Crooked Pitch

Here is the ranking list of National League second basemen for 2008.

1. Brandon Phillips | Cincinnati Reds
2. Chase Utley | Philadelphia Phillies
3. Dan Uggla | Florida Marlins
4. Kelly Johnson | Atlanta Braves
5. Rickie Weeks | Milwaukee Brewers
6. Orlando Hudson | Arizona Diamondbacks
7. Jeff Kent | Los Angeles Dodgers
8. Freddy Sanchez | Pittsburgh Pirates
9. Mark DeRosa | Chicago Cubs
10. Luis Castillo | New York Mets
11. Felipe Lopez | Washington Nationals
12. Kaz Matsui | Houston Astros
13. Ray Durham | San Francisco Giants
14. Tadihito Iguchi | San Diego Padres
15. Ronnie Belliard | Washington Nationals
16. Adam Kennedy | St. Louis Cardinals
17. Mark Loretta | Houston Astros
18. Ruben Gotay | New York Mets
19. Kevin Fransden | San Francisco Giants

Here is the list of American League second basemen who should have a fantasy impact in 2008.

1. B.J. Upton | Tampa Bay Rays
2. Brian Roberts | Baltimore Orioles
3. Robinson Cano | New York Yankees
4. Ian Kinsler | Texas Rangers
5. Dustin Pedroia | Boston Red Sox
6. Howie Kendrick | Los Angeles Angels
7. Placido Polanco | Detroit Tigers
8. Aaron Hill | Toronto Blue Jays
9. Mark Ellis | Oakland Athletics
10. Asdrubal Cabrera | Cleveland Indians
11. Jose Lopez | Seattle Mariners
12. Danny Richar | Chicago White Sox
13. Alexi Casilla | Minnesota Twins
14. Mark Grudzialanek | Kansas City Royals
15. Macier Izturis | Los Angeles Angels
16. Brendan Harris | Minnesota Twins

I’ve received a good bit of feedback via e-mail and IM about the structuring of the 2008 fantasy draft lists you find here at Crooked Pitch. Up to this point I’ve been keeping the players in the divisions they play in. While this makes it easy for me to track, it doesn’t serve as much fantasy purpose as it would if they were split into just the American League and the National League as well as populated into a master list of the whole MLB universe.

So, from now on, I’m going to quit with the divisional rankings and just do positional rankings for each league as well as the entire MLB. If you enjoyed the divisional rankings and would like me to keep them up, please send me a note.

Here is the list of fantasy first basemen who play in the American League East Division. You’ll only find players on this list that will or could make a fantasy impact in 2008.

1. Carlos Pena | Tampa Bay Rays
2. Kevin Youkilis | Boston Red Sox
3. Jason Giambi | New York Yankees
4. Lyle Overbay | Toronto Blue Jays
5. Aubrey Huff | Baltimore Orioles
6. Kevin Millar | Baltimore Orioles
7. Matt Stairs | Toronto Blue Jays

Here is the list of fantasy first basemen who play in the American League Central Division. You’ll only find players on this list that will or could make a fantasy impact in 2008.

1. Justin Morneau | Minnesota Twins
2. Victor Martinez | Cleveland Indians
3. Paul Konerko | Chicago White Sox
4. Carlos Guillen | Detroit Tigers
5. Billy Butler | Kansas City Royals
6. Ryan Garko | Cleveland Indians
7. Jim Thome | Chicago White Sox
8. Ross Gload | Kansas City Royals
9. Garrett Jones | Minnesota Twins
10. Ryan Shealy | Kansas City Royals
11. Mike Hessman | Detroit Tigers

Here is the list of fantasy first basemen who play in the American League West Division. You’ll only find players on this list that will or could make a fantasy impact in 2008.

Now, before I get flooded with e-mails about the Athletics players making up 33% of this list, let me say that Swisher will play a lot of outfield in 2008 leaving a battle between Barton and Johnson, which I think Barton will win some time before the All-Star break. Until that happens, I need to leave them ranked like this. Once the picture becomes a little more clear, I can adjust so you can maximize value for your fantasy teams.

Also, Jarrod Saltalamacchia is not on this list as the Rangers have made it clear he is a full time catcher again. Obviously, if your fantasy league allows him to maintain his status as a first baseman as well as a cacther, Salty will be uber-valuable.

1. Nick Swisher | Oakland A’s
2. Richie Sexson | Seattle Mariners
3. Casey Kotchman | Los Angeles Angels
4. Daric Barton | Oakland A’s
5. Dan Johnson | Oakland A’s
6. Brad Wilkerson | Texas Rangers
7. Chris Shelton | Texas Rangers
8. Kendry Morales | Los Angeles Angels
9. Ben Broussard | Seattle Mariners

Here is the list of fantasy first basemen who play in the National League Central Division. You’ll only find players on this list that will or could make a fantasy impact in 2008.

1. Albert Pujols | St. Louis Cardinals
2. Prince Fielder | Milwaukee Brewers
3. Lance Berkman | Houston Astros
4. Derrek Lee | Chicago Cubs
5. Adam LaRoche | Pittsburgh Pirates
6. Joey Votto | Cincinnati Reds
7. Scott Hatteberg | Cincinnati Reds
8. Daryle Ward | Chicago Cubs