Second Base rankings | LestersLegends.com

2013 Fantasy Baseball NL-Only Second Base Rankings

10 March 2013

.
Here’s the 2013 LestersLegends Second Base Rankings for NL-Only Leagues.
.
1. Brandon Phillips, Cincinnati Reds
Phillips has averaged 87.1 runs, 20.3 home runs, 80.4 RBI and 21.4 stolen bases over the past seven years while hitting .280. He won’t give you elite numbers in any category, but he’s solid across the board.
.
2. Aaron Hill, Arizona Diamondbacks
Hill put his nightmare 2011 season behind him and hit 26 home runs last year, giving him at least that many long balls in three of the past four seasons. Hill’s .302-93-26-86-14 was one of the best among second basemen.
.
3. Rickie Weeks, Milwaukee Brewers
Batting average isn’t his strength, but the .230 that Weeks hit was, well, weak. He should hit about 20 point higher and produce around a .250-85-20-60-15 line.
.
4. Dan Uggla, Atlanta Braves
With Uggla you have to deal with a poor average, but he’ll provide solid numbers in runs, home runs and runs batted in.
.
5. Danny Espinosa, Washington Nationals
Espinosa is a career .239 hitter so you’ll have to live with that liability. He has averaged 19 home runs and 18.5 stolen bases the past two seasons so he’s rock solid in those two categories.
.
6. Neil Walker, Pittsburgh Pirates
Walker is a solid little player. Over the past three seasons he has averaged a .282-65-13-73-6 line. He doesn’t stand out in a particular category, but he’s a steady performer.
.
7. Chase Utley, Philadelphia Phillies
Once upon a time Utley was the best second baseman in all of baseball. He’s been on the decline for the past three seasons. He’s good for double-digit home runs and stolen bases if he can stay healthy. He’s averaged just 100 games over the past three seasons.
.
8. Marco Scutaro, San Francisco Giants
Scutaro is 37 so the upside is minimal. He should contribute in the batting average, runs and RBI categories. He doesn’t offer much power and speed, but is a decent middle infielder option
.
9. Martin Prado, Arizona Diamondbacks
Prado is a versatile option to target if you’re looking more for batting average than power. He tends to provide decent run and RBI totals. Last year he stole 17 bases after stealing just 13 in his first 227 games. I’d figure on a .300-80-12-65-10 line.
.
.
Also check out:

No Comments

2013 Fantasy Baseball AL-Only Second Base Rankings

9 March 2013

.
Here’s the 2013 LestersLegends Second Base Rankings for AL-Only Leagues.
.
1. Robinson Cano, New York Yankees
Cano was tops among second basemen in runs, home runs, RBI and batting average. He has as much of a stranglehold on the position as any player in the league.
.
2. Ian Kinsler, Texas Rangers
Kinsler has averaged 156 games the past two seasons and has played in at least 144 games in three of the past four years. His batting average has become the biggest issue rather than his health. Kinsler delivers an elite amount of runs and home runs, as well as a solid amount of RBI and stolen bases.
.
3. Dustin Pedroia, Boston Red Sox
Pedroia took a step back last year with a .290-81-15-65-20 line in 141 games. He’s a strong bet to be among the leaders in all five categories once again.
.
4. Ben Zobrist, Tampa Bay Rays
Zobrist can be used at second base, shortstop, and outfield, which gives him great versatility. He isn’t a big average guy, but his .270 mark last year was solid. Over the past four seasons he has averaged 88.8 runs, 19.3 HRs, 82.8 RBI and 18.5 stolen bases.
.
5. Jason Kipnis, Cleveland Indians
Kipnis had a solid first half, hitting 11 home runs with a .764 OPS. His dismal second half (three home runs, .650 OPS) soiled his first full season. Still, Kipnis finished with 86 runs, 76 RBI and 31 stolen bases.
.
6. Jose Altuve, Houston Astros
You’ll have to look elsewhere for power, but Altuve should provide a solid average, along with an ample amount of runs and stolen bases.
.
7. Howie Kendrick, Los Angeles Angels
There is nothing flashy about Kendrick, but he should be a solid contributor in all five 5×5 categories. The Angels should have a potent lineup in 2013 so a solid year should be in the cards.
.
8. Dustin Ackley, Seattle Mariners
Ackley will turn 25 this week. He nearly doubled his at bats last year and his run, home run, RBI and stolen base totals nearly matched that same proportion. Unfortunately his average fell from .273 to .226. His BABIP was .265, which was 74 points lower than his 2011 mark. He should see improvement in that category, which should help his average and his counting stats.
.
9. Emilio Bonifacio, Toronto Blue Jays
Bonifacio plays all over the place so his positional flexibility may be his primary benefit. That and his ability to steal bases.
.
10. Kyle Seager, Seattle Mariners
Seager plays third base, but played second in 18 games last year which gives him flexibility. He also quietly posted a modest .259-62-20-86-13 line. He has some decent pop and should benefit from the changes made to Safeco Field.
.
11. Omar Infante, Detroit Tigers
Infante does not excel in any category, but he’s solid across the board.
.
.
Also check out:

No Comments

| Posted by LestersLegends | Categories: fantasy baseball, fantasy baseball rankings, MLB | Tagged: 2013 2B rankings, 2013 fantasy baseball rankings, 2013 Second Base rankings, 2B rankings, fantasy baseball, fantasy baseball rankings, MLB, Second Base rankings |

2013 Fantasy Baseball Additional Second Base Options

25 February 2013

.
We already looked at the LestersLegends’ top 10 fantasy baseball second basemen for 2013, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t additional options if you choose to wait on filling your second base slot to address other positions. Alternatively, many leagues offer middle infield slots, which put these options on your radar.
.
Dustin Ackley, Seattle Mariners
Ackley will turn 25 this week. He nearly doubled his at bats last year and his run, home run, RBI and stolen base totals nearly matched that same proportion. Unfortunately his average fell from .273 to .226. His BABIP was .265, which was 74 points lower than his 2011 mark. He should see improvement in that category, which should help his average and his counting stats.
.
Danny Espinosa, Washington Nationals
Espinosa is a career .239 hitter so you’ll have to live with that liability. He has averaged 19 home runs and 18.5 stolen bases the past two seasons so he’s rock solid in those two categories.
.
Howie Kendrick, Los Angeles Angels
There is nothing flashy about Kendrick, but he should be a solid contributor in all five 5×5 categories. The Angels should have a potent lineup in 2013 so a solid year should be in the cards.
.
Marco Scutaro, San Francisco Giants
Scutaro is 37 so the upside is minimal. He should contribute in the batting average, runs and RBI categories. He doesn’t offer much power and speed, but is a decent middle infielder option.
.
Chase Utley, Philadelphia Phillies
Once upon a time Utley was the best second baseman in all of baseball. He’s been on the decline for the past three seasons. He’s good for double-digit home runs and stolen bases if he can stay healthy. He’s averaged just 100 games over the past three seasons.
.
Neil Walker, Pittsburgh Pirates
Walker is a solid little player. Over the past three seasons he has averaged a .282-65-13-73-6 line. He doesn’t stand out in a particular category, but he’s a steady performer.
.
Rickie Weeks, Milwaukee Brewers
Weeks reached the 20-HR mark for the third straight season, but hit just .230. He’s a solid contributor in the runs and stolen bases categories. He’s still a solid fantasy option.
.
.
Also check out:

No Comments

| Posted by LestersLegends | Categories: fantasy baseball, fantasy baseball rankings, MLB | Tagged: 2013 2B rankings, 2013 fantasy baseball rankings, 2013 Second Base rankings, 2B rankings, fantasy baseball, fantasy baseball rankings, MLB, Second Base rankings |

2013 Fantasy Baseball Second Base Rankings

23 January 2013

.
Here’s the first look at the 2013 LestersLegends Second Base Rankings.
.
1. Robinson Cano, New York Yankees
Cano was tops among second basemen in runs, home runs, RBI and batting average. He has as much of a stranglehold on the position as any player in the league.
.
2. Ian Kinsler, Texas Rangers
Kinsler has averaged 156 games the past two seasons and has played in at least 144 games in three of the past four years. His batting average has become the biggest issue rather than his health. Kinsler delivers an elite amount of runs and home runs, as well as a solid amount of RBI and stolen bases.
.
3. Brandon Phillips, Cincinnati Reds
Phillips has averaged 87.1 runs, 20.3 home runs, 80.4 RBI and 21.4 stolen bases over the past seven years while hitting .280. He won’t give you elite numbers in any category, but he’s solid across the board.
.
4. Dustin Pedroia, Boston Red Sox
Pedroia took a step back last year with a .290-81-15-65-20 line in 141 games. He’s a strong bet to be among the leaders in all five categories once again.
.
5. Ben Zobrist, Tampa Bay Rays
Zobrist can be used at second base, shortstop, and outfield, which gives him great versatility. He isn’t a big average guy, but his .270 mark last year was solid. Over the past four seasons he has averaged 88.8 runs, 19.3 HRs, 82.8 RBI and 18.5 stolen bases.
.
6. Aaron Hill, Arizona Diamondbacks
Hill put his nightmare 2011 season behind him and hit 26 home runs last year, giving him at least that many long balls in three of the past four seasons. Hill’s .302-93-26-86-14 was one of the best among second basemen.
.
7. Jason Kipnis, Cleveland Indians
Kipnis had a solid first half, hitting 11 home runs with a .764 OPS. His dismal second half (three home runs, .650 OPS) soiled his first full season. Still, Kipnis finished with 86 runs, 76 RBI and 31 stolen bases.
.
8. Rickie Weeks, Milwaukee Brewers
Batting average isn’t his strength, but the .230 that Weeks hit was, well, weak. He should hit about 20 point higher and produce around a .250-85-20-60-15 line.
.
9. Jose Altuve, Houston Astros
You’ll have to look elsewhere for power, but Altuve should provide a solid average, along with an ample amount of runs and stolen bases.
.
10. Dan Uggla, Atlanta Braves
With Uggla you have to deal with a poor average, but he’ll provide solid numbers in runs, home runs and runs batted in.
.
.
Also check out:

2 Comments

| Posted by LestersLegends | Categories: fantasy baseball, fantasy baseball rankings, MLB | Tagged: 2013 2B rankings, 2013 fantasy baseball rankings, 2013 Second Base rankings, 2B rankings, fantasy baseball, fantasy baseball rankings, MLB, Second Base rankings |

2012 Fantasy Baseball NL-Only Second Base Rankings

13 March 2012

Be sure to enter the 2012 Fantasy Baseball Team Name Contest
.
.

.
Here’s the 2012 LestersLegends Second Base Rankings for NL-Only Leagues.
.
1. Brandon Phillips, Cincinnati Reds: Phillips was Dustin Pedroia lite. His .300-94-18-82-14 line is solid across the board. Nothing elite, but he doesn’t harm you anywhere.
.
2. Dan Uggla, Atlanta Braves: Uggla was ugly for the Braves hitting .233. He did score 88 runs, slug 36 HRs, and drive in 82 runs though. He also hit .296 with a .948 OPS after the All-Star Break. Things are going to get better.
.
3. Chase Utley, Philadelphia Phillies: Utley is 33 and has missed 106 games in the past two seasons. His health is clearly a concern. So is the fact that his OPS has decreased every year since 2007.
.
4. Rickie Weeks, Milwaukee Brewers: Losing Prince Fielder puts a damper on Milwaukee’s offense, but at least Ryan Braun avoided suspension. Weeks posted a .269-77-20-49-9 line. He’ll likely be in line to drive in more runs this year.
.
5. Neil Walker, Pittsburgh Pirates: Walker proved his .296-57-12-66-2 2010 line wasn’t a fluke by posting a .273-76-12-83-9 line last year.
.
6. Omar Infante, Miami Marlins: The re-made Marlins feature Jose Reyes and Hanley Ramirez. He had a down year by his recent standards, but should post solid numbers, especially in the batting average category.
.
7. Danny Espinosa, Washington Nationals: Granted his .236 average isn’t making anybody happy, but he was one of five second basemen with 20 HRs and 15 stolen bases last year.
.
8. Aaron Hill, Arizona Diamondbacks: Hill posted a .246-61-8-61-21 line for the year. The change of scenery also served him well as he hit .315 with 23 runs, two HRs, 16 RBI, and five stolen bases in his 33 games for Arizona. He has the power, but has now combined to hit .225 the past two seasons.
.
9. Ryan Roberts, Arizona Diamondbacks: Roberts plays third base, but has second base eligibility. He posted a solid .249-86-19-65-18 line. He was up and down though and his numbers tailed off at the end of the year.
.
10. Darwin Barney, Chicago Cubs: He had a terrific first half hitting .306 with 40 runs in 294 at bats for the Cubs. Unfortunately he hit a wall, and hit .238 with 26 runs in 235 second half at bats. He provides little power or speed so he’s not an ideal option.
.
11. Jose Altuve, Houston Astros: He is hampered by being in the Astros’ lineup, but he has the potential to hit .300 with 20+ stolen bases.
.
12. Daniel Murphy, New York Mets: Has multiple-position eligibility (1B, 2B, 3B) and coming off a solid .320-49-6-49-5 season.
.
.
Also check out:

No Comments

| Posted by LestersLegends | Categories: fantasy baseball, fantasy baseball rankings, MLB | Tagged: 2012 2B rankings, 2012 Second Base rankings, 2B rankings, fantasy baseball, fantasy baseball rankings, MLB, NL Only rankings, Second Base rankings |

2012 Fantasy Baseball AL-Only Second Base Rankings

12 March 2012

Be sure to enter the 2012 Fantasy Baseball Team Name Contest
.
.

.
Here’s the 2012 LestersLegends Second Base Rankings for AL-Only Leagues.
.
1. Robinson Cano, New York Yankees: No way he’s moving from the top of the class after posting a .302-104-28-118-8 line. Not getting the stolen bases you need from a second basemen? Make it up elsewhere.
.
2. Dustin Pedroia, Boston Red Sox: If Cano wasn’t sooo good, Pedroia could have a shot at number one. There is nothing to be ashamed of his .307-102-21-91-26 line. He was good for everything last year.
.
3. Ian Kinsler, Texas Rangers: The ultimate Risk/Reward option. When he can stay healthy he delivers. His .255 average makes you cringe, but his 121 runs, 32 HRs, 77 RBI, and 30 SBs more than make up for it.
.
4. Ben Zobrist, Tampa Bay Rays: Zobrist bounced back from an ugly .238-77-10-75-24 2010 to a solid .269-99-20-91-19 2011 season. As long as he isn’t one of those players that alternates good and bad year, you should be fine.
.
5. Dustin Ackley, Seattle Mariners: Ackley had some high expectations and delivered for the most part. Despite a .219 September he finished with a .273-39-6-36-6 line in 90 games.
.
6. Howie Kendrick, Los Angeles Angeles: His .285-86-18-63-14 was solid. Add Albert Pujols to the mix and he should be even better in 2012.
.
7. Jason Kipnis, Cleveland Indians: Kipnis’ cup of coffee went very well as he hit .272 with 24 runs, seven HRs, 19 RBI, and five stolen bases in 136 at bats.
.
8. Jemile Weeks, Oakland A’s: Weeks is your stolen base specialist. In 97 games he swiped 22 bases in 97 games. He didn’t just steal bases though as he hit .303 with 50 runs. He’ll basically be a three category player, but there is value in that.
.
9. Kelly Johnson, Toronto Blue Jays: Johnson, despite hitting .222 last year, scored 75 runs, hit 21 HRs, had 58 RBI, and stole 16 bases. In 33 games with Toronto he hit .270 with 16 runs, three HRs, nine RBI, and three stolen bases. He posted a .284-93-26-71-13 line in 2010 so a return to form in his new home isn’t out of the question.
.
10. Ryan Raburn, Detroit Tigers: Raburn gives you second base, outfield, and possibly third base eligibility. He had decent pop with 14 HRs in 387 at bats, but his .256-53-14-49-1 line doesn’t exactly jump out at you.
.
11. Gordon Beckham, Chicago White Sox: Beckham struggled again for the White Sox posting a .230-60-10-44-5 line. He did hit 14 HRs in 378 at bats as a rookie in 2009, but has failed to meet that standard in the past two seasons.
.
12. Brian Roberts, Baltimore Orioles: His age and injury history concern me. He is a serious risk and I’m not sure the rewards are worth it anymore.
.
.
Also check out:

No Comments

| Posted by LestersLegends | Categories: fantasy baseball, fantasy baseball rankings, MLB | Tagged: 2012 2B rankings, 2012 Second Base rankings, 2B rankings, AL Only rankings, fantasy baseball, fantasy baseball rankings, MLB, Second Base rankings |

2012 Fantasy Baseball Additional Second Base Options

1 February 2012

Be sure to enter the 2012 Fantasy Baseball Team Name Contest
.
.

Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images North America
.
We already looked at the LestersLegends’ top 15 fantasy baseball second basemen for 2012, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t additional options if you choose to wait on filling your second base slot to address other positions. Alternatively, many leagues offer middle infield slots, which put these options on your radar.
.
If you are looking for power out of the second base slot, Kelly Johnson and Aaron Hill,who were ironically swapped for each other last year can both answer the call. They aren’t without their shortcomings though.
.
Johnson is my preference of the two despite hitting .222 last year. He scored 75 runs, hit 21 HRs, had 58 RBI, and stole 16 bases. In 33 games with Toronto he hit .270 with 16 runs, three HRs, nine RBI, and three stolen bases. He posted a .284-93-26-71-13 line in 2010 so a return to form in his new home isn’t out of the question.
.
Hill posted a .246-61-8-61-21 line for the year. The change of scenery also served him well as he hit .315 with 23 runs, two HRs, 16 RBI, and five stolen bases in his 33 games for Arizona. He has the power, but has now combined to hit .225 the past two seasons.
.
Hill’s teammate Ryan Roberts plays third base, but has second base eligibility. He posted a solid .249-86-19-65-18 line. He was up and down though and his numbers tailed off at the end of the year.
.
Detroit’s Ryan Raburn gives you second base, outfield, and possibly third base eligibility. He had decent pop with 14 HRs in 387 at bats, but his .256-53-14-49-1 line doesn’t exactly jump out at you.
.
Another option that was solid at times last year was Darwin Barney. He had a terrific first half hitting .306 with 40 runs in 294 at bats for the Cubs. Unfortunately he hit a wall, and hit .238 with 26 runs in 235 second half at bats. He provides little power or speed so he’s not an ideal option.
.
Gordon Beckham struggled again for the White Sox posting a .230-60-10-44-5 line. He did hit 14 HRs in 378 at bats as a rookie in 2009, but has failed to meet that standard in the past two seasons.
.
.