age hits a player one season, but there's usually warning signs the previous years. Even though his average has dipped the past three seasons, it's still been above his career average during that time, and his power numbers have remained rather solid in that same time period. The move to the Dodgers and that massive picther-friendly park won't help matters, though, and a weaker Dodger lineup than last season will hurt as well. So why does he rank second with me? Consistency, consistency, consistency --- and he plays second base, for crying out loud. He's never going to blow you away, but considering the biggest worries don't have to do with Kent, per se, but with the park and lineup around him, and considering he is a power hitting second basemen, draft him without a huge worry. He can go as late as the 7th round or later in your draft at times, and for that round, that's great value. Expect 20-25HRs/90+RBI/.280+AVG.

3. Marcus Giles - Atlanta Braves : Highs: In one full season back in 2003, he showed flashes on greatness, batting .316/21HR/69RBI and over 100 runs. Last season, injuries plagued him, but his average still showed that promise. He's still young, only 27 in May, and plays for a solid team, if it isn't spectacular on offense. He's most likely never going to jack 30+ homers and drive in 100 like Kent and Soriano can, but he can offer you solid all-around numbers for a second baseman without a second thought. A 2005 season of .310/20HRs/75RBI/90Runs isn't out of the question, if healthy. Lows: The Braves won't wow you with their offense. J.D. Drew skipped town, Javy Lopez and Gary Sheffield skipped town a year earlier, Andruw Jones has always lived below his talent level, and Chipper Jones isn't getting any younger, and all that doesn't help Giles. But he's shown he can still offer up solid numbers otherwise. His health has always had a little question mark beside it, but I'm wagreing he ramains mostly healthy this year. You'll most likely have to draft him ahead of Kent in your league if you want him, depending if you get a Kent-lover or a Giles-lover in your league. Giles can go as high as the 3rd round, but based upon his numbers, that isn't the greatest value you can get. Personally, I'd wait for Kent in a later roudn to get a better value, or see if Giles falls a couple round before I'd snatch him.

Duds:
1. Bret Boone - Seattle Mariners : Highs: In my opinion, for three seasons between 2001 and 2003, he was right there as the best 2B in baseball with Soriano. But last year he smacked into a wall the size of Kirstie Alley. If -If - everything bounces Boone's way in 2005, with a stronger and younger lineup around him in Adrian Beltre and Richie Sexson, Boone can rebound a bit from his horrible 2004. A season with an optimistic average of .270+ is possible, with 20+ homers and 85+RBI, and maybe even improved runs (90+...up from a poor 74 in 2004) and 10 steals are possible. Lows: As opposed to Kent, who seems to still be holding on - as can happen - Boone seems to be one of those players who's hit the older-age slide in his career. That's not to say he isn't valuable at second base, but his days as a second round draft pick are way over. The biggest saving grace for Boone is that Beltre and Sexson have moved into Seattle to help him out, so he doesn't become the sole focus of opposing pitchers. But, more telling is that his strikeouts have increased the past three seasons, while his doubles have dipped a bit --- and he even couldn't muster one lousy triple last year, the first time since 1992 he's gone without even one triple in a season. It's not out of the question that Boone's slide could continue. The K's are the biggest warning sign, so watch out. Why he's being drafted ahead of Giles and Kent in many leagues, I'll never know. Hold off until Kent and Giles are off the board before you grab for Boone.

2. Luis Castillo - Florida Marlins : Highs: Plays in a solid lineup with the Marlins, and if you're looking for some speed and some runs at second base, here's a solid enough option for you.... Lows: ...but which Luis Castillo are you going to get? This guy's like Martha Stewart and Jekyll & Hyde all wrapped into one, you don't know what type of hitter you're going to get. Everyone fell in love his with speed on the bases, but injuries slowed him down the past two seasons, as well as having Juan Pierre on the bases ahead of him often enough. He's never hit more than 6 HRs in a season (he did that in 2003), and is usually only good for 2 HRs a season, while he's never had more than 47 RBI in a season (he did that in 2004). He's only gone over 100 runs once in a season, and that was all the way back in 2000. So, unless you're expecting a career year, don't even expect any power numbers. If the guy doesn't steal 35+ bases, he's a bust in my book since he's not giving you any power. And his average is no certainty to be above .300, so you can't even hold onto that. Expect a season of .290+/3HRs/45RBI/95Runs/25 steals. But when compared to what else is available, I wouldn't draft him unless he was sitting there like a broke man on the side of the road in Las Vegas waiting for someone to draft him in the 20th round.

Sleepers:
1. Chase Utley - Philadelphia Phillies : Highs: Here's a guy who was a first round pick in the 2000 draft, #15 overall, who finally got some solid playing time in 2004. In only 267 at-bats, he hit 13HRs and 57RBI. Double those at-bats for an entire season, and hey now, those are some pretty good numbers he's putting up. Philly has an under-performing lineup, especially with Pat Burrell getting more hits with the ladies he's bagging off the field than hits he's getting on it. But Utley does play in the sweet hitter's haven in Philly, and if the lineup can maintain a pulse, AND he doesn't sputter like many young players, he's a guy you might want to draft in the middle to late teen rounds (say, 16th to 18th round) and hold him on your bench to see if he explodes. He very well might. Lows: He's young. His average is still only in the .260+ range, but that can improve with time. (Though, let's hope he doesn't look to Pat Burrell for hitting advice.) He'll have his slumps like all hitters, especially young hitters, do. But he's not going to hurt drafting in the middle teen rounds, and his upside is fantastic. Hell, trade for him on the cheap if you don't draft him. Most likely his owner is blase over Utley's pedigree, and just think's he a guy with an odd first name who only hit 13 homers last year, while ignoring how many at-bats Utley did that in.

2. Mark Bellhorn - Boston Red Sox : Highs: Let's see, he plays in a hitters park, in a lineup that's set records for two straight years, has a great OBP, qualifies in most leagues at two positions (though you shouldn't need him at 3B unless for an emergency), and when he gets to play a full season he puts up solid numbers very, very quietly. He's a guy who walks as much as he strikes out, but in that Red Sox lineup, no matter where he hits, he's good for 90+ runs and 80+ RBI. In his only other full season - with the Cubs in 2002 - he hit 27 homers. He might go undrafted in your league, but that's mildly bizarre when you look at the facts and stats. Lows: The biggest gripe with Bellhorn is that he takes too many pitches, which inevitably leads to him striking out a great deal, but also leads him to get on base via the walk...which leads to him scoring runs for the Red Sox and for you. His average is always his Achilles heal, but 3 our of four categories isn't bad for a sleeper that would otherwise go undrafted. And if he could cut down on his Ks, he might even help you in average as well. Without having to battle Pokey Reese for playing time this season, he should see even more playing time than in 2004. He does only have two full seasons under his belt, but he played through some mild injuries last season, so you should expect the same again this year. A season of .260+(.280+ if he lowers the Ks)/20HRs/75-90RBI and 90+Runs is possible easily with a healthy year.

Deepers:
1. D'Angelo Jimenez - Cincinnati Reds : Highs: Here's a guy who's been around more in his young life than Paris Hilton. But unlike Ms. Hilton, Jimenez actually has some talent. Most likely he's going to go undrafted in any fantasy baseball draft you partake in this year, but he offers great value for that position. 2004 offered Jimenez's first full season with one team, and he offered up 12HRs and 67RBI in an injury-riddled lineup. Splitting time between the White Sox and Reds in 2003, he offered up 14HRs and 57RBI. He's only 27, was once a nice prospect in the Yankees system, and is just entering his prime. Now given a chance to play full-time, he should be good for a .280/14HR/70+RBI season. For a guy that won't even get drafted in your league, that's fantastic valie. Lows: Since he's not of the stellar quality, none of his stats will jump off the page. He started off 2004 massively slowly, and history shows he's a second half of the year type hitter. Don't give up on him if his April and May leave something to be desired. He always has something left in the tank for the second half.

Other Quality Options at Second Base:
1. Mark Loretta - San Diego Padres : Highs: Like a fine wine, Loretta keeps getting better with age. Since he's not a power hitter, but more of a slap kind of guy, we don't have any concerns. The relative power numbers have come on of late, in the past two seasons. They have been his only seasons of double digit homers. But history shows that he's always been a quality average guy, so batting another .300 is definitely reasonable. Lows: The ony reason he doesn't get Stud status is the upside. We've seen Loretta's upside already in his career, and he still isn't playing in a better park, and he's still stuck with the same injury-laden lineup, so we can only support the guy so much. A .300/10+HRs/75RBI season is possible., with maybe 90 to 100 runs. The biggest problem is round value with Loretta. You'd have to draft him anywhere from the 5th to 7th round to get him. When you consider some other options available as many as 10 rounds or more later, is Loretta worth it? That's where you make your decision.

2. Ray Durham - San Francisco Giants : Highs: Here's a guy who was supposed to have been a victim of an injury-marred season in 2004. So let's look at the numbers and forget the stereotypes, shall we? He still scored 95 runs (not bad), had 17HR (pretty good), batted .282 (looks nice), and had 65 RBI with 10 steals. This is a guy who hasn't hit below his career batting average (.279) since 2001, when he batted .267. If he could have a fully healthy season without any hammy problems, then it's more than possible for him to get back to his days of stealing 25+ bases. Even so, he's greatly undervalued. And what's the massive difference between him and Loretta other than 10 to 15 rounds in a draft? Lows: Probably injuries, that's what. And stereotypes that you're always injured. And getting traded often from one team to another, so people forget what you've done in the past. He's the same age as Loretta, and it's not as if he can't have a comparable season. For the value he'll offer where he'd be drafted, why not take a gamble in the very end of your draft on him?

3. Chone Figgins - Los Angeles Angels /// Ryan Freel - Cincinnati Reds : Highs: The battle between the two guys in baseball trying to qualify at the most positons and also steal bases. Figgins is the better overall value here, as he's most likely going to get the at-bats to offer up the better overall stats. That said, in full-time, Freel will probably steal more bases. And the way the Reds become injured, he'll still get around 400 ABs I'd say. Neither guy is going to jack up some huge power numbers, but if you need some runs and steals and a fill-in at a various spot on your roster, these guys can be helpful. Lows: The lack of a certain spot in the field, especially for Freel, doesn't help. And Figgins is the favorite to get you more RBI when all is said and done. But if you're looking for some cheap steals and some depth help, these two will do nicely.

4. Jose Reyes - New York Mets : Highs: Looked upon as the next great infielder, the man has not stayed healthy at all in his short career. If anything, if he can stay healthy he's good for upwards of 40 to 50 stolen bases and a solid enough average with some runs thrown in as well. Lows: But can he ever stay healthy? When doing any draft, you have to take some risks on some players, whether it be age or injury. With Reyes and his untold amount of past injuries, can he stay healthy? You'll have to draft him from about the 5th or 6th round, or maybe he'll fall to about the 8th, but it's a risk you'll have to wager on. He can be a great help for steals, but can he keep his hamstring from snapping again?

5. Jose Vidro - Washington Nationals /// Juan Uribe - Chicago White Sox /// Julio Lugo - Tampa Bay Devil Rays : Highs: In short, Uribe had a career year in 2004 after he left Colorado (odd), Vidro is the most consistent, but has injury issues, and Lugo plays in the hell that is Tampa, but puts up pretty good numbers when he isn't beating his wife. Lows: Can Uribe maintain that upswing in his career post-Rockies? (I say he comes back to earth a bit.) Can Vidro shake the injury bug and go back to his days as a solid option for a second baseman? (I say he can.) And can Julio Lugo maintain his relative anonymity in Tampa Bay while still being a solid option at 2B? (I say why not?) My projections on their upcoming seasons: Uribe: .270/18HR/68RBI/10+steals --- Vidro: .305/15HR/75RBI --- Lugo: .275/10HR/65RBI/15steals.