Second Basemen: June Rankings
Tier 1A
Robinson Cano
Tier 1B
Rickie Weeks
I still have Cano as the top ranked 2B based on his previous seasons and overall health. Weeks is producing a bit more in 2011 compared to Cano, but as long as they are this close, I will put Cano first.
Tier 2
Ben Zobrist
Ryan Roberts
Ian Kinsler
Kelly Johnson
This Tier’s rankings, and the rest that follow, are very fluid based on the needs of your team. If your team needs a few more SB, but can afford to take a hit in AVG, you may look at Kinsler -or- you could be looking for a more rounded producer like Roberts.
Also, I am putting players with multiple position eligibilities higher in the different tiers. With all the trips players have made to the DL this season, it is nice to have the extra flexibility to move players around.
Kelly Johnson was let go by many teams because of his early season struggles. It looks like he has forgotten the early struggles and is back near the top the 2B rankings.
Tier 3
Dustin Pedroia
Martin Prado
Brandon Phillips
Neil Walker
Danny Espinosa
This Tier was tough for me to rank. Pedroria could have easily been moved to Tier 2 (based on previous good results) with Espinosa being moved down a Tier (based on little previous production). As a whole, an owner really can’t go wrong with any of these players.
Tier 4
Michael Young
Placido Polanco
Howie Kendrick
These 3 are similar in that they hit for AVG, have few HR and SB and are qualified at several positions. This would be a nice group of players to have on your bench in shallow leagues. They can fill in when other players on your team are not playing for any reason.
Tier 5
Chase Utley
Darwin Barney
Mike Aviles
Allen Craig
Adam Kennedy
Maicer Izturis
Michael Cuddyer
Brett Lawrie
Daniel Murphy
Gordon Beckham
Eric Young (Jonathan Herrera)
Currently there is a large drop off from Tier 4 to 5, but some names do stick out.
Utley has just gotten back from the DL with subpar results. As his production increases, he will quickly move up.
Cuddyer (0.264 AVG/7 HR/3 SB) is having a similar year to Neil Walker (0.265 AVG/8 HR/2 SB) in non team related stats. Cuddyer only has a total of 40 Runs + RBIs, while Walker has almost twice that number (73). If the Twins offense gets clicking Cuddyer has a great chance to improve.
Colorado is back with Eric Young at 2B. He will be a great source for SB, if he keeps his job. I believe he shouldn’t of lost it to begin with and his replacement, Herrera, shouldn’t have lost it this time.
Tier 6
Jed Lowrie
Aaron Hill
Alberto Callaspo
Ryan Theriot
Orlando Cabrera
Jamey Carroll
Justin Turner
Freddy Sanchez
Ty Wigginton
I expect to find most of these players to be owned but on the bench. It is tough to tell how players are being used with all the multiple position eligibilities I am actually looking at what the availability level is for certain positions in different sized leagues for my Saturday article.
Tier DL
Brian Roberts
Tsuyoshi Nishioka
Frustration Tier
Dan Uggla
Ryan Raburn
Chone Figgins
These 3 are completely under producing and driving their owners crazy this season. I am not sure I would actually trade for any of them, but would see if they become available on the waiver wire for a chance they break out. With these three, the only way is up.
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where’s Justin Turner?
I don’t know how he got missed. His production so far is near Jamey Carroll, but with half the at bats. I would have him near the top of Tier 5.
Thank you for giving Weeks his due.
I’m curious to why KJ is in a tier above BP? Homeruns the difference?
Twice as many HRs and SBs over ride the difference in AVG.
The top 14 (Tiers 1 to 4) are all pretty decent if they are at 2B.
Don’t see the point in holding Utley back in Tier 5 while Pedroia gets consideration for Tier 2. Utley’s “subpar” results so far are, prorated, essentially identical to Pedroia’s for the entire season. At least Chase has the excuse of still working himself back into shape.
I could see that. I just got a bad taste for Utley after looking at him last week.
I stopped reading after seeing Ryan Roberts was the third ranked 2B.
I should have probably moved him down on past performance, but in 2011 his production is comparable to those around him in 60 less at bats
probably???? I think you guys get a bit trigger happy on some early-season hot starts. It’s more than a wee bit premature to put him ahead of Ian Kinsler, Dustin Pedroia, etc.
Where’s that super utility guy Omar Infante? He’s been pitiful so far!
He should belong in the Frustration Group, but I don’t think people expected much from him this year compared to the other 3
s/b Eric Young “should have”
Anyway, I agree.
What’s with Danny Espinosa being so high? Should I be rostering him – long-term – over Lawrie? Allen Craig? Wigginton (multiple position elig., Coors field)?
It’s a very shallow league, where also, apparently, no one cares about hitting (all of these guys are available).
Polanco should be higher. He is producing RBIs this year to go along with BA
Real sad to see Pedroia so low. I drafted him second round in a league with Ks and 2Bs, which he usually kills at, and oh man has he disappointed.
is their a legitimate chance figgins does not bounce back
Pedroia is most likely gonna have knee surgery this week and possibly be out for a month… so yea…
http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2011/06/dustin_pedroia_12.html
KJ and Zobrist in Tier 2? Ridiculous
Espinosa in tier 3? Based on what? The two-HR game weeks ago?
Obviously you’re showing some bias toward players you have on your teams.
You guys need to do an article on Kinsler’s year. His contact rates and swinging strike rates are at career highs/lows. He doesn’t strike out and he walks a ton. Yet his BABIP is ridiculously low, especially on the road despite the fact that he has hits 10% more infield fly balls at home. Also, he is only homering on about 2 percent of his flyballs away from home which is far from his career norms. A really odd season, maybe one of the all time odd ones. Could you chalk it all up to bad luck?
Until your rankings actually effect the the play of the players, I will reserve judgement.
Where could I fit in here?
Eric Young links appear to be for Eric Young, Sr., not Jr.
Pedroia at Tier 3? Below Ryan Roberts and Kelly Johnson? Really?
Chase Utley in the same sentence as a purple dinosaur?
Wish I played in your league.