Chase Utley (PHI) – If Chase was playing at first base, he would just merely be one of the guys. But he's not. And in a year that sees Alfonso Soriano and Chone Figgins removed from the second base ranks, Utley becomes the lone elite tier player at the position. I actually had Utley ranked over Soriano at #1 last year, although Soriano made me eat crow with a spectular season in Washington, Chase more than held up his end of the bargain with 32 HR, over 100 RBI, and a paranormal 131 runs scored. Look at him as Paul Molitior with some pop. Ryan Howard also provides Utley with the ultimate protection. There is no way one would be able to draft both Utley and Howard in the first two rounds this year, but a strategy involving picking Utley mid-first round, followed by drafting a top first baseman in Round 2, would be a very strong game plan.
Brian Roberts (BAL) - – I told you it was a long ways down to #2. Don't get me wrong, Roberts ain't bad. But his power stats were way down from 2005 with his slugging percentage dropping from .515 to .410. However Roberts is still good for a solid BA and around 30 stolen bases.
Rickie Weeks (MIL) – Will he be where Utley is now in three years??? All I know is that Rickie will have to take a big step this year after an underwhelming 2006. The batting average was improved but slugging percentage just barely nudged above .400. You also don't like the pattern of season-ending injuries - a wrist last year and a thumb the year before. This is strictly a potential pick here.
Ian Kinsler (TX) – I used him and his 400 salary for the second-season CDM last year, and got frustrated by a seemingly endless string of 4-1-1-0 and 5-1-1-0 boxes. But the final numbers were not bad, .286 average 14 homers and 11 SB in 120 games. Was touted as a Rookie of the Year candidate before landing on the shelf in the season's first week. I say when in doubt always take a Rangers player, and it wouldn't shock me if at age 24 Kinsler progresses more than Rickie Weeks this year.
Robinson Cano (NYY) – You may see him as high as #2 on some lists after an impressive second season that saw 15 home runs and an impressive .342 average in 122 games. He may end up with one of the better home run totals among second basemen, but keeping the average up is not a sure deal and also doesn't have the stolen base totals you'd like to see fantasy-wise out of a middle infielder.
Josh Barfield (CLE) – By no means did he have a bad first year in the show, hitting 13 home runs along with 21 stolen bases. The head scratcher is why the Padres would trade someone so promising, so much so that it makes one wonder if there are off-the-field issues. What we do know is trading the NL and Dog Pound (I mean Petco Park, not the Browns) to the AL and the Cleveland lineup is anything but a bad thing. Barfield should be among the top tier at the position this year.
Brandon Phillips (CIN) – After a few false starts in the show, Phillips broke out while showing a nice power/speed combo, hitting 17 home runs along with 25 stolen bases. You like his home park in Cincinnati, but still worry about him letting you down in the BA deparmtent.
Dan Uggla (FL) – As a rookie, Uggla how perhaps the best power numbers of any second baseman, 105 runs, 27 HR, 90 RBI. So why is he even ranked this low??? Two words - Rule 5. That's the off-season draft where minor league players whose contracts (after six season) are not renewed. By rule, those selected in the Rule 5 draft must stay on the major league roster or be offered back to their old team. Well, despite never playing even above AA, Uggla gave the Marlins no chance of even thinking about that with his unexpected spectacular campaign. Now the question is whether Uggla, who did wear down late last year, can keep it up - or go the Pat Listach route. My feeling is you don't hit 25 bombs by accident, at the very least he will be adequate for your team.
Ray Durham (SF) – One of the graybeards at the position, but is suddenly showing power late in his career, reaching career highs in home runs (26) and RBI (93) in just 137 games, and also guarantees you a solid .280/.290 average. You wonder if he can keep it up at age 35 but the Giants have a history of getting a ton of mileage out of veteran players.
Tadahito Iguchi (CWS) – After just two years in the show after starring in the Japanese League, we have a pretty good baseline on Iguchi. He gets you a solid .280 average (although he strikes out one in five times) with 15 to 20 homers, double-digit steals, and near 100 runs - and is good for a huge game (grand slam or 6 RBI or whatever) about once a month. A very good low-risk pick at this point.
Howie Kendrick (ANG) – Yet another player ranked highly based merely on pure potential. You do know that the Angels think enough of him to not bring Adam Kennedy back. But there was pretty good sampling last year, and Howie only had four HR's and six steals in 72 games. But everyone says he can swing the bat and did hit .285, he could end up being comparable to Robinson Cano this year. You remain leery however because so many Anaheim players have been getting hype coming up (Dallas McPherson, Kotchman, Jared Weaver) - not all of them with immediate results. With a 400 salary, Howie will be on most CDM Diamond Challenge rosters.
Julio Lugo (BOS) – Out of the obscurity of Tampa Bay and into the limelight of Boston, Lugo offers a nice stolen base threat who is eligible at both middle infield spots. The only downside is that the Red Sox do not tradionally give their baserunners the green light.
Jeff Kent (LA) – Remember that beaning Kent took at the hands of the Giants in a Sunday night game early last year??? The Onion ran a great caption showing a picture from that saying 'Rookie tragically misinterpets suicide squeeze sign.' Since the Dodgers didn't have nameplates on the back of their jerseys last year, they could get away with showing it since all you saw was the #12. Actually that concussion marked the start of an injurey plagued campaign, and Kent starts this year ranked much lower than previous season. Kent has come back from the dead before, but at age 39 you wonder if the end is now truly near, although 20+ home runs is still very possible.
Jorge Cantu (TB) – I bought way too much into his Kool-Aid last year. Cantu was the Dan Uggla of 2005 hitting 28 HR and 117 RBI, and also had a very strong performance representing Mexico at the World Baseball Classic. But Cantu wound up on the shelp after an early-season injury and his numbers wound up being way down across the borad and ultimately ended up at .249. He's still only 25, so he could easily rebound to being a top-10 or even top-five second baseman.
Luis Castillo (MN) – When someone is a one-trick pony, and quits doing that one trick, that usually shuts down any noticable fantasy value. That was the case with Luis the last couple years with the Marlins as he went from being one of baseball's more prolific basestealers to not stealing at all. Well Luis did start seeing the green light again once he relocated to the Northlands, and stole 25 bases to go with his usually solid .300 hitting. Luis should also continue to score a good number of runs with a strong lineup behind him.
Ty Wigginton (TB) – You like a 25 home run man who plays multiple positions??? Then Ty is your man, and is eligible at first, second, and third. The negatives are Wigginton has just about peaked and is not the greatest average guy in the world.
Orlando Hudson (AZ) – The good news is that Hudson quickly became a mainstay at second at Arizona last year, and his Gold Glove defense will always keep him in the lineup. Hudson has become a nice 15-HR guy, and has the advantage of being in one of the nicer offensive parks in the bigs.
Marcus Giles (SD) – Has he unexpectedly fallen the last couple years or what??? He hits a few homers, but not enough to make you excited. About the same deal with stolen bases. Marcus did hit for a good average a couple years back but has steadily regressed in that department. We do know that he does like to get rowdy during Charger playoff games.
Freddy Sanchez (PIT) – Has a league batting champ ever gotten less love??? That's because Freddy did little else in any of the other four fantasy departments and is on a perennially lousy outfit. Sanchez does have the attribute however of being eligible at second, short, and third.
Chris Burke (HOU) – Filled in for Craig Biggio at second last year and also saw time in the outfield. Burke should finally be an everyday player this year as he goes into the spring as the Astros starting center fielder. Double-digit home runs and stolen bases are a good bet.
Craig Biggio (HOU) – This is my 20th season of playing fantasy baseball, and Biggio has been a factor for just about all of that time. Biggio has actually had some of his best power numbers recently, in fact his 71 home runs since 2004 represent the biggest three-year total of his career. However Craig was absolutely miserable after the break last year, leading many to believe that the end may soon be near for the future (I think we can use that term) Hall of Famer)
Kazuo Matsui (COL) – One of the bigger dissapointments among Japanese imports over his 2 1/2 years with the Mets, Kaz actually spent some time in the minors after being traded over to the Rockies. But Kaz hitd and ran wild in just over a month's work in Colorado, hitting .345 with eight stolen bases. Kaz could be a nice late run gem this year, especially if you're in a league with a bunch of Met fans still convinced that he's a bum.
Jose Lopez (SEA) – He was a nice dirt-cheap option in the CDM games last year, at the very least you knew he would be in the lineup. Hit nine home runs in the first half of 2006 before hitting the rookie wall. Should continue to develop.
Adam Kennedy (STL) – You think it's about time the franchise changed it's name to the Anaheim Angels of St. Louis??? It isn't like the team would need to change it's color scheme or anything??? Edmonds, Eckstein, Jeff Weaver, not this guy - not to mention Molina's brother is back in Anaheim. Like Eckstein, Kennedy's run total should get a boost with Pujols and everyone else hitting behind him.
Mark DeRosa (CHC) – Coming off a career year in Texas, DeRosa lands in another good situation on the North Side. DeRosa does carry multiple-position eligibility (2B, 3B, OF), the worry is his average regressing back into the sub-.250 range.
Jose Castillo (PIT) – Likely to not get drafted in your league, but if you're in a pinch for a second baseman for a week and Pittsburgh is playing the Brewers, then grab him!!! Castillo hit five home runs and 17 RBI in 15 games v. Milwaukee pitching last year.
Ronny Belliard (FA) – Is a free agent at this writing and has been fighting some off-the-field issues, mainly being involved in the messiest paternity case this side of Anna Nicole. Ronny does get decent power numbers and was a key cog in the Cardinals championship run last year, so Ronny will show up somewhere.
Jose Valentin (MYM) – He still has some pop, 18 home runs in just 384 AB's last year. You just worried about his batting average taking you to oblivion.
Placido Palanco (DET) – His power basically went off the window the second he traded Citizens Bank park in for Commerica. Maybe it's just that Commerica has a higher interest rate??? Placido does still hit a solid .290 and remains a solid member of the lineup.
Mark Grudzielanek (STL) – Remember how Dave Magadan would play either for the Mets or any team on the West Coast??? Grudzielanek has become that was playing for just about everyone in the Midwest. Gruds hasn't really been relative in fantasy baseball since 1995, but at least we have learned to spell his name. Look for Grudz to land in Milwaukee when Rickie Weeks has his next season-ending hangnail.
