Future Prospects of 2011 > Second Base
I fixed a problem with the first baseman. The left-handed stats were all to the side. It looks much better now.
This week we are looking at the second baseman from a Strat-O-Matic perspective where defense is as important as offense and on-base beats batting average any day. The new cards this year look pretty promising here.
Dustin Ackley 2B SEA Bats: L Throws: R Age: 22 Draft: 2009-1(2) Stats AB H 2B 3B HR BB HB IB SO SH SF AVE SLG OBP OPS G:F BABIP vs LH 85 19 4 1 2 8 0 0 27 0 1 .224 .365 .287 .652 1.4 .298 vs RH 248 72 12 6 4 32 0 1 52 0 2 .290 .435 .369 .804 0.8 .350 Total 333 91 16 7 6 40 0 1 79 0 3 .273 .417 .348 .766 0.7 .338 Grade: B88-2B 2B-4
A couple of year’s back I rated Dustin Pedroia really high and drafted him on all my teams. I even picked him up in the fourth round of a 30-team league, because I was alone in thinking he was going to be a great Strat-O-Matic player. The reason why I like Pedroia was his unusually good hand eye coordination. Despite a lack in size, hand eye coordination would win out. Ackley has that kind of coordination, except he isn’t 5-foot-9. Unfortunately, Ackley doesn’t have Pedroia’s “Laser Lightshow” defense. Despite that, he has an impact bat and that will go a long way towards helping a team.
Ryan Adams 2B BAL Bats: R Throws: R Age: 23 Draft: 2006-2(58) Stats AB H 2B 3B HR BB HB IB SO SH SF AVE SLG OBP OPS G:F BABIP vs LH 27 10 1 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 0 .370 .407 .370 .778 2.3 .476 vs RH 62 15 3 0 0 6 1 0 19 0 0 .242 .290 .319 .609 2.4 .348 Total 89 25 4 0 0 6 1 0 25 0 0 .281 .326 .333 .659 2.1 .390 Grade: P55-2B 2B-4
Adams has had an interesting trip through the minor leagues. He was a bit too motivated when he signed and bulked up too much. He’s had some discipline issues. He is weak defensively at both third and second. He did hit .281 in sporadic play but he might be considered for the starting job at second if Brian Roberts is hurt again.
Jose Altuve 2B HOU Bats: R Throws: R Age: 20 Draft: NDFA 2008 Stats AB H 2B 3B HR BB HB IB SO SH SF AVE SLG OBP OPS G:F BABIP vs LH 53 17 2 0 1 3 0 0 7 3 1 .321 .415 .351 .766 1.8 .347 vs RH 168 44 8 1 1 2 2 0 22 2 0 .262 .339 .279 .618 2.0 .296 Total 221 61 10 1 2 5 2 0 29 5 1 .276 .357 .297 .654 1.9 .308 Grade: P77-2B 2B-2
It is very difficult to project Jose Altuve. He stands at 5-foot-7 making him the shortest player in baseball. Scouts prefer size. On the other hand, his baseball instincts are excellent. He is solid defensively. He is very hard to strike out. He doesn’t make mistakes on the base paths. Probably the biggest knock on him long-term is Delino DeShields Jr. DeShields is the second baseman of the future, but just turned 19. In the meantime, Houston doesn’t have much talent so Altuve’s spark plug play should get plenty of at-bats.
Ivan De Jesus 2B LAD Bats: R Throws: R Age: 23 Draft: 2005-2(51) Stats AB H 2B 3B HR BB HB IB SO SH SF AVE SLG OBP OPS G:F BABIP vs LH 7 2 0 0 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 .286 .286 .444 .730 3.0 .400 vs RH 25 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 1 0 .160 .160 .160 .320 1.2 .250 Total 32 6 0 0 0 2 0 0 11 1 0 .188 .188 .235 .423 1.4 .285 Grade: P55-2B 2B-3
Dejesus missed all of 2009 with a broken leg and that ruined his chance at a full-time job. The Dodgers needed help as second and he didn’t get a real look. That’s all you really need to know.
Brad Emaus 2B NYM Bats: R Throws: R Age: 24 Draft: 2007-11(355) Stats AB H 2B 3B HR BB HB IB SO SH SF AVE SLG OBP OPS G:F BABIP vs LH 8 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 .250 .250 .250 .500 1.5 .333 vs RH 29 4 0 0 0 4 1 1 7 0 0 .138 .138 .265 .403 2.0 .181 Total 37 6 0 0 0 4 1 1 9 0 0 .162 .162 .262 .424 1.7 .214 Grade: P55-2B 2B-4
Surprisingly, Brad Emaus won the second base job out of spring training but didn’t hit. He has a good batting eye, but not much else. After loosing his job, the Mets didn’t just send him down, they designated him for assignment and the Rockies picked him up. This may be his only card for his career.
Johnny Giavotella 2B KC Bats: R Throws: R Age: 24 Draft: 2008-2(49) Stats AB H 2B 3B HR BB HB IB SO SH SF AVE SLG OBP OPS G:F BABIP vs LH 42 11 0 2 1 3 0 0 6 0 0 .262 .429 .311 .740 1.8 .285 vs RH 136 33 9 2 1 3 1 0 26 0 2 .243 .360 .261 .621 1.1 .288 Total 178 44 9 4 2 6 1 0 32 0 2 .247 .376 .273 .649 1.3 .287 Grade: P78-2B 2B-4
Giavotella can flat out hit. He hit .338 in Triple-A. It all comes down to his defense. It was a weak point before, but he’s improved. Can he make it a 2b-3? Don’t know. You can play a 2b-3 if he hits .300.
Jason Kipnis 2B CLE Bats: L Throws: R Age: 23 Draft: 2009-2(63) Stats AB H 2B 3B HR BB HB IB SO SH SF AVE SLG OBP OPS G:F BABIP vs LH 38 10 2 0 1 5 0 0 10 0 0 .263 .395 .349 .744 2.2 .333 vs RH 98 27 7 1 6 6 2 0 24 0 1 .276 .551 .327 .878 1.9 .304 Total 136 37 9 1 7 11 2 0 34 0 1 .272 .507 .333 .841 1.5 .312 Grade: P77-2B 2B-4
Kipnis is a former outfielder who was moved to second base in part due to a weak arm. While he has taken to the position nicely, he is still learning on the job. I suspect he’ll be a 2b-4 and eventually becoming a 2b-3. He has more power than Giavotella.
DJ LeMahieu 2B CHC Bats: R Throws: R Age: 23 Draft: 2009-2(79) Stats AB H 2B 3B HR BB HB IB SO SH SF AVE SLG OBP OPS G:F BABIP vs LH 24 7 2 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 .292 .375 .292 .667 3.7 .350 vs RH 36 8 0 0 0 1 0 0 8 1 0 .222 .222 .243 .465 3.2 .285 Total 60 15 2 0 0 1 0 0 12 1 0 .250 .283 .262 .546 3.5 .312 Grade: P67-2B 2B-4
Another good hitter with weak defensive skills, the Cubs believe that he’ll generate more power once he gets a bit bigger. Defense is a concern. He has a strong arm to play third, but without power, he isn’t an ideal candidate there. Drafting him means you hope he develops.
Cord Phelps 2B CLE Bats: S Throws: R Age: 23 Draft: 2008-3(107) Stats AB H 2B 3B HR BB HB IB SO SH SF AVE SLG OBP OPS G:F BABIP vs LH 10 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 4 1 0 .100 .100 .250 .350 0.5 .166 vs RH 61 10 2 1 1 6 0 0 13 0 0 .164 .279 .239 .517 1.1 .191 Total 71 11 2 1 1 8 0 0 17 1 0 .155 .254 .241 .494 0.9 .188 Grade: P66-2B 2B-3
Phelps this the third best infield prospect behind Jason Kipnis and Lonnie Chisenhall. That means that he’ll need one of those two to fail or get hurt to get regular playing time.
Justin Turner 2B NYM Bats: R Throws: R Age: 27 Draft: 2006-7(2004) Stats AB H 2B 3B HR BB HB IB SO SH SF AVE SLG OBP OPS G:F BABIP vs LH 124 29 8 0 0 15 3 1 18 0 0 .234 .298 .331 .629 1.2 .273 vs RH 311 84 22 0 4 24 7 1 41 2 1 .270 .379 .335 .715 1.7 .299 Total 435 113 30 0 4 39 10 2 59 2 1 .260 .356 .334 .690 1.3 .292 Grade: V76-2B 2B-3
Turner is on the cusp of being listed as a utility infielder. He is capable at second and third, but doesn’t have the power you want from the corner. At 27 years-old, he won’t have much of a career, but his card is good enough to fill in for a year if your primary 2B is developing or was hurt last year.
Jemile Weeks 2B OAK Bats: S Throws: R Age: 23 Draft: 2008-1(12) Stats AB H 2B 3B HR BB HB IB SO SH SF AVE SLG OBP OPS G:F BABIP vs LH 129 37 9 2 0 6 0 0 17 2 1 .287 .388 .316 .704 0.7 .327 vs RH 277 86 17 6 2 15 4 1 45 0 3 .310 .437 .351 .788 1.0 .360 Total 406 123 26 8 2 21 4 1 62 2 4 .303 .421 .340 .761 0.8 .349 Grade: P77-2B 2B-4
It is rather interesting. Jemile is similar to his brother Rickie. Drafted first round, will hit for more power than his size, excellent bat speed and can’t stay off the DL. Defensively, he is also similar to Rickie, stuck as a 2B-4 with the hope of a 2B-3.
Name Tm B T AG Draft Grade Def ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Dustin Ackley SEA L R 22 2009-1(2) B88-2B 2B-4 Johnny Giavotella KCR R R 24 2008-2(49) P78-2B 2B-4 Jason Kipnis CLE L R 23 2009-2(63) P78-2B 2B-4 Jemile Weeks OAK S R 23 2008-1(12) P77-2B 2B-4 Jose Altuve HOU R R 20 NDFA 2008 P77-2B 2B-2 DJ LeMahieu CHC R R 23 2009-2(79) P67-2B 2B-4 Ryan Adams BAL R R 23 2006-2(58) P55-2B 2B-4 Justin Turner NYM R R 27 2006-7(2004) V76-2B 2B-3 Cord Phelps CLE S R 23 2008-3(107) P66-2B 2B-3 Ivan De Jesus LAD R R 23 2005-2(51) P55-2B 2B-3 Brad Emaus NYM R R 24 2007-11(355) P55-2B 2B-4
