Okay let’s look at your choices at second base for 2012 – the good news is that it looks a little better than it did a year ago.
Here were the top second basemen in 2011:
- Dustin Pedroia, Boston
- Robinson Cano, NY Yankees
- Ian Kinsler, Texas
- Brandon Phillips, Cincinnati
- Ben Zobrist, Tampa Bay
- Howie Kendrick, LA Angels
- Dan Uggla, Atlanta
- Neil Walker, Pittsburgh
- Danny Espinosa, Washington
- Rickie Weeks, Milwaukee
Hopefully that list doesn’t surprise you much – I suggested Espinosa last year as a good shot at second with his blend of power and speed – hopefully the average goes up next year. Ugly was Dan’s start last year but he made up for it later and as long as you didn’t get disillusioned and sell low you were fine.
Okay now let’s look at my rankings for the Top Twelve second sackers as we draft in December
- Robinson Cano – more power than the others
- Dustin Pedroia – power and speed with more average than
- Ian Kinsler – but more likely chance to go 30-30
- Ben Zobrist – I also like the position eligibility so you can take a shot and not get killed
- Brandon Phillips – consistent if not exciting anymore
- Rickie Weeks – may be the last year he is ranked higher than his brother
- Chase Utley – may be too low here
- Howie Kendrick – hitting in front of Albert, sign me up
- Neil Walker – don’t write him off as a one year wonder – he can hit
- Jemile Weeks – if he can maintain a .300 average this is too low; 30+ steals
- Dustin Ackley – will continue to move up the ranks
- Danny Espinosa
Let’s look back at shortstops to end this column and next week I will give you my choices for 2012 as well as look at the next group of middle infielders.
Top shortstops in 2011
- Jose Reyes, NY Mets
- Troy Tulowitzki, Colorado
- Asdrubal Cabrera, Cleveland
- Starlin Castro, Chicago Cubs
- Elvis Andrus, Texas
- Jimmy Rollins, Philadelphia
- Emilio Bonifacio, Florida>Miami
- Erick Aybar, LA Angels
- Jhonny Peralta, Detroit
- J.J. Hardy, Baltimore{jcomments on}