2012 Fantasy Baseball Rankings & Projections – Top 20 Second Basemen

Well this has been a ton-o-fun, right? Agreed! This week we are all about those fun middle infielders. You know, those players that unless you draft very early you probably won’t even remember who they were after the season is over Yea, those guys. Thanks, “those guys!” Any-who, we’ll start by looking at the top 20 second basemen for the second half.

A quick note on these rankings and projections that will be featured over the next few weeks and will culminate with the Top 10, Top 20, Top 100,  and Top 300 rankings…these are how I think they should be valued. You may disagree at times and fall in love with me at times (but hey let’s just stay friends for now…I’d just break your heart….unless you have a huge bankroll for drinks.) Any-who I break things out into tiers when I can. When you see guys in the same tier it means it doesn’t really matter who is ranked ahead of whom…I just prefer the guy on top (well that came out wrong.) All the rankings will also be featured on their own page (look above…higher…higher…there), which can be found here.

After we wrap up the rankings I’m going to hold a live chat on fantasybalk.com to answer any questions you may have and try and help you with any last minute keeper question, draft questions, relationship advice, etc. that you might be facing. I’ll be announcing the date and time shortly. Feel free to start sending in your questions now to fantasybalk@gmail.com

Ok so the 2012 Top 20 Second Basemen for Fantasy Baseball:

1.    Robinson Cano – There was a time (what I consider was my prime) when every time I would go out to the bar I would get a girl’s phone number. I mean I was unstoppable. After a while my friends just began to expect it, and often times they wouldn’t even want to hear about it because it was so normal.  The whole time I thought I was just awesome (I may have repeated this to my friends on multiple occasions as well)…but looking back, I was just Canowning. That’s right, Canowning. It’s basically just going out there and consistently being great. Robinson Cano has been doing it for years. You can pretty much bank on 100/28/100/.300. Now excuse me, I’m going to go find out if I’ve still got it. Oh and this is the first tier, and it goes through Pedroia. It’s called: “They are the cream of the crop…they rise to the top…Kinsler will never eat a pig cause a pig is a cop (and he’s Jewish).” 2012 Projections: 110/28/110/.310/6

2.    Ian Kinsler – A lot of people have Pedroia ahead of Kinsler. I’m just guilty of always preferring the guy with 30/30 potential over the guy with 20/20 potential. Plus, the Jews have been put down long enough. 2012 Projections: 110/26/75/.275/25

3.    Dustin Pedroia – I don’t think he’ll be on many of my fantasy teams this year, but that has more to do with his circus carny hands than his fantasy value.  2012 Projections: 105/16/85/.290/20

4.    Dan Uggla –Uggs (let’s agree to never call him that again, alright?) was terribly unlucky last year, but with that said he was terribly lucky the year before. So karma must exist. Expect his average to be somewhere between the previous two seasons, and as always expect the 30+ power. This is the start of Tier #2. This tier goes through Phillips, and I gave it the title “If I already have a first baseman, an OF’er and I’m feeling good, I may grab either of these guys”.  2012 Projections: 90/33/95/.255/2

5.    Brandon Phillips – I kind of love the Reds this year. So I’m expecting another solid year from Phillips.  2012 Projection: 95/19/80/.280/15

6.    Howie Kendrick – A guy like Kendrick is the perfect example of someone you set in your lineup and then don’t worry about his day-to-day production. When the season is done you’ll realize he really was there for you. Then call him up and invite him to a dinner at the Melting Pot. Oh this is tier #3 and I call it: ““Yea, I like these guys.” “ I’m so poetic. It goes through Weeks. If I haven’t grabbed a second baseman yet, I’m doing it from this tier.  2012 Projections: 90/15/75/.290/14

7.    Chase Utley – Here’s a guy I won’t be grabbing (unless he falls, or looks amazing in spring training….and I’m not talking about how he’s looking in his bathing suit.) The injuries, loss of Howard for at least a month, etc. will have me looking elsewhere. I guess he doesn’t exactly belong in this tier, but I’d still like to be friends with him. I’m sure our relationship would be a real home run. 2012 Projections: 80/17/80/.280/14

8.    Michael Young – I already covered him here. He may or may not have the eligibility depending on what platform you are using. 2012 Projections: 80/15/90/.300/5

9.    Michael Cuddyer – I already covered him here. He may or may not have the eligibility depending on what platform you are using. 2012 Projections: 80/22/85/.275/8

10. Ben Zobrist – So something very important to take away from this tier of players is just how similar everyone’s numbers are in the projections (outside of Cuddyer who won’t have the SBs). Each player is projected to have roughly 15-20 homers, 10-20 SBs, and an average that won’t kill you.  2012 Projections: 90/18/85/.260//18

11.  Rickie Weeks – I try and stay away from guys (the best I can) that are injury prone, and Weeks is just that. Plus he lost Fielder to the donuts in Detroit, and Braun to some crazy herp medicine. Got to assume he might go on the DL with an injured….heart. #BAM 2012 Projections: 80/22/70/.265/10

12.  Danny Espinosa – So this is tier #4, which I call “One of these guys will be my MIer this year.” It means exactly what you think it means…without the nudity. So yes, Espinosa hit .236 last year (and did it with a normal BABIP, so expect a similar average this year), but he did hit 21 homers with 17 stolen bases. That is pretty lovely from your middle infielder. This tier goes through Walker. 2012 Projections: 80/22/80/.245/19

13.  Kelly Johnson – Quite frankly I love Johnson this year. Well that didn’t come out right. But seriously folks (because that’s what we do here) Kelly Johnson is going to be on as many teams as possible this year. Cheap power, great lineup. We have a match made in heaven. 2012 Projections: 70/22/65/.250/13

14.  Jason Kipnis – Hey here’s another guy I like (and it makes sense that he is in this tier). If you have no idea what I am talking about, you should really read from top to bottom. 2012 Projections: 75/17/75/.270/16

15.  Aaron Hill – Aaron has frustrated my shizz beyond belief the last few years. He’s going to be in a great ballpark, and a pretty solid lineup so he’s doing a great job trying to rope me back in. 2012 Projections: 70/16/70/.255/15

16.  Neil Walker – Might just drive in more runs than all but a few of the guys on this list. He also won’t kill you in any category. You could do worse. 2012 Projections: 74/14/85/.275/8

17.  Dustin Ackley – Alrighty the final tier for the second baseman rankings. This has been a blast. This tier; however, will not give you the same kind of tingle in your stomach. They will most likely punch you in the stomach. So I call this tier, “Bend over and I’ll show ya.” Yea I don’t really like these guys. My projections on Ackley are actually pretty optimistic but I also won’t be surprised if he goes out there and smacks 7 bombs and hits .255 all season. That park can frustrate the crapola out of most hitters.  2012 Projections: 80/11/70/.270/13

18.  Jemile Weeks – Another guy in a bad ballpark and a bad lineup. If you find yourself in need of Stolen Bases that is about the only reason I could see you needing to grab the younger Weeks. 2012 Projections: 75/3/55/.280/30

19.  Ryan Roberts – No thanks. 2012 Projections: 70/16/60/.258/15

20.  Gordon Beckham – Seriously, No Thank You! 65/12/60/.250/5