By Jeff Andriesse
Rotowhine.com Editor
January 21, 2008

Each week leading up to the 2008 major league baseball regular season, Rotowhine.com will dissect the top players in both the American and National League at each key fantasy position.

Top 15 Second Basemen- American League
Second base is a typically top-heavy position and this year it looks to be a two-man race between Robinson Cano and B.J. Upton for the top guy in the AL. Upton has a ton of fantasy upside and I’m placing him at No. 1. Cano will get his as well, so the question, as always, is how deep is the position overall? And can I get anyone worthwhile if I hold off on a second baseman at my draft? The answer is: maybe. You just can’t get this kind of hard-hitting analysis anywhere else on the web, I know.

If you are in a 10-team mixed league, there should be plenty of talent available late in your draft. If you are in an AL only league, the position takes on a little more importance. There’s a pretty big dropoff as you start getting to the second half of this list.

1. B.J. Upton, TB
2007 5×5 Stats: .300 BA, 86 R, 24 HR, 82 RBI, 22 SB
Age: 23 (8/21/84)
Upton’s stats last year alone make a good enough case for him as the top 2B (despite the fact that he’ll start in center field for Tampa). Considering he missed a month of the season and it was only his first full year in the bigs… as TO would say, “get your popcorn ready.” Upton is ready to blow up.
2008 Projections: .290 BA, 99 R, 26 HR, 88 RBI, 31 SB

2. Robinson Cano, NYY
2007 5×5 Stats: .306 BA, 93 R, 19 HR, 97 RBI, 4 SB
Age: 25 (10/22/82)
Cano is what they call “sneaky-good.” On the Yankees, his numbers are pedestrian. Among second basemen, he is one of the best. Perhaps he’ll be underrated at your draft. He should improve on his stats from last year.
2008 Projections: .318 BA, 97 R, 22 HR, 103 RBI, 3 SB

3. Ian Kinsler, TEX
2007 5×5 Stats: .263 BA, 96 R, 20 HR, 61 RBI, 23 SB
Age: 25 (6/22/82)
If I was going by memory, I’d say Kinsler hit .450 last year with 60 homers and 45 steals. He somehow wasn’t that good, but he was a 20-20 performer. For a second baseman, that’s gold. I don’t think it was a fluky year for Kinsler. In fact, he missed a month with a foot injury. His stats could keep trending upwards as he’s entering his prime years. He’ll probably hit second for Texas, but that doesn’t mean what it once did as the Rangers offense is rather lame this year.
2008 Projections: .275 BA, 89 R, 24 HR, 74 RBI, 22 SB

4. Brian Roberts, BAL
2007 5×5 Stats: .290 BA, 103 R, 12 HR, 57 RBI, 50 SB
Age: 30 (10/9/77)
Roberts is a reliable second base pick. He’s a streaky hitter who has decent power. He stole 50 bases, easily a career best for him. The Cubs have been rumored to be after him all offseason. A trade shouldn’t affect his value too much. If he can’t hit more than 12 homers in Baltimore, he can’t do it anywhere.
2008 Projections: .284 BA, 99 R, 11 HR, 60 RBI, 41 SB

5. Placido Polanco, DET
2007 5×5 Stats: .341 BA, 105 R, 9 HR, 67 RBI, 7 SB
Age: 32 (10/10/75)
Polanco is a great guy to grab in the mid-to-late rounds if you have a power-heavy team. His batting average is going to be there; he’s just not great at anything else. I always shy away at my draft then get really jealous that I don’t have him. In this Detroit offense, he could score a ton of runs.
2008 Projections: .324 BA, 110 R, 10 HR, 73 RBI, 6 SB

6. Aaron Hill, TOR
2007 5×5 Stats: .291 BA, 87 R, 17 HR, 78 RBI, 4 SB
Age: 25 (3/21/82)
Hill is a borderline mixed-league starter but could make a nice middle infielder on your team. He shows decent power and can hit for average. Don’t expect much in the way of steals, but at this point you won’t find many second basemen who do more than one or two things well. This guy is solid.
2008 Projections: .296 BA, 89 R, 18 HR, 83 RBI, 5 SB

7. Howie Kendrick, LAA
2007 5×5 Stats: .323 BA, 55 R, 5 HR, 39 RBI, 5 SB
Age: 24 (7/12/83)
We’re placing Kendrick here in the hopes he will get 500 at bats this year. There’s no reason for him not to. You could do a lot worse at second base once the top guys are off the board.
2008 Projections: .313 BA, 85 R, 9 HR, 57 RBI, 10 SB

8. Dustin Pedroia, BOS
2007 5×5 Stats: .317 BA, 86 R, 8 HR, 50 RBI, 7 SB
Age: 24 (8/17/83)
The AL Rookie of the Year will be a good fantasy second baseman this season if he hits first or second in Boston’s order. His batting average is no fluke - he’s a pesky hitter who is aggressive yet hard to strike out. His power numbers will probably improve as well. He doesn’t hit enough homers or steal enough bases to be an elite option yet, though.
2008 Projections: .298 BA, 94 R, 11 HR, 64 RBI, 5 SB

9. Mark Ellis, OAK
2007 5×5 Stats: .276 BA, 84 R, 19 HR, 76 RBI, 9 SB
Age: 30 (6/6/77)
The way the A’s look like they are rebuilding, Ellis could be hitting cleanup by Opening Day. He’ll probably give you stats equal to last year, but 19 homers is asking a lot. Ellis is a decent middle infield option but keep in mind he is one streaky hitter.
2008 Projections: .264 BA, 75 R, 16 HR, 63 RBI, 8 SB

10. Jose Lopez, SEA
2007 5×5 Stats: .252 BA, 58 R, 11 HR, 62 RBI, 2 SB
Age: 24 (11/24/83)
Lopez may indeed finish the season with decent numbers, but here’s predicting getting there will be a root canal. Lopez is young and has potential, but he is a long ways away from being a fantasy option outside of the largest of leagues.
2008 Projections: .256 BA, 72 R, 13 HR, 66 RBI, 3 SB

11. Akinori Iwamura, TB
2007 5×5 Stats: .285 BA, 82 R, 7 HR, 34 RBI, 12 SB
Age: 28 (2/9/79)
Iwamura makes the move from third to second this year with the emergence of young prospect Evan Longoria and the trade of Brendan Harris to Minnesota. Iwamura was hit or miss in his first year in the big leagues. If he gains some more consistency with regular playing time, he’ll hit for a good average and be tolerable in steals.
2008 Projections: .292 BA, 89 R, 8 HR, 44 RBI, 13 SB

12. Danny Richar, CWS
2007 5×5 Stats: .230 BA, 30 R, 6 HR, 15 RBI, 1 SB
Age: 24 (6/9/83)
Richar is the starter again this year after gaining 187 at bats of experience last season, most after Tadahito Iguchi’s trade to the Phillies. Richar’s numbers projected over 500 at bats aren’t that bad. He just has to get that batting average up and steal a base or two. A longshot for fantasy relevance.
2008 Projections: .248 BA, 74 R, 13 HR, 55 RBI, 5 SB

13. Brendan Harris, MIN
2007 5×5 Stats: .286 BA, 72 R, 12 HR, 59 RBI, 4 SB
Age: 27 (8/26/80)
Harris supposedly “broke out” in Tampa Bay last year in 521 at bats, but his stats still kinda sucked overall. A trade to the Twins makes his situation very hard to predict. Nick Punto will battle him for the second base job, but Harris can move around the infield as needed. It seems a stretch that he’ll get full-time work in Minny but he could end up being a nice utility guy with good positional flexibility.
2008 Projections: .280 BA, 56 R, 11 HR, 54 RBI, 5 SB

14. Mark Grudzielanek, KC
2007 5×5 Stats: .302 BA, 70 R, 6 HR, 51 RBI, 1 SB
Age: 37 (6/30/70)
Grudzielanek is actually slated to start once again in Kansas City, proof that baseball is a game of the haves and have nots. The Royals have not a good second baseman. I’m being a little harsh, actually. The Grudzinator can hit for average, he just isn’t a fantasy possibility. Alberto Callaspo is the Royals’ future at this position.
2008 Projections: .282 BA, 62 R, 5 HR, 48 RBI, 2 SB

15. Asdrubal Cabrera, CLE
2007 5×5 Stats: .283 BA, 30 R, 3 HR, 22 RBI, 0 SB
Age: 22 (11/13/85)
Cabrera earned the starting second base job last year once the Indians gave up on Josh Barfield (much to the chagrin of fantasy owners everywhere). Barfield is but a bench guy now and Cabrera, known for his glove not his bat, will probably get the majority of playing time. This doesn’t bode well for the fantasy prospects of either guy.
2008 Projections: .269 BA, 68 R, 6 HR, 44 RBI, 3 SB

Coming Thursday (Jan. 24): Greg Fox breaks down the Top 15 National League second basemen.