Since the 1B situation wasn't much fun to look at from the Bucco perspective, let's quickly move on. Here's a look at the second basemen across the division:
Secondbase
Cardinals: Skip Schumaker (backup plan – Julio Lugo)
2009 (153 games) – 303/364/393
Career (449 games) – 301/356/399
Best season 08 (153 games) – 302/359/406
My assessment – Three solid big league seasons. Grade: B
Reds: Brandon Phillips (backup plan – Aaron Miles)
2009 (153 games) – 276/329/447
Career (736 games) – 265/312/430
Best season 07 (158 games) – 288/331/485
My assessment – Should lead the division in HRs from this position. Mr. Consistency. Grade: B
Pirates: Akinori Iwamura (backup plan – Ramon Vazquez)
2009 (69 games) – 290/355/390
Career (344 games) – 281/354/393
Best season 07 (123 games) – 285/359/411
My assessment – Now comes all the questions marks, starting with Aki. Hopefully he’s primed to resume a promising career after the ACL injury. Grade: C
Brewers: Rickie Weeks (backup plan – Craig Counsell)
2009 (37 games) – 272/340/517
Career (482 games) – 247/351/415
Best season 07 (118 games) – 235/374/433
My assessment – Need to see if he bounces back from wrist surgery or not. Grade: C
Cubs: Mike Fontenot (backup plan – Jeff Baker)
2009 (135 games) – 236/301/377
Career (347 games) – 266/339/422
Best season 08 (119 games) – 305/395/514
My assessment – A 301 OBP will not get it done. I think 08 was the mirage. Grade: D+
Astros: Kazuo Matsui (backup plan – Jeff Keppinger)
2009 (132 games) – 250/302/357
Career (603 games) – 271/325/387
Best season 08 (96 games) – 293/354/427
My assessment – Looking like a Fontenot clone to me, just not much upside. Grade: D+
And GPAs thus far:
Cardinals: B+ (C), A (1B), B (2B) = GPA 3.43
Reds: C (C), B+ (1B), B (2B) = GPA 2.77
Brewers: C (C), A- (1B), C (2B) = GPA 2.57
Pirates: B+ (C), C- (1B), C (2B) = GPA 2.33
Cubs: C+ (C), B (1B), D+ (2B) = GPA 2.20
Astros: D (C), C+ (1B), D+ (2B) = GPA 1.53