Let's take a minute to reflect on the greatest baseball players of all time. You know the guys I'm talking about: Lou Gehrig, Babe Ruth, Ted Williams, Willie Mays, and Henry Aaron.
What do these guys all have in common?
None of them were second basemen.
So does someone want to explain to me why the least important position in baseball has suddenly become the difference-maker for successful teams?
I know it's early in the season to be making predictions, but come on. Just looking at the names and stats of the division-leading second baseman lets kids know that you can be a great hitter and still limit yourself to a 65-foot throw to first base. That's the kind of physical strain that molds a 20-year player.
Allow me to illustrate for you:
The Dodgers may not be a surprise as the NL West leaders, though it is a surprise that the division is not even close after last year's dramatic race into September.
The Dodgers have a six-game lead after only 37 games of baseball. Most teams would feel fortunate to have that kind of lead when summer ends.
And who leads the team in batting average?
Well okay, my argument about second basemen weakens here, because Manny Ramirez is the leader at .348 (minimum 90 AB).
But who is first on the team among players not looking to go on maternity leave come playoff time? Well, in that case, it's Orlando Hudson, hitting .344 with a solid 21 RBIs.
In the NL Central, the Milwaukee Brewers share the lead with the St. Louis Cardinals, and we as fans can only hope that this battle goes down to the wire the way the Cubs and Brewers fought for Central supremacy last year.
And Milwaukee second baseman Rickie Weeks is hitting a solid .282 (fourth among starters on the team) with 24 RBIs (that ranks third).
The NL East is brought to you by two teams whose second basemen make big contributions, starting with the New York Mets.
While it will take more than a solid No. 4 on the scoresheet to make sure this team doesn't blow another division lead, Alex Cora and Luis Castillo come in at a respectable fourth and fifth in batting average, respectively, among players playing in at least 24 games this season.
And the defending champs don't need to defend their second baseman by citing statistics. Chase Utley has been an integral part of the championship, and will continue to make a difference in the team's performance in the 2009 season.
But in case you're curious, Chase is tied for first on the team in home runs and stands alone at third in RBIs.
Moving on to that league with the DH rule, second basemen aren't treated much differently.
Ian Kinsler is leading his AL West-leading Rangers in homers and RBIs, and ranks third in batting average. It's too early to tell, but you had better believe that this kid is competing for the AL MVP award.
Guess which Royals' everyday-man ranks first on the team in average and doubles, and ranks fifth in RBIs?
That's right, it's the second baseman, Alberto Callaspo. You know, that guy that no one in your fantasy league picked up.
Which brings us to the division where AL Pennant winners are made, the AL East. Surely these guys, who produced Ruth, Gehrig, Williams, Mantle, Ripken, and others remember that the second baseman is the most useless position on the field, right?
Robinson Cano: Fourth on the team in BA, not to mention 72 TB and only 13 SO in 35 games.
Dustin Pedroia: Second on the team (among starters) with a .324 BA, with only 12 SO in 34 games.
Oh, and Aaron Hill: Only hitting .347 with 10 HR and 32 RBI (first on the team, first on the team, and first on the team, respectively). On a team that is first in the division.
And yes, that is the same division that is supposed to be watching the Rays, Sox, and Yanks compete for only two spots come September.
I'm no genius, but I detect a trend, and a surprising one at that. Since when is 2B the place where you go to get your offense?
Well, baseball fans, it has happened. Infielders are learning how to hit, and not just any infielders. These are the guys with the weak arms.
You know, the ones who rarely throw the ball more than 90 feet.
Suddenly, it doesn't pay to be a bumbling outfielder or first baseman who can wield a bat like a madman only to make up for all the unearned runs he allows on defense by letting the ball get away from him. You're lucky you're retired, Albert Belle.
All of the guys above (and plenty more) are capable of playing both sides of baseball, and I think that's a beautiful thing. Not only can we as fans get excited when we see our favorite 2B track down a ball in deep foul ground, but now we can expect him to drive home a few runs in the bottom of the inning as well.
For years, only a handful of teams (like those who bothered to deal with Robbie Alomar) put major focus on the second baseman. For everyone else, it was simply important to get a guy who could take pitches and lay down the sacrifice bunt when called upon.
Well, sorry, but Dustin Pedroia didn't win the 2008 MVP award by moving the runner over to second.
And you better believe that Ian Kinsler isn't gonna win the 2009 MVP award by doing that, either.
Modern has baseball has taught us something: while pitching wins championships, it doesn't hurt to have a little guy who can put the ball in play from second base, either. The power outfielders and stellar shortstops are a thing of the past.
Now, it turns out that the kid on your Little League team who never wanted his glove to touch the dirt was the key to a World Series win.
Baseball, welcome to the Era of the Second Baseman.
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