Draft Guide: The Top 31 Utility* Players in the 2006 Set
By Joe Harder - Guest Writer
06/26/2007
In order by current card value:
Top tier – these players are “utility” but well might deserve a starting slot on your team, at least vs. lefties:
1. Freddy Sanchez, Pittsburgh, rh, 29 years old – obviously starts vs. lhp, and as a 2b-2e6/3b-2e10 his 37 on base vs. rhp might make him a starter both ways. Positive 12 clutch, b bunter, not much pop. Regressing in 2007 with .329 on base and .358 slugging?
2. Esteban German, Kansas City, rh, 29 – I drafted him with the overall 31st pick in our draft (start of the 4th round). His 2b-3e8 coupled with 50+ on base makes him my starting second baseman, and with a 3b-4e32, 1b-4e25, lf/cf-4(+2)e25, that’s probably the only place he should play (though he could be a defensive 1b for me with Giambi/Ortiz there). Zero clutch, bc14, *16 adds to his value. No pop. Okay so far in 2007 with .358 obp (and still little pop).
3. Melvin Mora, Baltimore, rh~, 35 – reversed righty hits rhp better, though his power is against lhp. 3b-3e18 is playable, 2b-4e27 less so. Positive 4 clutch, ab14, *19 base stealer, not too many gba. .318 obp/.418 slug so far in 2007, playing solely 3b.
4. Bill Hall, Milwaukee, rh, 27 – certainly merits starting vs. lefties, though not so much vs. righties. Good ph vs. lhp off the bench, 3 range at 2b, 3b, and ss (though high error rating), *15 (though can be picked off), cd14, not terrible clutch. .320/.420 as a cf in 2007.
Next tier – best combinations of hitting, fielding, running or particular specialty:
5. Ryan Theriot, Chicago NL, rh, 27 – limited at bats and sub-par defense, but great on base and runs well. .339/.349 in 2007.
6. Jamey Carroll, Colorado, rh, 33 – 2b-2e4, *19, over 40 on base vs. rhp, over 50 vs. lhp; less useable at ss (4e21) or 3b (3e53), -9 clutch limits bench value, but he possibly makes my roster over the Big Hurt (see next entry). Grab his career year now. Big fall off so far in 2007 MLB.
7. Rich Aurilia, Cincinnati, rh, 35 – Okay defense at 2b, plays 3b, ss, and 1b as well. I fully expect his presence on my bench to limit my opponents’ bringing in left handed relievers (his eight ballpark diamonds and seven straight home runs combined with backup catcher David Ross’s 8 diamonds and 17.8 straight home runs will probably keep the Big Hurt from making my roster). He’ll also be my defensive first baseman for Jason Giambi and his 5e21 (ouch). Back down to earth in 2007.
8. Mark DeRosa, Texas, rh, 32 – versatility of 2b-3e6, 3b-3e13, rf/lf-4(0)e3, ss/1b-4 complements good hits, on base, and pop vs. lhp, but he loses 8 in the clutch, doesn’t run, and has a fair number of gba. .348/.465 in 2007 makes him the best former Quaker to draft.
9. Marco Scutaro, Oakland, rh, 31 – I was going to draft him to use his 40 on base as starting ss, then move him to 2b-2e5 (for German) late in the game (keeping Big Hurt and not Carroll), but had to settle for Macier Izturis in our draft. Negative 6 clutch. Weak offensively in ‘07.
10. Ryan Freel, Cincinnati, rh, 31 – greatest value is in outfield (rf-2(0)e7, lf/cf-3), then 2b where he is a 3, but since he also plays 3b, albeit as a 4e15, he counts. His -12 clutch is tough, but his 39 on base vs. rhp (55 vs. lhp), run 17, and *18 make him valuable. On my team I will use him mostly as a defensive replacement for Barry Bonds and his lf-5(+3). On base is down in 2007.
Second ten:
11. Macier Izturis, LAA of A, sh, 26 – 41 on base vs. rhp…I took him to be my starting ss when I need the offense, to complement my good defense/no hit shortstops Adam Everett and Alex Gonzalez. I would have preferred to draft Scutaro, but I do like the +4 clutch and the running speed that Izturis brings. Sub-stellar 2007 after good start.
12. Ty Wigginton, Tampa Bay, rh, 29 – 1b/2b/3b/lf/rf-4, but his +4 clutch coupled with decent power makes this card valuable for pinch hitting and emergency defense. Sub .300 on base this year.
13. Tony Graffanino, IL card, rh, 35 – reversed right hander has 37 on base vs. rhp, +12/+11 clutch, and plays 2b-3e8, 1b-3, 3b/ss-4. Consider using his b hit and run rating to negate the gba. No wheels, no pop. Zero offensively in ‘07.
14. Chone Figgins, LAA of A, sh, 29 – real value is probably as cf/lf-3(0)e8, but plays 3b-4e53, 2b-4e23, and ss-4e30. 35 on base vs. rhp, and +5 clutch combined with ac17 and *18-15 makes his a useful bench card. Has really fallen off offensively in 2007.
15. Brendan Harris, Cincinnati, rh, 26 – 42 on base (mostly walks), 8 diamonds, and 4.6 straight home runs vs. lhp are the biggest value of this extremely limited, non-defensive card. .352/.416 so far in 2007 adds to future value.
16. Jason Smith, Colorado, lh, 29 - *20 makes this card good for pinch running, and 59 on base as a reverse lefty (mostly walks) and zero clutch that direction makes his 99 at bats potentially valuable against a reverse lefty reliever. Okay pop both ways, but only 24 on base vs. rhp. Recently released.
17. Mike Morse, Seattle, rh, 25 – 46 plate appearances of great hits and on base vs. lhp and +4 clutch to boot (with no pop), but no great shakes defensively as a 4 at 3b, ss, 1b, rf/lf. Not in majors in 2007, but former steroid policy violator is still young.
18. Chris Burke, Houston, rh, 27 – better against lhp, though okay against rhp, -9 clutch, 2b-3e21, ss-4e48, lf/rf-3(+1)e3, cf-4, cc14, *19. .344/.388 in 2007 doesn’t show him living up to promise.
19. Eric Bruntlett, Houston, rh, 29 – better against lhp, though tolerable against rhp, -6/-7 clutch, 2b/3b/ss/of-3 with high error rating, limited at bats, no power, *17. Not in majors in 2007.
20. Ramon Martinez, Los Angeles NL, rh, 34 – Dusty Baker's favorite utility player, according to the man himself on ESPN’s baseball tonight. Strat value limited to okay defense at 2b and ss, mid 30’s on base both ways, and +6 clutch. 31 gba vs. rhp and only c hit and run rating, so definitely more valuable in clutch. No production in 2007.
Useful cards – If you can’t get one of the best, these are still useful somehow:
21. Nick Punto, Minnesota, sh, 29 – only 34 on base vs. rhp, and no pop either way, but 3b-2, ss-3, 2b-3, ab14 and *17 along with slightly negative clutch of -5/-4 gives value. Continues utter lack of pop with .330 on base and .280 slugging in 2007.
22. Jeff Cirillo, Milwaukee, rh, 37 – hits lhp very well and rhp reasonably well, and only -2 clutch. 3b/1b-3, 2b-4 (and ss-5). No wheels, no pop. End of the line in 07?
23. Pablo Ozuna, Chicago AL, rh, 32 – mid 30’s hits both ways and +6 clutch make his 196 plate appearances valuable, as does the bc15 and *15 steal rating (though stupid in the extreme as far as getting picked off goes). 3b-4e25 and 2b-4e41 make this a limited use card. .280 on base and .282 slugging this year doesn’t bode well for future value.
24. Jose Bautista, Pittsburgh, rh, 26 – mostly an outfielder, hits lhp well, with pop, but loses 9 in the clutch. .360/.424 in 07, playing exclusively 3b.
25. Cesar Izturis, Chicago NL, sh, 27 – to use a quote Bill James used for Duane Kuiper “a pathetically inept offensive ballplayer at best” (at least this year), but as a ss-2e17, cb17 runner, and *15 stealer (again, stupid regarding pickoffs) he may be the right 25th man for your team. Weak .306/.301 in 2007.
26. Hector Luna, IL card, rh, 28 – 31 hits vs. lhp, tolerable -2 clutch, *15, but at best a 4 defensively everywhere. Not in majors in 07.
27. Scott Spiezio, St. Louis, sh, 34 – a solid card in a lot of ways, especially from the right hand side (and with +5 clutch that way). Against righties, though, is where he has his power, with 8 diamonds and 5.8 straight home runs. 3b/1b-2, 2b/lf-4 limits utility value. Doesn’t run. I thought about drafting him as my starting 3b, but solved that by trading for Rolen. Not much future value, with .328/.365 so far this year.
28. Chris Gomez, Baltimore, rh, 35 – defensively a 4 at the utility positions, but more than 30 hits and more than 40 on base both ways, along with +1 clutch. Be wary of the 30+ gba, and use his b hit and run rating. No wheels, no pop to speak of. Good on base of .364 this year, but slugging is only slightly higher at .375.
29. Omar Infante, Detroit, rh, 25 – most of his value is being able to have a 3 defensive replacement at 2b, 3b, and ss (albeit e36 at ss), but he does manage low 30’s on base both ways, with only -1 clutch and is a *15 stealer. Batting .325 so far in 2007, but with an on base of only .342 and slugging percent of only .390.
30. Ramon Santiago, Detroit, sh, 27 – okay, maybe he merits the Bill James quote even more than Cesar Izturis, but at least Santiago pulls a 2b-2e5 and ss-2e12 to go with his ac13, *20. If you need a defensive replacement, bunter, pinch runner, here’s your guy! No major league time so far in 2007.
31. Julio Lugo, IL card, rh – not great defensively and abysmal in the clutch, but begins with 40 on base vs. rhp and runs well. Starting shortstop for the world leading Red Sox is struggling with a sub .300 on base percent this year. Lugo’s SS future is in doubt; the winter might find Sox letting free agent 3B Mike Lowell walk, move Lugo to 3B, and sign ARod to be their SS.
Not worth consideration – These were players who didn’t make my top thirty one, though they may have some redeeming quality:
Alfredo Amezaga, Willie Aybar, Wilson Betemit, Martin Prado, Jose Valentin, Aaron Miles, Mark Grudzielanek, Craig Counsell, Miguel Cairo, Damion Easley, Clint Barmes, Luis Gonzalez, Anderson Hernandez, Danny Sandoval, Alex Cora, Alex Cintron, Aaron Boone, Andres Blanco, Willie Bloomquist, Jerry Hairston, Jr., Aaron Hill, John McDonald
Top ten future value for utility players:
1. Dustin Pedroia, 23 – has come on after slow start to post .329/.409/.469 as a 2b only
2. Ryan Theriot, 27 – exciting player getting good time with Cubs
3. Brendan Harris, 26 – Washington castoff finds success in Tampa Bay
4. Ruben Gotay, 24 – nice offensive performance in limited use with .308/.341/.513
5. Kevin Frandsen, 25 - .286/.324/.400 and still relatively young, but may be a career utility type
6. Alberto Callaspo, 24 – legal problems compounded with poor offensive output
7. Ramon Vazquez, 30 – .300/.345/.520 in limited use in 2007
8. Kaz Matsui, 31 - .321/.345/.440 resurgence in ‘07
9. Alex Cora, 31 – making the most of opportunity in 07, with .304/.349/.481
10. Mark DeRosa, 32 – a bit long in the tooth, but having a good 2007 so far with new team
* Defined as playing at least two of the three positions of 2b, ss, and 3b with a range rating of “4” or better in 2006.