Keeper Conundrums: Second Base
All this week, I’ll be looking at potential keepers at each position that you may be on the fence about. Now, a look at some second basemen.
Dustin Pedroia
Odds are you drafted Pedroia in the second round, or maybe the third round if you got lucky. With a serious foot injury on everyone’s mind, owners may be forgetting the fantastic season Pedroia was having before he got hurt. How will his injury affect his next season? We really can’t say for sure, so he may end up being a gamble on draft day.
Crude 2011 Projection: .300/.385, 18 HR, 15 SB
Verdict: Keep. The foot may decrease his stolen bases, but he’s still a stud.
Martin Prado
If you look away from his counting stats, Prado’s numbers are almost identical to 2009. It doesn’t feel like it, but Prado is still young and just entering his peak. He’ll be playing in a good lineup next year, so he could score 100 runs again without breaking a sweat.
Crude 2011 Projection: .310/.355, 17 HR, 5 SB
Verdict: Keep. He should be plenty healthy by spring, so I’m not worried about him.
Ben Zobrist
Want to know just how good Zobrist was in 2009? Even in a down year, Zobrist was a three win player this year. Impressive. Zobrist stayed on rosters this year thanks to good counting stats, and shortstop eligibility. He won’t be SS eligible next year, so what do we make of him? Can he bounce back?
Crude 2011 Projection: .275/.390, 14 HR, 20 SB
Verdict: Keep. He’s an OBP stud, and that’ll help the rest of his numbers. Still a very good second baseman.
Gordon Beckham
He was a disappointment early, but a stellar July and August gave everyone hope. He caught the injury bug late this season, but he’ll be fine next year.
Crude 2011 Projection: .275/.340, 12 HR, 5 SB
Verdict: Cut. He’s got upside, but you can do better for what he’ll cost you.
Rickie Weeks
Weeks finally made good on the potential everyone saw early in his career. While he still hasn’t cut back on the strikeouts, his counting stats are ridiculous, making him one of the best players at his position.
Crude 2011 Projection: .265/.350, 26 HR, 13 SB
Verdict: Keep. The RBI’s and Runs he provides your team are tremendous.
Eric Young (Jr.)
EYJR is one of the fastest players in major league baseball, but the Rockies don’t seem to want to give him a chance.
Crude 2011 Projection: .265/.330, 0 HR, 15 SB
Verdict: Cut. I love me some EYJR, but the Rockies won’t let him play enough to make him worth owning.
If you have a second basemen you’re on the fence about, leave it in the comments. If I see a player showing up in the comments multiple times, I may do a writeup on them for next week.
Zach is the creator and co-author of RotoGraphs' Roto Riteup series, and RotoGraphs' second-longest tenured writer. You can follow him on twitter.
Brandon Phillips? I decided to keep him…but…meh.
Neil Walker. I have all winter to decide but are his best days ahead or is he just an avg 2b offensively playing uggla like defense?
Interesting take on EY Jr. you have. Do you honestly think that Barmes, Nelson, or Herrera will get more 2B PT for the Rockies next season?
I wish it weren’t so, but yes.
Really? Can you say why? I know I’m 4 days late but I’ve gotta believe that if he hits it’s his job to lose. He stole 17 bags in 172 AB this year- in only 2 months, (when he was getting the majority of the ABs.) Barmes will be obviously non-tendered, and even if Herrera and Nelson somehow play better than they’ve ever really shown, he’ll see plenty of time in the OF. Or do you think his SB attempts will drop off?
Carlos Guillen at $1 in a 20 team keeper league. Is he even worth keeping because of his injuries?
I think you absolutely have to keep Guillen for $1 in that deep of a league.
Kelly Johnson at about 4% of budget ($10 of $260 budget)… even considering it?
I have him at 6% of budget and I’m pretty set on keeping him. Numbers make him top 5 at the position depending on how you think Kinsler/Utley/Pedroia rebound.
How about Brian Roberts? injured ALLLL year
So you are a Zobrist fan? I’m glad because I have him and am planning on keeping.
It’s looking bad that I traded away Kinsler for him but Kinsler could easily miss a couple months again and doesn’t have a preimium lineup spot. Zobrist was cheaper to keep.
I have a league where you keep 12 people, no $ values or anything attached. I’ll have 3 2B potential keepers that I want to keep one of. Who is the best to keep of Prado, Kelly Johnson and Neil Walker? Offensive stats are H, BB, R, RBI, HR, SB, K, AVG, OPS
Howie Kendrick?
I left him off, because I think I’m going to try to do a full piece on him sometime soon.
Please do. He’s on the bubble for me in a deep league.
Kendrick could really break out in 2011 if the pieces fall together. Nothing seemed to click for anyone on that team. Hunter, Abreau, Morales all did nothing this yea. If the Angels get back on track (like they should), Kendrick could have a much bigger year.
also wondering about Neil Walker…keeping him at 1$
On the list.
What about Kinsler I know he is injury prone but can he still be a stud or at least top5 in a position that lacks depth?
Howie Kendrick? When is he going to be the batting champ I heard about years ago?
Also on the fence about Philips after the lackluster finish. Alternative would be Konerko.
I am really on the fence about EYJ. I have to chose between him, Brantley and Marcum in my 20 team keeper league for my 11th and 12th spots. I just have a hard time cutting loose his kind of upside.
I’ve got Weeks and Pedroia! I don’t know who to keep. I played Weeks at Utililty for most of the year. I can’t afford to keep both again though cuz I lose high picks based on my league’s structure even though I grabbed Weeks really late. I’m leaning towards keeping Pedroia based on his track record.
If where you got them in the draft doesn’t matter, I’d definitely keep Pedey based on his previous health/track record. I actually have Weeks as my primary 2B, so another reason I want to keep EYJ is to have an insurance policy.
Aaron Hill? While his AVG was down significantly this year, so was his BABIP… how much of a difference would it make if he had made his career BABIP?
I have him at an overpriced contract right now but in a points league where HRs are a huge boost to your score, he’s not bad. Just debating if he’s worth it in the long run.
Brian Roberts? He was $16 in our mixed auction, too high given how bad his back was, but if he’s healthy, is he a $21 guy next year?
you linked ey to his papa
Player linker’s fault.
Phillips and Kinsler
What about Me?
Brian Roberts and Neil Walker are definitely two i’d like to know about. Roberts especially.