Second Basemen:
1. Chase Utley
With three straight all-star caliber seasons at second base, Chase Utley has placed himself among the fantasy baseball
elite. At age 30 we are seeing Chase Utley in his offensive prime and expect even more from him in 2008. An improving rate
of walks to strikeouts, as well as rising batting averages, slugging and on-base percentages, and by making necessary
adjustments, all make Utley a first round fantasy pick this season. Expert leagues are seeing Chase chosen among the top
ten overall picks and he reigns supreme as best second basemen in, not just the National League, but in all of baseball.
Undeniably number one second baseman.
2. Brandon Phillips
Amazing what a change of address can do for your career. Now signed to a lengthy and lucrative contract by Cincinnati,
Phillips was all but written off by the Cleveland Indians. Becoming a Red breathed new life into Brandon, who is now a
credible 30/30 threat in the middle infield entering 2008. With a solid campaign in 2008, Phillips could enter 2009 atop all
available second basemen. With Adam Dunn, Ken Griffey, Jr., Joey Votto, and Edwin Encarnacion as protection, and the
potential addition of Jay Bruce in center field, Brandon Phillips will be given every shot for an encore peformance in ’08.
3. Dan Uggla
At first glance, 2007 looks like a step backward for Dan Uggla. In reality, Uggla flashed more power than the previous
season in avoiding a sophomore slump. With two seasons of solid home run and RBI totals, Uggla has earned his place
among top picks up the middle. For a Florida lineup suffering a Miguel Cabrera-deficiency, Uggla should be a mainstay at
the top of the order. Although he is leaps and bounds away from ousting Utley as a top second baseman, Dan Uggla has
become a reliable source of 25-30 homers and 80-90 RBI from a typically offensively-anemic fantasy position.
4. Kelly Johnson
Moved by Atlanta brass to second base, Kelly Johnson flourished in 2008. Always a serviceable Moneyball second
baseman, Johnson established himself as a fantasy contributor to fans and virtual general managers in 2007. With
significant talent and a pedigree of modest power, Johnson has emerged as more than a warm body at second base for
your fantasy team. With 20 home run power and a solid lineup to protect him, Kelly Johnson is unquestionably the fourth
best second baseman in the National League entering 2008.
5. Rickie Weeks
In every race there’s an underdog – a darkhorse. In Rickie Weeks you get your dark horse. Few in the player pool have the
kind of fantasy potential that Weeks has. If healthy and locked-in from the start, it is entirely feasible that Rickie Weeks
could smack 20 homers and steal 30-40 bases. The reason he remains below Kelly Johnson and just a snippet above
AARP-member Jeff Kent at second base, is his injury history. Buyer beware – but the upside is undeniable in Rickie Weeks.
6. Jeff Kent
Card-carrying AARP member Jeff Kent has done nothing less than present fantasy general managers with a 20-30 home
run hitter at second base for the better part of a decade. Kent will enter 2008 a 40 year old, and as such we feel Kent is
best distilled as an injury risk with minimal upside. But, if you can root out alternative sources of 20 homers at second base
that can be gotten as cheaply, we challenge you to draft them. But in an NL only format, Kent is assured the number six
ranked second baseman.
7. Felipe Lopez
Apparently, the best way to reduce a rising star and promising infielder to barely-serviceable is to have them play half their
games at RFK stadium. With a new stadium and entering 2008 at age 27, Felipe Lopez carries some expectation of a
rebound in 2008. Although we don’t expect the intriguing 20 home run power he possessed before being dealt to the
Nationals, Lopez might still be capable of 10-15 homers and 30 steals. Beware Nick Johnson and Andruw Jones, Felipe
Lopez may make his run at fantasy Comeback-Player-of-the-Year in ’08!
8. Orlando Hudson
With Chris Burke breathing down his neck during 2008 threatening to turn second base into a platoon, Orlando Hudson will
have to play well to keep his starting job. At 30 years of age, Orlando Hudson is unlikely to break out for a huge 2008 but is
still young enough to surprise detractors. With only 3 homers after the all-star break last season, Hudson appears poised
for a mediocre ’08. If healthy, however, there are plenty of worse options at second base. But, when you draft or purchase-
at-auction Orlando Hudson, you now do so with the expectation of 10-15 homers, 10 or fewer steals, and a 275-290
average.
9. Freddy Sanchez
One of the few Pirates worth a look in deeper fantasy leagues, Sanchez is intriguing. Although his batting average,
slugging, and on-base percentages all dipped in 2008, Freddy battling through injuries and actually hit more homers in his
third season in Pittsburgh. Don’t expect 20 homers, but Freddy Sanchez is still only 30 years old and is coming off of a
tremendous second half effort to end ’08 where he hit 9 homers and batted .313. Think 12-16 homers if he’s healthy and
don’t hold your breath on a stolen base.
10. Luis Castillo
When the NY Mets want their man, they get their man. In some instances, it's a few years too late. Such is the case with
Luis Castillo who no longer offers much more than average -- either on the big league field or the digital field. Luis enters
this season at 32, and while some speedsters age by increasing their power as their legs diminish, such does not help Luis:
multiplying zero by anything is still zero power. Healthy or not, and Luis has remained remarkably healthy, Luis provides
the .300 batting average year after year. However that is bound to change, as is Luis's health streak, and we wouldn't want
to bet on either -- unless your NL-only league somehow forgets that Luis made the jump to the Senior Circuit at last year's
trading deadline. There are always the steals of course, Luis is firmly entrenched in the 20-per-year category, but unless
Luis is the back end of a double steal with Jose Reyes it is likely he'll be asked to not take many risks with the big boppers
batting behind him.
11. Mark DeRosa
New Jersey native Mark DeRosa had a solid, if unspectacular 2007, despite expectations that a move to Wrigley Field
would only continue his trend of rising power. Always fighting the label of “utility-infielder,” DeRosa ended the season vying
for playing time in outfield and around the diamond, following the rise of hot-hitting Mike Fontenot. DeRosa enters 2008
tabbed as the started at second base, yet again, but it is hard to rely upon this 32 year old for a full season of productivity
much less a breakthrough of 15-20 homers. Expect 10-12 and enjoy the fact that, by year’s end, Mark DeRosa may well
positionally qualify at pitcher, catcher, and batting coach also.
12. Kaz Matsui
How do you inject life into your failing career? Move to Coors Field and stay healthy. Matsui played in the most games since
his rookie year and batted .330 at Coors during 2007. An away average of .249 and a move to Houston signals trouble for
this 32 year old, fading option at second base. There is cause for concern about an ailing back which routinely shelves Kaz
throughout his major league career. And without hitter-friendly Coors Field to round him up, you are looking at a candidate
to bust in 2008. The silver lining in all of this, with the retirement of Craig Biggio and signing of Kaz Matsui, is that Mark
Loretta’s stock appears on the rise.
13. Ray Durham
Ray Durham batted .218 in 2007. That’s right….218. A sore shoulder limited Durham in ’07 and he says it is still bothering
him entering ’08. It’s hard to endorse a player that is 36 years old, who has become a perpetual injury risk, and appeared
to bottom out last season. We expect a slight rebound from Ray Durham as his offensive talent has never been in doubt.
But, with an anemic .165 average after the all-star break and in the twilight of his career, we expect Durham to be either
supplanted by a younger option or to post about the same numbers with a slight rebound in average.
Traditionally speaking, second base has been a difficult position to stash offense. The days of Ryne Sandberg as the lone
offensive threat in the middle infield have been supplanted by the glory days of Brandon Phillips, Chase Utley, Dan Uggla,
Rickie Weeks, and Kelly Johnson atop the leader board. Second base is deeper than years past, so draft and auction
accordingly.
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