Who Would You Start A Team With? 2B

[JJHardy7]

This time...2B. I'd like to add that I'm building my team very heavy on youth and how I think they'll project out in the future.

1. Brandon Phillips - Has power, decent speed, solid fielding, and is only 26. Doesn't walk as much as I'd like which leads to lower OBP.
2. Robinson Cano - Nice OBP, decent defense, run producer, and is only 25. Could increase walks.
3. Rickie Weeks - Great OBP, good speed, has shown power, and has improved defense -- still not good though. Has history of injuries, inconsistent with power/swing, and despite great OBP and only playing in 118 games was second in strike outs at 2B for players 26 and under.
4. Dustin Pedroia - Clutch, good avg, good OBP, doesn't strike out all that often, and is only 24. Needs to improve power numbers, not a real fast player, and has shown difficulty with curveballs.
5. Ian Kinsler - Has shown some power, good speed, good BB/K, good OBP, and is only 25. Needs to improve defense and avg (although his walks make up for it).

Other considerations (including those not included due to my desire to build a young team) - Chase Utley, Placido Polanco, Freddy Sanchez, and Dan Uggla (will be 28 at the beginning of 2008 season).

I know I haven't been a big Rickie Weeks fan (until maybe September), but he could very likely be #1 on this list if he can carry over end of 2007 to 2008.

[TooLiveBrew]

Utley isn't young enough for ya? He's my hands-down, obvious choice. Weeks will likely be close by the ASB next year, though. That wrist being clean should be scaring opposing pitchers.

 

EDIT: Be careful on the OBP consideration with Cano. His has tended to be pretty hollow to this point in his career. But who knows - his 39 BBs in '07 were a career high at any level.

[endaround]

I'd take Kelly Johnson over Kinsler. Aaron Hill is also very close.

[Fatter than Joey]

Chase Utley.

[JJHardy7]

I do like Utley and don't blame anyone by any means for choosing him, but he turns 29 in December. I think he's a really good player, but I'm always afraid of injuries. Weeks is just starting to gain my confidence again.

 

How good is Utley's speed? I know his stolen base numbers are nothing to write home about, but it doesn't appear he attempts them too often.

[billyhallfan]

Alberto Callaspo.

 

He has had some problems, but I think he is going to be very good.

 

Baseball America said he was the minors best contact hitter, his .OBP in his minor league career has been amazing, and he is pretty solid at defense, he has played all over, but if I had him I would keep him at second and let him work out the problems. Callaspo could develop a power stroke later on in his career, but nothing spectacular.

[homer]

Utley

[trwi7]

Utley.

[kgbaseball]

Utley

Cano

[lukevan]

Definitely Utley. Then Phillips, then Weeks right now.

[colbyjack]

Utley.

 

Given the building the team heavy on youth theme, I'd go with either Howie Kedrick or Dustin Pedroia.

[billyhallfan]

Given the building the team heavy on youth theme, I'd go with either Howie Kedrick or Dustin Pedroia.

 

not even a thought for callaspo?

[colbyjack]

not even a thought for callaspo?

 

No, not really. If I'm building a team position-by-position, I'm not doing it with a good but not great prospect that for the most part has not proven himself at the big-league level yet.

[bklynbrewcrew]

By the middle of next year Weeks will be the dominant second baseman in baseball.

[mothershipconnection]

Utley, without hesitation for me.

[Tbadder]

I'd take Utley because I've got absolutely no guts to pick the guy who I think is gonna clean his clock.

[brettac1]

Utley is one of the best players in the league at this point, so him being about to turn 29 doesn't really scare me.

[JJHardy7]

I agree Utley is a great player. I'm building on youth (kind of like a video game dynasty I guess), but Utley is a great 2B. This is a position that really doesn't have a done of depth in the bigs as far as offensive production and Utley stands above most.

[bando1234]

The here & now: Utley however my 2nd pick would be Orlando Hudson.

 

The Future: I like what Pedroia did this year but I think Weeks has a higher cealing. That could just be the fan in me.

[TooLiveBrew]

No, bando, it's the 'good eyes in you.' http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif

[Big Reed]

You don't want to build your entire team around first and second year players. You need some young veterans to add into the mix. they provide leadership, stability and a gate attraction. look at the Seattle Pilots. they had both an aging Don Mincher and Tommy Harper close to his prime along with their young players..

 

thus my choice is Utley.