Welcome back guys. Today we?re going to look at a position traditionally looked at as hopeless. Nobody expects much out of a second baseman, but almost surprisingly it looks like this changing. While this group doesn?t go exceedingly deep (there are really only 7 or 8 good options), you should be okay if you go in with the right strategy. The way I see it, there are three different strategies that you can use when drafting second basemen. The first is to use a pick in the 20s or early 30s on one of the top four guys in this list (look below to see who they are). This can work out well because you get excellent production around the board with all of these guys and there is a gap between the 20 or so elite players and the next group. The second strategy would be to use a early-to-middle round pick on numbers 5 through 7, who as I mentioned above are still good fantasy options. I wouldn?t expect anyone from this group to be around past 75, so if you?re looking, make sure to strike then. After that, if you don?t have a second baseman, it?s really not worth taking one until the last part of the draft. There is such a small difference between the guys at the end of the top 10 and the man at #16 (Placido Polanco), you can use your picks better than taking Tad Iguchi in the ninth. I might add that that is an opportune time to draft a closer or starting pitcher, but we?ll save that for another day. Let?s stick to the second basemen, and while we?re at it, let?s take a closer look. 1. Chase Utley ? Age: 27 ? 2005 Stats: 93 Rs/28 HRs/105 RBIs/16 SBs/.291 AVG Some people are still riding Alfonso Soriano this year, which can be justified by his r?sum?, but I think there?s a new king in town. At 27, Utley, who was picked last year by many as a sleeper, is still emerging and coming into his own. His power potential for a second baseman is excellent and Utley hits in the top part of what is fast becoming one of the best lineups in the majors. Last year was his first full season, and even then he was slightly hindered by Charlie Manuel?s insistence on a platoon involving Placido Polanco as well, which sounds as ridiculous to me as it does to you. Utley should end up as the only second baseman this year to score 100 runs, hit 30 home runs and reach 100 RBIs. On top of that he will contribute a decent amount of steals to your total and hit upwards of .280. This guy just has no weakness to be found. 2. Chone Figgins ? Age: 28 ? 2005 Stats: 113 Rs/8 HRs/57 RBIs/62 SBs/.290 AVG One thing you have to accept when talking about Chone Figgins is that he?s not going to hit many home runs for you, or drive in an especially high number of runs. Once we look past that, you realize he is the top source of runs at his position and also by far the best base stealer (Figgins had 62 steals last year, next was Ryan Freel with 36). In two of the categories that are harder to get production from, Figgins stands out from the field. On top of that, he can hit for average with the other top second basemen, hitting .290 or over each of the last three years. Figgins? value gets a final boost with his flexibility. A jack-of-all-trades, he is eligible to play third base and outfield as well, allowing you to fill a hole as a backup there as well. This guy shouldn?t be allowed to go anywhere past 25. 3. Jeff Kent ? Age: 38 ? 2005 Stats: 100 Rs/29 HRs/105 RBIs/6 SBs/.289 AVG Third on this list may be a little bit of a surprise to the readers out there as they wonder why Soriano wasn?t in the picture here. Soriano will come soon enough. In the mean time we have in front of us a player in Jeff Kent who is fast putting himself in HOF consideration, with year after incredible year of All-Star caliber production. Kent is a virtual lock to hit 25 home runs, drive in 100 RBIs and hit for a .285 average or better. With a newly beefed up Dodgers lineup his numbers could go up even more. Kent also comes with 100 run potential and while he is below average in the SB category for second basemen he isn?t a complete non-factor there. As an added bonus he carries 1B eligibility giving you a little more flexibility with your lineup. Lastly, I say to hell with his age. Someday Jeff Kent is going to break down, but with the great consistency he?s demonstrated, it could prove to be detrimental more than anything else to predict his decline. 4. Alfonso Soriano ? Age: 30 ? 2005 Stats: 102 Rs/36 HRs/104 RBIs/30 SBs/.268 AVG Finally we see the former heavyweight champion of the second base class. Looking just at last year?s numbers, let alone his career stats you?d think I?m crazy. Hold on though. Soriano started off in a stacked Yankees lineup and moved on to another strong lineup with the Rangers who also play at one of the most hitter friendly parks in the league. While surely he will adjust, Soriano will now instead be playing on the Washington Nationals who boast (if you want to call it that) one of the weaker supporting casts in the league. Also, RFK Stadium is most definitely not a hitter friendly ballpark like Arlington. With an ongoing feud with his new team over where he will play, I can?t help but worry that it will somehow end up hindering his production on the field. Everything I?m saying here makes the guy sound terrible, but I think quite the opposite. Soriano is a great power hitter for his position and who has some nice speed. I just think you should watch out if you?re thinking of taking him in the teens. Hold Toto close to you Alfonso ?cause you ain?t in Texas anymore. 5. Felipe Lopez ? Age: 25 ? 2005 Stats: 93 Rs/23 HRs/85 RBIs/15 SBs/.291 AVG I?ll admit, I wasn?t really expecting Felipe Lopez to have anything more than SS eligibility this year, but if they?re going to dole it out, we fantasy owners can?t complain. Basically all that I feel separates Lopez from Marcus Giles is this 2B/SS eligibility which I can?t stress the importance of enough. This is going to give you a lot more trade flexibility and add/drop flexibility if anyone goes down. I don?t think you can expect much of an improvement from Lopez, but his numbers as they are should satisfy any owner. There are only a few other second basemen out there who possess 20 HR/20 SB capability. Around the board Lopez contributes and he would make a solid addition to your fantasy team. 6. Marcus Giles ? Age: 27 ? 2005 Stats: 104 Rs/15 HRs/63 RBIs/16 SBs/.291 AVG The thing that?s nice about Marcus Giles is that he brings what you?d classically want and expect from your second baseman. It?s almost a given that, should he play the full season, he will hit .300 and score 100 runs. Along with this, Giles is going to give you enough home runs, RBIs and stolen bases to keep you satisfied. He doesn?t stand out as the premier player in any specific category but his balance, giving production in each of the five traditional offensive categories means a lot. It seems like he?s flying under the radar because last year he didn?t meet his full expectation, but I think there should be little doubt that he bounces back. It?s weird because most of the top players at second base produce disproportionate to what you would conventionally expect, but Giles gives you exactly what you expect from his position and sometimes it?s nice to have a player that fits the mold like that. 7. Jorge Cantu ? Age: 24 ? 2005 Stats: 73 Rs/28 HRs/117 RBIs/1 SB/.286 AVG Make no mistake, Jorge Cantu is not a 117 RBI player; I don?t care what the total from last season says. To say that Cantu exceeded expectations last year is an understatement. Nobody was expecting him to be the type of player he was, especially when he hadn?t shown power the likes of which we saw last year really at any time in the minors. I?m not trying to say Cantu?s season was a fluke, but it?s also hard to determine if he?s the real deal, and I?m sorry to tell you that I?m no scout so I don?t know quite how he?s projected to turn out in the end. If I had to estimate his numbers, I would say that the runs total, stolen base total and batting average will stay the same or possibly get better. I think his power numbers will definitely come down a little, especially RBIs after he drove in an unreal 21 percent of the runners on base when he was batting. I?d say to expect his home run total to come down to 25 rather than spike to 30 and for his RBIs to get a little more reasonable. Let?s say he goes for 100 RBIs. When you add in his third base eligibility Cantu should still be hot property, even if he doesn?t quite repeat last year. 8. Rickie Weeks ? Age: 23 ? 2005 Stats: 56 Rs/13 HRs/42 RBIs/15 SBs/.239 AVG Just 23, Weeks is considered a virtual lock to become a perennial all-star. Just don?t think you?re going to see it next season, because you aren?t. The Brewers? second baseman still has plenty of growing to do and we won?t see him reach his potential for at least another year. Every stat category should go up for him this year as he gets more plate appearances and demonstrates a little better discipline and touch. Weeks has awesome power potential and will steal plenty of bases. I just worry that he will still end up hurting you in batting average this year (although I do expect it to rise over .260). Certainly Weeks is still a good player to have on your team, just down get carried away by his high ceiling. Picking up utility man Bill Hall in the later rounds could prove to be good insurance if Weeks struggles. 9. Tadahito Iguchi ? Age: 31 ? 2005 Stats: 74 Rs/15 HRs/71 RBIs/15 SBs/.278 AVG Let?s first mention that Iguchi was a rookie last year. He?s 31 I know, but there is still plenty of adjusting to go through when making the switch from Japan to the MLB. Hideki Matsui wasn?t exactly a young pup either when he came over but he still needed some time to get used to the new league. Last year Iguchi was solid everywhere and I loved having him on my team down the stretch. Now that he has a ring, his confidence can?t do anything by grow and that should translate a little bit on the field. Don?t reach, because he?s not elite quality, but Tadahito Iguchi is a playmaker and finds a way to contribute to your team every time he plays. 10. Brian Roberts ? Age: 28 ? 2005 Stats: 92 Rs/18 HRs/73 RBIs/27 SBs/.314 AVG Rounding out the top 10 is Brian Roberts who I can?t help but not trust. Ok, he produced like a stud at the beginning of the year, like he was the top second baseman out there. Then he lost his mojo, faltered down the stretch and suffered a season ending injury. I just don?t know if he has given enough evidence to show he?ll repeat what he was capable of just a season ago. A standard Brian Roberts season would be a .270 average, 25 stolen bases, 100 runs and there you go, just don?t expect power. Then last season he disproved conventional wisdom. Which Brian Roberts do we see this year? I just don?t know honestly. The old Brian Roberts is still probably good enough to make your fantasy team, and the notion that he may come back as strong as ever would seemingly justify his top 10 ranking. 11. Robinson Cano 12. Craig Biggio 13. Mark Loretta 14. Ryan Freel 15. Mark Ellis 16. Placido Polanco 17. Ian Kinsler 18. Josh Barfield 19. Ronnie Belliard 20. Luis A. Gonzalez Sleepers and Keepers: Sleeper Material: In the sleeper section I?d like to focus on what I mentioned as strategy number three in the opening paragraph. At the end of the draft you most likely can find a guy to hold down second base for you. Craig Biggio is looked over because of his age, but he?s still got plenty of pop in his bat notching career highs in home runs each of the last two seasons. Mark Ellis and Placido Polanco should each see their production rise this year with more plate appearances and their eligibility at other positions only adds to their value. Keep an eye on Ian Kinsler who is entering the equation in Texas and could thrive in that lineup. Keeper Material: All you?ve got to do is look at the ages to figure out who makes a good keeper. 27-year-old Chase Utley and 28-year-old Chone Figgins are each good options, as are Lopez (25), Giles (27) and Cantu (24). Ian Kinsler and Josh Barfield are each debuting as starters this year and could make their way into the top 10 in just a year or two. The guy to really focus on is Rickie Weeks, the 23-year-old out in Milwaukee. It?s hard to predict injuries, but should he stay on the field Weeks is a virtual lock to play in many all-star games. His value jumps in keeper leagues. Keep your eyes and ears open fantasy baseball fans, the shortstop preview is coming soon.