| It might be January, but it's not too early to start | | | | 9. Jose Lopez - Seattle Mariners |
| thinking about fantasy baseball and Dr. Stat is | | | | Another player who doesn't get near the respect |
| here to prepare you for draft day. Every week, | | | | he deserves (most likely because he plays in |
| I'll be posting one or two new sections of my | | | | Seattle), Lopez finished second in hits, third in |
| 2009 Fantasy Baseball Draft Kit until I've covered | | | | RBIs, and fifth in AVG and doubles among all |
| every position. Here are my early 2009 top 25 | | | | players at his position. At just 25 years old and |
| players at the 2B position. I posted my 1B/DH | | | | coming off his best season as a pro, there's no |
| Rankings earlier this week. | | | | reason to think he can't produce similar numbers |
| Statistical Key: Batting Average/Home Runs/Runs | | | | in '09. He should be the second Mariners player off |
| Batted In/Runs Scored/Steals | | | | the board come draft day, after Ichiro of course. |
| Note: Assumes Standard 12-team Head-to-Head | | | | 2008 Stats: .297/17/89/80/6 |
| or Roto League Settings | | | | 2009 Projections: .289/19/94/86/8 |
| 1. Chase Utley - Philadelphia Phillies | | | | 10. Mark DeRosa - Cleveland Indians |
| He may have turned 30 last month and is coming | | | | The game's ultimate utility player, DeRosa's 11th |
| off of hip surgery, but Utley remains the epitome | | | | major league season produced power numbers |
| of what you want from the second base position. | | | | that we had never seen from him before. While |
| While his average dipped in 2008, he still homered | | | | he might not hit 20+ homers in his first season in |
| a career-high 33 times and drove in 104 runs, | | | | Cleveland, he'll play all over the diamond and |
| both tops at his position. Be aware that he might | | | | produce worthy fantasy numbers once again. You |
| not be fully recovered from the surgery by | | | | can't put a price tag on multi-positional eligibility, |
| Opening Day, but don't let that stop you from | | | | which is what truly makes him even more |
| making him the first 2B off the board on draft | | | | valuable. |
| day. | | | | 2008 Stats: .285/21/87/103/6 |
| 2008 Stats: .292/33/104/113/14 | | | | 2009 Projections: .281/16/76/88/4 |
| 2009 Projections: .311/31/108/111/16 | | | | 11. Placido Polanco - Detroit Tigers |
| 2. Ian Kinsler - Texas Rangers | | | | It's hard to argue with a guy who's always flirting |
| You could make a legitimate case for Kinsler to | | | | with a .300 average and 100 runs and can be |
| be ranked #1 and I wouldn't argue with you. He | | | | taken late on draft day. If your strategy is to get |
| was having a massive season before a sports | | | | the power and RBI men earlier in the draft and fill |
| hernia derailed him after 121 games. His ability to | | | | your role positions late, Polanco is your man. He's |
| hit for both power and average and steal bases | | | | 33 years old and his numbers will likely drop off |
| makes him a roto beast and a 30/30 season is | | | | slightly again in 2009, but he's a reliable player |
| completely possible. If you draft him ahead of | | | | from a position that is anything but after the top |
| Utley, I won't blame you. He's four years younger | | | | 10. |
| that the Philadelphia second baseman and has the | | | | 2008 Stats: .307/8/58/90/7 |
| edge on the basepaths, but Utley hits for a little | | | | 2009 Projections: .310/6/55/82/7 |
| more power and posts a better OPS. Overall, you | | | | 12. Mike Aviles - Kansas City Royals |
| can't go wrong with either guy. | | | | Is this guy for real? .325/.354/.480 in 102 games? |
| 2008 Stats: .319/18/71/102/26 | | | | He's 5'9" and 27 years old and entering his first full |
| 2009 Projections: .309/20/84/105/33 | | | | season in the pros. What we appreciated about |
| 3. Dusin Pedroia - Boston Red Sox | | | | him last season was his consistency. He hit .330 in |
| Yes, he astounded us all and won the AL MVP | | | | June and July, .339 in August and .308 in |
| Award. However, that doesn't automatically make | | | | September. While he doesn't hit for power (he |
| him a first or second round fantasy pick. There's | | | | homered once every 41.9 at-bats), he's |
| no denying that he posted an outstanding season, | | | | productive in the hits, average and extra-base hits |
| but don't get carried away. No, I'm not doubting | | | | categories and even sprinkles in some stolen |
| the guy, as I think we've all learned not to do | | | | bases for good measure. Plus, he has shortstop |
| that. He's a top-35 pick in standard leagues. If | | | | eligibility. |
| your league counts statistics like total bases or | | | | 2008 Stats: .325/10/51/68/8 |
| extra base hits, he's even more valuable. Either | | | | 2009 Projections: .306/13/66/78/11 |
| way, he's the third best player at his position and | | | | 13. Mike Fontenot, Chicago Cubs- With Mark |
| should be drafted as such. | | | | DeRosa gone, this sleeper should be the Cubs |
| 2008 Stats: .326/17/83/118/20 | | | | Opening Day second baseman after going for .305 |
| 2009 Projections: .316/19/88/104/17 | | | | 9/40/42/2 in 119 games last season. I may have |
| 4. Brian Roberts - Baltimore Orioles | | | | him ranked a bit high here, but he's shown he can |
| The dude gets no love, yet puts up one | | | | hit and bats in one of baseball's best lineups. |
| consistent season after another. Among all second | | | | |
| basemen in 2008, Roberts was first in stolen | | | | 14. Orlando Hudson, Arizona Diamondbacks- Oh, if |
| bases and walks, second in doubles and triples and | | | | the O-Dog could only stay healthy! Hudson played |
| third in hits, runs and OBP. The only way we'd like | | | | in just 107 games last season, but still posted |
| him more is if he was traded to the Cubbies. | | | | respectable numbers. He's a top-ten 2B when he's |
| 2008 Stats: .296/9/57/107/40 | | | | healthy, but has averaged 135 games over the |
| 2009 Projections: .302/10/62/110/43 | | | | past six seasons. |
| 5. Brandon Phillips - Cincinnati Reds | | | | 15. Keylly Johnson, Atlanta Braves- An all-around |
| His average hurts him, but he went 20-20 for the | | | | decent producer at a very thin position. In a |
| third straight season and plays in a hitters park. If | | | | phrase, you know what you're getting when you |
| only he could even out his hot and cold spells (his | | | | draft him. |
| monthly averages ranged from .200 to .292), he'd | | | | |
| be more reliable. A season similar to 2007, in | | | | 16. Akinori Iwamura, Tampa Bay Rays- Little pop, |
| which he hit .288 with 30 homers, 94 RBIs and 32 | | | | but finished seventh in runs, eighth in hits and first |
| stolen bases, is not at all out of the question. | | | | in triples among all second basemen. |
| 2008 Stats: .261/21/78/80/23 | | | | Unfortunately, only Uggla struck out more times. |
| 2009 Projections: .274/24/86/91/27 | | | | 17. Howie Kendrick, Los Angeles Angels- His M.O. |
| 6. Robinson Cano - New York Yankees | | | | is hits and average, neither of which he can give |
| Robbie's 2008 campaign was painful to watch, but | | | | us if he can't stay on the field. |
| he did hit .307 after the All-Star break. He'll need | | | | 18. Aaron Hill, Toronto Blue Jays- A concussion |
| to remember how to hit much earlier this year to | | | | limited him to just 55 games in 2008. Is a season |
| justify drafting him where I've ranked him, but | | | | similar to 2007 (.291/17/78) in the cards? |
| I'm expecting a bounce-back season from Cano. | | | | |
| If he doesn't have to spend the rest of the | | | | 19. Rickie Weeks, Milwaukee Brewers- So much |
| season digging himself out of a .151 April, he'll be | | | | promise, yet so much disappointment. His 20-20 |
| more relaxed at the plate and therefore more | | | | potential isn't worth it if he can't hit even .240. |
| productive. Last season he got drafted too high, | | | | 20. Alexi Casilla, Minnesota Twins- Respectable |
| while this season he'll likely get drafted too low. | | | | numbers (.281/7/50/58/7) in 98 games last |
| 2008 Stats: .271/14/72/70/2 | | | | season, including three months over .300 until he |
| 2009 Projections: .289/18/81/79/4 | | | | hit .228 over his last 36 games. What he can |
| 7. Dan Uggla - Florida Marlins | | | | produce over an entire season remains to be |
| After Uggla's huge first half, I recommended | | | | seen. |
| selling him high at the All-Star Break. He went on | | | | |
| to post a .226/9/33 second half and led all 2B | | | | |
| with 171 strikeouts. He's the Ryan Howard of his | | | | 21. Clint Barmes, Colorado Rockies- If he can hit |
| position, but can't be passed on because of his 30 | | | | over .300 again and avoid any off the field |
| 100 potential. Just prepare yourself for plenty of | | | | mishaps, he'll be a fine late-round pick in deep |
| swings and misses along the way. | | | | leagues. |
| 2008 Stats: .260/32/92/97/5 | | | | |
| 2009 Projections: .268/30/93/102/7 | | | | 22. Felipe Lopez, Arizona Diamondbacks- He's only |
| 8. Alexei Ramirez - Chicago White Sox | | | | hit double-digit homers once in nine seasons and |
| It would be easy to get carried away and draft | | | | can't steal bases like he used to. A revamped |
| this kid way too high, but control yourself on | | | | season in the desert is a pipe dream. |
| draft day. While his rookie season was | | | | |
| undoubtedly impressive, he carries with him the | | | | 23. Jeff Kent, Free Agent- The veteran is |
| risk of the dreaded sophomore slump. If he can | | | | currently a free agent will turn 41 in March. |
| avoid lengthy cold spells and take a few more | | | | Retirement may be more likely than a full-time |
| bases on balls (one every 27 at-bats), he'll be a | | | | job anywhere, but he can still hit the baseball. |
| potent pick. Shortstop eligibility will only help | | | | 24. Kazuo Matsui, Houston Astros- Can hit and |
| matters. At 27 years old, it will be fun to watch | | | | run, but has played in 100 or more games just |
| what he can do in his first full season. Just don't | | | | twice in six years and never more than 114. |
| overpay. | | | | 25. Mark Ellis, Oakland Athletics- Will surgery on his |
| 2008 Stats: .290/21/77/65/13 | | | | right shoulder completely kill his ability to drive the |
| 2009 Projections: .285/24/84/77/15 | | | | ball? |