Around the Division - Second base

by jmarter on Feb 9, 2010 9:15 AM EST

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

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of the managing editor (Charlie) or SB Nation. FanPosts are written by Bucs Dugout readers.

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Comments

If you consider defense, these rankings might look a bit different.

by epoc on Feb 9, 2010 10:19 AM EST reply actions

I tried to at least consider defense, but so many question marks at this position.

by jmarter on Feb 9, 2010 10:33 AM EST up reply actions

Phillips

He is the only above average player in this position so if he is a B then all others should be a C+ or lower. Only Weeks has the potential to surpass Phillips.

by buccoben on Feb 13, 2010 7:38 PM EST up reply actions

If Schumaker is a B, then Iwamura belongs in that level as well.

by Adam Reynolds on Feb 9, 2010 10:30 AM EST reply actions

I hope you are right. I held back a bit on Aki’s grade due to the injury.

by jmarter on Feb 9, 2010 10:34 AM EST up reply actions

The ACL tear seems like one of the most likely 1-year injuries to come back full strength from.

by Adam Reynolds on Feb 9, 2010 12:11 PM EST up reply actions

+1

this isn’t football or basketball, where the ACL is key in terms of driving the leg into the ground in order to run faster, jump higher, etc.

The ACL injury won’t be a problem if he’s fully healed.

"Straight ball I hit very much, but curveball, bats are afraid." - Pedro Cerrano

by silencerdu on Feb 13, 2010 1:29 AM EST up reply actions

you’re overrating Schumacher and short-changing Iwamura, Weekes and Fontenot. Looking back, I think you overvalued Doumit a tad and are a bit low on Soto and 2 grades low on Berkman, he should be a “B”, at least.

by Scranton on Feb 9, 2010 11:07 AM EST reply actions

As long as Kaz Matsui isn't getting anal fissures I think the Astros will be ok

Players who should be in the Hall of Fame: Pat TIllman, Dwight White, Donnie Shell, L.C. Greenwood, Ray Guy, Steve Tasker, Greg Llyod, Andy Russel, Cris Carter, Kevin Greene and Jerry Kramer
"the earth moves when Sean Payton walks...Because his balls are just that huge." Anarchon after Super Bowl XLIV
Canal Street Chronicles resident Steelers Fan

by WVPiratesfan on Feb 9, 2010 11:38 AM EST reply actions

That’s actually gonna be the title of Houston’s 2010 end-of-season highlight DVD.

by Dan H on Feb 9, 2010 3:00 PM EST up reply actions

glad someone else remembered that he had anal fissures

by WVPiratesfan on Feb 9, 2010 3:33 PM EST up reply actions

I don't know what's more disturbing

…the fact that it happened, or the fact that you remembered it

"Straight ball I hit very much, but curveball, bats are afraid." - Pedro Cerrano

by silencerdu on Feb 13, 2010 1:30 AM EST up reply actions

Looking at the Astros as a whole, I think the Bucs can get out of the cellar this year. That is one lousy looking team. They are getting older and there is more or less no help on the way.

by Suffering Buc on Feb 9, 2010 12:13 PM EST reply actions

Very good post but..

I think the Cubbies have Jeff Baker penciled in as the starter and Fontenot being their back up infielder. In which case, Jeff Baker is a C due to his potential to hit the ball along way (think Uggla like).

by chrisiu10 on Feb 9, 2010 2:47 PM EST reply actions

With the ACL, I would go B- on Iwamura

Otherwise he’d be a solid B. He did come back early from the injury last year, but didn’t play to the same level as before. He was having a very solid year before the injury (.310/.377/.406).

by MarkInDallas on Feb 9, 2010 3:53 PM EST reply actions

A transfer from the AL

Could help Iwamura’s hitting stats. If you look at Sabathia, Holliday, Dan Haren, and even Rich Harden, their stats after transferring from the AL to the NL have been much better. If Iwamura goes from batting .280 to .290, I think we might be looking at more of a B or B-, rather than a C.

Then again, my examples were mainly pitchers…

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by H2O on Feb 9, 2010 8:30 PM EST reply actions