Rocky Battle at Second Base

February 29, 2008 @ 11:07:03

By Bryce McRae
Edited by Herija C. Green

With second baseman Kazuo Matsui gone to the Houston Astros, the defending National League champions will enter training camp with uncertainty at second base. In the mix for the job are two former first-round draft picks (infielders Jayson Nix and Ian Stewart) and one former All-Star (second baseman Marcus Giles). Neither Nix nor Stewart has any experience at the major league level, which means Giles could be a dark horse for the job. However, Nix is the frontrunner heading into camp, despite his inexperience.

Looking for Redemption

Prior to last season, all signs pointed to Nix as being a bust as a first-round pick. The previous season he hit just .251 with Triple-A Colorado Springs and managed two home runs in 103 games. However, he broke out last year, hitting .292 with 11 home runs, 58 RBIs, 80 runs and 24 stolen bases. He also has two major advantages over Stewart and Giles in the competition for the job. Unlike Stewart, he has a past track record at the position defensively. Stewart is trying to make the shift from third base while Nix has played the position since 2002. Unlike Giles, Nix has potential that the Rockies like, especially with the young team around him. Giles also struggled last year, hitting .229 with four home runs and 39 RBIs for the San Diego Padres. As well, Nix is out of options at the minor league level, which could tip the scales in his favor. Nix is considered the favorite for the job and should be given the most chances to win it in spring training. However, for fantasy purposes, Nix is not someone you will want to take and is worth only a late-round draft pick in NL-only leagues as someone with decent potential.

Changing Positions?

Stewart was believed to be the third basemen of the future for the Rockies, but the emergence of Garrett Atkins at the position has left a roadblock in his way. Because of that, the team has him working at second base. It would be a big shift for Stewart to make but if he does; his offensive upside at the position is considerably higher than Nix. In 112 games with Triple-A Colorado Springs last year, he hit .304 with 15 home runs, 65 RBIs, 72 runs and 11 stolen bases. Unfortunately that success didn't translate at with the Rockies as in 43 at-bats last year, Stewart hit just .209 with one home run, nine RBIs and three runs. He got most of his at-bats as a pinch-hitter but struggled in that role, hitting just .185. That could work against him if he can’t win the job outright. Stewart has no fantasy value right now, although that could change if he can make the switch to second base.

Looking for a Rebirth

The final competitor for the second base job is Giles. Out of the three, Giles has by far the most experience. Despite coming off a poor season last year, Giles has shown in the past he can put up good numbers at the position. His best season came in 2003 when he hit .316 with 21 home runs, 69 RBIs, 101 runs and 14 stolen bases. The Rockies will not be expecting that from him this year but at just 29 years old (30 in May), he should still have some good years left in him. Also, Giles was suffering from knee and rib cage injuries at certain times last year, which could have contributed to his low output. He will not likely put up the power numbers he did in 2003, but as a career .277 hitter Giles could be a decent stop-gap for the Rockies should either of the other two prospects need more seasoning. He does not have any fantasy value right now, but that could change depending on how things play out in camp.

Other Options

There are two other competitors at the position, although neither is expected to have much chance at the starting job. Infielder Jeff Baker has the versatility the team is looking for in a utility infielder and will likely take that job with the departure of infielder Jamey Carroll (Cleveland Indians). Second baseman Omar Quintanilla has great defensive range, but he is a career .216 hitter and will likely be used only as a defensive replacement should he make the club.

Fantasy Outlook

Considering his defensive prowess and lack of minor league options, Nix will likely get the job out of spring training, with Stewart headed back to Triple-A Colorado Springs to continue working on his game. Giles is the intriguing part of the equation as if he has a good camp, he could force his way into the starting job. Whoever wins the job will likely have value as a late-round draft pick in NL-only leagues, but they figure to be nothing more than waiver wire fodder in mixed formats. Still, playing at Coors Field and in the Rockies potent lineup should offer plenty of chances to score runs and boost their fantasy value. Unless Stewart and his high offensive ceiling claim the job, either Nix or Giles would be best served as a decent backup second baseman with some potential based on where they are playing.

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Bryce McRae
Bryce McRae is a Managing Editor with KFFL and has been involved in fantasy sports since 1999. He joined KFFL as a volunteer writer in March 2005 before becoming a Hot off the Wire Analyst in March 2006. He began working in his current capacity in September 2008. His work has appeared on fantasy sports sites such as Yahoo! and CBS Sportsline as well as in print. He graduated from the University of British Columbia in 2008 with a B.A. in History and U.S. Studies.

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