Position Review: 2nd Base

2B MVP: Chase Utley [$37.67] - .325 AVG, 13 HR, 32 R, 28 RBI, 3 SB
Average Production of a 2B with Positive Value: .276 AVG, 4 HR, 21 R, 18 RBI, 4 SB
Replacement Level Player: Jeff Kent [$1.00] - .250 AVG, 3 HR, 13 R, 19 RBI, 0 SB

Best HR Source: Chase Utley [13]
Best R Source: Chase Utley [32]
Best RBI Source: Dan Uggla [29]
Best SB Source: Ian Kinsler & Brian Roberts [11]
Best AVG Source: Howie Kendrick [18 H in 36 AB]

To download the Excel sheet with the valuation data, click here.

Thoughts:

• Ian Kinsler - TEX [$25.57]: As a person who drafted Kinsler, I was expecting around a 20/20 season with a low batting average.  Kinsler has already stolen 11 bases, 4 of them in the past week.  He's hitting .310 currently, but his 85.16% contact rate, 6.78% walk rate, and .341 BABIP suggest he won't continue to do so.  Regardless, even if he regresses back to the .270 AVG area, his end of season line should look solid, given his extra prowess on the basepaths.  Buy.
• Kelly Johnson - ATL [$8.47]: Johnson has been solid, but not spectacular.  His .268 AVG isn't necessarily a fluke, as his .296 BABIP is slightly above league average [.293].  I'd expect him to get his AVG back to the .275 area, and continue to be a solid but not spectacular contributor in all 5 categories.  Buy.
• Kazuo Matsui - HOU [$5.16]: Matsui's been a pleasant surprise since returning from his injury.  The good news here is that most of it looks sustainable.  His value hasn't been dependent upon the long ball [1 HR thus far], nor on RBI [11], nor on AVG [.264].  He's strictly a two category guy, stealing 6 bases and scoring 20 runs thus far.  Given the Astros' baserunning philosophy and their potent offense [#5 in runs scored], this is completely sustainable for Matsui.  Buy.
• Jeff Kent - LAD [$1.00]: Kent has hit .292 and .302 in the past two years, but is only hitting .250 this year.  His BABIP is down at .265, which is an encouraging sign that part of the reason he's hitting so low is due to bad luck.  Kent's SLG is way down to .397, not an encouraging sign for a 40 year old player.  In the end, I think Kent rebounds in AVG, but doesn't pop the 20 HR we were all hoping for.  I'd try to avoid Kent if I could, though he won't kill you.  Sell.
• Freddy Sanchez - PIT [-$0.12]: Sanchez was supposed to pretty much be a one-category contributor in AVG.  He's been a little unfortunate in BABIP [.282], but not so much that it explains his .253 AVG.  Sanchez isn't whiffing any more than normal, within a percent or so of what he did last year.  I'm not 100% sure why Sanchez isn't hitting, but it's not a good sign.  Sell.