2B Keeper Rankings: 3rd Tier (Part 1)

Tier 1
Dustin Pedroia
Ian Kinsler
Robinson Cano

Tier 2
Michael Young
Brandon Phillips
Rickie Weeks
Chase Utley

Reminder, I have based most of these rankings off my 2B player talent values.

Michael Cuddyer – Cuddyer has one big question over his head right now. What team will he be on next year? Some reports have him back in Minnesota or with the Indians. Depending on the lineup and stadium of the team he signs with, his value will change significantly.

He generally has a .270 average with double digit home runs. His number of home runs can be in the teens or in the 30s. Over the past 4 years, his HR numbers have been driven by an erratic HR/FB%:

Year: HRs, HR/FB%
2008: 3, 4.3%
2009: 32, 17.1%
2010: 14, 8.2%
2011: 20, 13.6%

One of Cuddyer’s best aspects is that he is also qualified at 1B and OF (depending on league settings). While he would not be a top producer at 1B or OF, he adds some roster flexibility when needed.

Ben Zobrist – Which Ben Zobrist will show up in 2012? The 2009 and 2011 version with 20 or more home runs and 90+ RBIs and Runs — or — the 2010 version with 10 home runs and a .238 AVG. Trying to get a read on his true talent level is difficult.

Like Cuddyer, Zobrist has the added benefit of being qualified at multiple positions (2B and OF to start 2012).

For 2012, I believe his talent level is near his 2011 stats where he ranked as the 33rd highest valued fantasy player. The 2011 season was about half way between the great 2009 season and the horrible 2010 season. It is just hard to tell who will show up in 2012.

Dan Uggla – After having a horrible first half of 2011 (.185/.257/.365), Dan turned it around in the second half (.296/.379/.569). The key for the turn around is not exactly obvious. Half way through the season, he began to hit with more power. It seems like their was an undisclosed injury or something else going on in the early part of the season taking away his power.

Here is a look at his LD% and HR/FB% over the season and his career numbers:

	LD%	HR/FB
Mar/Apr	12.6%	13.2%
May	14.3%	6.9%
Jun	14.3%	17.2%
Jul	16.7%	23.5%
Aug	16.9%	30.3%
Sept/Oct	18.6%	19.4%
Career	16.4%	15.9%

There was a significant improvement from the first to the second half of the season.

With the improvement, people must remember that Dan just hits home runs. He does it from a tough position too. His average and stolen base values are usually well below the league average, though. He can usually be counted on for a fair number of RBIs and Runs, but Atlanta’s anemic offense limited his numbers last season. I don’t see a repeat of 2011’s 1st half, but at his best, Dan is still just a one dimensional player.