What makes a great leadoff hitter?

Getting on base at a high rate is a good start, but everyone in the lineup is expected to do that. A good eye always helps, but he shouldn’t be afraid to swing. Speed is a bonus, but some of the fastest players in baseball hit at the bottom of the batting order.

The truth is that there’s no formula for the perfect leadoff hitter. Every player approaches the game differently and every team has a different offensive style.

But, that doesn’t diminish the importance of the leadoff man.

These 30 hitters are their team’s respective table-setters, responsible for getting their club off to a good start and rallying their teammates to victory. They may not get the attention of the star slugger or the ace of the pitching staff, but a good leadoff hitter can be the difference between a postseason berth and an October date with the couch.

So here are my rankings of baseball’s top leadoff men and what to expect from them next season. As always, share your thoughts below. 

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The headache was more like a jackhammer slamming around in my skull. I could barely walk, barely think, as I stumbled into Wal-Mart to find some relief. The first pain reducer I came to was Aleve. A 100-count bottle of 220 mg pain-fighting assistance.

I grabbed them, coughed up the $8.38 plus tax and popped a pill as soon as I got to the car.

My next headache came three days later, when I realized that Wal-Mart sold generic Naproxen Sodium in 100-count bottles at the same dosage for $3.30. I paid more than double what I should have.

On draft day, you don’t want to be that guy that overspent on a perceived stud when there are great values in the later rounds. Some of my personal value guys this year at second base include:

Ian Kinsler, TEX

Kinsler is currently being drafted, on average, in the fourth to fifth round. When you consider he has first-round talent, the value here is apparent.

However, the elephant in the room is his injury-riddled 2010 season, where he finished with just nine homers and 15 stolen bases in 291 at-bats.

So, taking Kinsler presents a risk. Current signs from Texas suggest Kinsler should be ready and raring to go this season. Recent news mentions that Kinsler will be batting leadoff for the Rangers this season, which is where he hit during Thursday’s intrasquad game.

On the surface, this should indicate a bounce-back season from a speed standpoint as long as Elvis Andrus stays at the No. 2 slot. It should also boost Kinsler’s runs scored.

At this point, I’d take Kinsler at the current ADP on the chance that he stays healthy for most of 2011. However, watch his stock this spring. If he shows he is on track health-wise during spring training, owners may get a little bolder on draft day and take him higher.

Aaron Hill, TOR

That pitiful .205 batting average over 528 at-bats is killing Hill’s fantasy draft stock in 2011.

That, for we sneaky ninjas, is a good thing. Even during his “off year,” he still hit 26 homers. He also had an MLB-low .196 BABIP, suggesting he was excessively unlucky during the 2010 campaign. That is something that should definitely change over time. For more on his BABIP and longer terms stats, check out my second base rankings.

The key here for Hill, and for all of us fantasy value seekers, is that he’s being drafted on average in the late, late rounds. Much later than a proven power hitter should fall. There is little doubt in my mind that he’ll be a solid value selection in 2011 drafts.

Gordon Beckham, CWS

Want a good way to find possible sleeper/value players? Look for young guys with tons of talent who’ve dealt with there share of growing pains.

Beckham is one such player. Just 24, he has plenty of major league career in front of him. This season, he’s hitting in front of both Adam Dunn and Paul Konerko. A perfect spot to be in a hitter-friendly environment.

On top of that, Ozzie Guillen recently mentioned that he wants Beckham to run more. To be a threat on the basepaths. While he has accumulated just 11 steals in two partial seasons, Beckham was pretty adept at swiping bags while in college at Georgia.

Considering Beckham is falling into the final rounds (and not even drafted in some leagues), he is so worth a flyer based on potential alone.

For more on second base rankings, check out my comments and current list. And don’t miss our solid commentary on second base ADP rankings.

My full positional rankings include: C | 1B | 2B | 3B | SS | OF | SP | RP

My other value players, sleeper picks at other positions so far: C | 1B | 2B | 3B | SS | OF | SP | RP

For all your hard-hitting fantasy baseball and fantasy football advice, go to www.chinstrapninjas.com

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Michael Young has told Texas he wants out. He told the press he wants out.

One would think he has earned the right to leave with dignity after Texas told him they wouldn’t try to deal him, as they were trying to, and then told him they would deal him, after they had severed negotiations. 

That being said, this isn’t the NBA. No player has ultimate power over ownership. Young will stay in Texas, and will play the season out like the consummate professional that he is. 

But why does Texas need him? 

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Our 2011 fantasy baseball projections will be released one-by-one until the top 100 players have been revealed. These rankings consider past achievements, current performance and expected future results based on standard 5×5 H2H settings.

When evaluating Ian Kinsler, it’s important to understand how good he is, and how disappointing he’s been.

In 2009, Kinsler posted just the fifth 30/30 season among second basemen since 2000. Unfortunately, it came with a career-low .253 batting average in a career-high 144 games.

In 2010, Kinsler managed just nine home runs and 15 steals in only 103 games (due to leg and ankle injuries), though his batting averaged jumped to .283.

So what should we expect in 2011?

Well, at least one DL stint. Other than that, it’s tough to say. Rangers manager Ron Washington has hinted at positioning Kinsler in the leadoff spot this season, something he did for most of the 2008 and 2009 seasons. This would likely aid his run-scoring and stolen base totals, but might change his approach at the plate.

Either way, Kinsler has top-10 potential.

In fact, when comparing three-year averages to players at his position with similar power/speed skills, Kinsler matches up quite well:

• Chase Utley: 143 G, 635 PA, 100 R, 27 HR, 87 RBI, 17 SB, .284 BA
• Dustin Pedroia: 129 G, 597 PA, 95 R, 15 HR, 65 RBI, 16 SB, .307 BA
• Ian Kinsler: 123 G, 561 PA, 92 R, 19 HR, 67 RBI, 24 SB, .285 BA

Heck, if Kinsler had played in as many games as Utley over the last three seasons, he might be considered the top second baseman heading into 2011. Instead, he’s fifth among two-baggers, No. 38 overall.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: FANTASY BASEBALL INSIDERS

The latest from Fantasy Baseball Insiders:

• Guerrero to Baltimore: Why He’s Better Off in Camden Yards than Rangers Ballpark

Fantasy Baseball Insiders’ 2011 Big Board:

• Nos. 1-10: Is Pujols Still The Top Pick?
• Nos. 11-20: Where Do Votto, A-Rod and Halladay Fit In?
• Nos. 21-30: Hernandez, Lincecum or Wainwright?
• No. 31: Joe Mauer
• No. 32: Victor Martinez
• No. 33: Cliff Lee
• No. 34: Nelson Cruz
• No. 35: Jason Heyward
• No. 36: Justin Upton
• No. 37: Josh Johnson

MLB Trades: Fantasy Impact:

• Frank Francisco Traded to the Blue Jays, Who Will Be The Team’s Closer?
• Mike Napoli Traded to the Texas Rangers: Fantasy Impact
• Vernon Wells Traded to the Los Angeles Angels: Fantasy Impact
• Adrian Beltre Traded to the Texas Rangers: Fantasy Impact

Previous articles from Fantasy Baseball Insiders:

• The Sub-2.50 ERA Curse: Why Five Elite Starting Pitchers May Regress in 2011
• 2010 Batting Average on Balls in Play Leaders: What to Expect in 2011?
• 2011 Closer’s Corner: Papelbon, Cordero & Rivera Are the Only Reliable Options

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Often, it is not the most talented player who ends up being the most valuable player for his respective team. A player making $1 million can be much more valuable than a player making $10 million if they produce similar results

A great example of this is Adrian Gonzalez of 2010. With the Padres, he was playing for a very low sum of money despite being among the league’s best first basemen. While Albert Pujols may have out-produced Gonzalez in 2010, he was far more costly. Thus, Gonzalez was more valuable to his team than Pujols.

Every team has at least one player who they know they are underpaying. In this article, I will examine the most underpaid player on each team. 

One important note is that players who are not yet arbitration eligible, i.e. Buster Posey, Evan Longoria, will not be included in this list. Also, I will be using the player’s 2011 salary, not the aggregate of his current contract. For example, Adrian Gonzalez will still be considered cheap, despite the fact that he will receive his fair share of money when the Red Sox release his contract. With that, let us begin. 

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Second base is a position that has numerous youngsters who could make their presence felt as soon as 2011.  Jason Kipnis, Dustin Ackley and Brett Lawrie could all eventually join the elite at the position, but first they need to make their MLB debuts.  How should they be ranked by fantasy owners in keeper leagues?  Let’s take a look:

1. Robinson Cano – New York Yankees
2. Dustin Pedroia – Boston Red Sox
3. Chase Utley – Philadelphia Phillies
4. Ian Kinsler – Texas Rangers
5. Dan Uggla – Atlanta Braves
6. Brandon Phillips – Cincinnati Reds
7. Ben Zobrist – Tampa Bay Rays
8. Rickie Weeks – Milwaukee Brewers
9. Gordon Beckham – Chicago White Sox
10. Aaron Hill – Toronto Blue Jays
11. Kelly Johnson – Arizona Diamondbacks
12. Danny Espinosa – Washington Nationals
13. Jason Kipnis – Cleveland Indians
14. Dustin Ackley – Seattle Mariners
15. Brett Lawrie – Toronto Blue Jays

Thoughts:

• Dustin Pedroia over Chase Utley?  I know it may seem a bit odd, but Pedroia is five years younger than Utley, who many people believe could be on the decline.  It’s hard to read too much into his 2010 struggles (.275, 16 HR, 65 RBI in 425 AB) as they easily could have been due to hip problems.  Of course, Pedroia and Ian Kinsler also have had injury concerns, but at his age you have to wonder how long Utley will be able to hold up.  His tremendous upside keeps him in the top three, but there is cause for concern.
• Martin Prado belongs on this list, but with Dan Uggla in town now it appears unlikely that he maintains 2B eligibility after 2011.  If you draft him keep in mind that he could regain the eligibility down the line at some point, but it’s hard to depend on it.
• Looking for Brian Roberts?  Considering his recent decline and age (33 years old), he falls just short for me.
• Unlike many other positions, there is a potential influx of talent coming to 2B.  We got a taste of what Danny Espinosa can bring to the table in 2010, and he is just the tip of the iceberg.  Jason Kipnis, Dustin Ackley and Brett Lawrie are a few of the names who could make their presence felt as soon as 2011 (though you don’t want to be drafting them as your starting option).  I may be in the minority, but I love the potential that Kipnis brings to the table.  Between Double- and Triple-A in 2010 he had 32 doubles, eight triples and 16 HR to go along with a .307 average and nine SB.  He has the potential to overtake Jason Donald quickly and brings tremendous upside.
• At this point Howie Kendrick has become a tremendous disappointment for fantasy owners.  Since he really doesn’t bring power or speed to the table, I ultimately decided to drop him out of the top 15.  At this point, I’d rather the upside of one of the up-and-coming options over a disappointing player we already know.
• Will Gordon Beckham finally realize his potential?  You have to love the power he could bring to the table from a position that you can’t always find it.

**** Make sure to order your copy of the Rotoprofessor 2011 Fantasy Baseball Draft Guide, selling for just $5, by clicking here. ****

Make sure to check out our 2011 rankings:

• Top 15 Catchers
• Top 15 First Basemen
• Top 15 Second Basemen
• Top 15 Shortstops
• Top 15 Third Basemen
• Top 30 Outfielders
• Top 30 Starting Pitchers
• Top 15 Closers
• 2011 Fantasy Draft First-Round Breakdown

THIS ARTICLE IS ALSO FEATURED ON WWW.ROTOPROFESSOR.COM.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Once upon a time in fantasy baseball, second base was shallower than Paris Hilton at a Larry the Cable Guy event. It was as epic as Mariah Carey’s movie, “Glitter.”

Now, the position has morphed into so much more. It has drama, glitz, and glamor. It’s a regular Oscar contender. I’ll call it “The Good, The Bad and The Uggla.”

As in Dan Uggla? The guy that everyone overlooks on draft day, yet continues to put up some of the most under-appreciated stats in the sport? Yeah, that guy.

1. Robinson Cano, NYY. We’ll get to Uggla in a moment. Cano broke out in a big way last season. He had 29 homers, 109 RBI, and hit .319. He bats in one of the most feared lineups in baseball. The only thing Cano doesn’t do is steal bases. You learn fast at this position that different second basemen give you different things. First base is typically a power position, shortstop, a speed position; second base has both, and Cano’s patience at the plate is something very valuable in a league filled with guys who spend more time swinging for the fences on every pitch instead of patiently waiting for some fresh meat.

2. Chase Utley, PHI. Man, I remember when ranking this guy high at the second base position was much easier. Now, I waffled numerous time between him and any of the next several guys on the list. Utley has tons of potential. He can hit for power. He can steal bases. But he’s also had four consecutive seasons of declining batting average. His homers and steals and batting average were all similar to Brandon Phillips’ last year. Except, look closer at the numbers and realize that Utley had 200 less at-bats than Phillips. And Utley plays for a much better team. The whole Phillies offense is due to rebound.

3. Dan Uggla, ATL. Here he is. The guy who will be drafted much lower than here in most leagues, but will again produce stats that buoy him to the top of the second base pool. Few second basemen have hit 30 homers in a season or two. Uggla had his fourth-consecutive 30-plus home run season in 2010. His batting average was concerning, but he improved his plate discipline to the tune of .287 in 2010. He had 105 RBI and 100 runs scored for the Florida Marlins last year. That’s like a guy who can build a Ford Mustang at a golf cart factory. The kicker? Uggla now plays for the Atlanta Braves and their retooled offensive lineup. Don’t miss the boat.

4. Brandon Phillips, CIN. Not as high of ceiling for Phillips as there is for Ian Kinsler, who is coming next, but Philips’ consistency is definitely worth something. He hits double digit homers, has double-digit steals for the past five seasons. He has hit around .270 for quite some time now. If you can get him at the right spot in drafts this year, as others grab more flashy options, than you’ll do just fine with Phillips.

Check out the rest of my fantasy baseball 2011 early second base rankings here.

Also, be sure to catch my other early 2011 fantasy baseball rankings: C | 1B

And, our current Top 10 overall fantasy baseball players per ADP.

For all your hard-hitting fantasy baseball and football content, go to www.chinstrapninjas.com

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Over the past year, Ian Kinsler has been steadily falling down people’s wish lists and deservedly so. He has never been able to shake the injury bug as he has only played in more than 130 games once in his five-year career. Most recently, Kinsler is coming off an injury-riddled campaign where he only amassed nine home runs and 15 steals. Those number are not really meeting the expectations of the top 20 player that we all envisioned him to be.

But it’s not all bad, and I would wait to see if there are any sharks in that water before I jump ship.

While Kinsler’s production slipped last year, there are a couple trends that offer some encouragement going into the 2011 season.

Over the last three seasons, Kinsler’s walk rate has improved from 7.7 percent to 12.2 percent while his strikeout rate has been very consistent. This improved plate discipline should help Kinsler hit for a better batting average. But what about his batting average, which has been up-and-down for his entire career?

In 2009, Kinsler batted a career-low .259, but it’s safe to say that luck wasn’t on his side as his .241 BABIP was much lower than his .293 career mark. And if you look at his career line-drive percentages, you will also see that he hit for a career-low 15.9 line-drive percentage in that season. In his other four seasons Kinsler has not dipped under 18.4 percent. It’s fair to assume that he should not post a BABIP that poor again and should be able to maintain a .285 batting average.

Another interesting trend is Kinsler’s increasing power before it’s vanishing act last year.

In spring training last season, Kinsler suffered a sprained ankle that held him out until April 26. If you look at Kinsler’s ISO splits, you will notice that he gained more power each month, which tells me that it took him a little while to regain his power stroke. This is an encouraging sign for the coming year because with him in the middle of the Texas Rangers‘ lineup his RBI numbers should spike and make him more comparable to other top second basemen such as Robinson Cano, Chase Utley, and Dustin Pedroia.

Look for Kinsler to regain those home run numbers and increase his RBI totals while keeping his batting average up. Now if only we could get him to stay healthy…

Fearless Forecast

.287 BA | 82 R | 21 HR | 94 RBI | 24 SB

Make Baseball Professor your daily routine for updated fantasy news and analysis. Follow us on twitter @BaseballProf .

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

The 2010 World Series concluded in rather anticlimactic fashion on Monday night as Tim Lincecum and the San Francisco Giants hoisted the holy grail of baseball after just five games.

As for the Rangers? As manager Ron Washington would say, “That’s just the way baseball go.”

But for as much depth as there is in Washington’s sentiments—and if you’ve ever played baseball, you know there is—perhaps the Rangers and their fans should look to Scottish author Samuel Smiles for consolation.

Smiles once said, “Progress, of the best kind, is comparatively slow.”

Sure, the Ranger loss is an absolute heart breaker for a community that now has to endure ten more weeks of Cowboy football, but the Rangers will learn a lot from their World Series failure.

If the surprise 2010 season was any indication, the Rangers could get used to October baseball.

Rangers’ GM Jon Daniels had gone on record several times prior to the 2010 season saying that this would be the year the Rangers emerged as a playoff contender.

Was he ever right.

And remember, the keyword in the statement Daniels made several times was “emerge,” as in “We’ll be here awhile.”

When looking at the Ranger organization from top to bottom, they are set for years to come.

They have a stable ownership group for the first time in almost two years.

They have a minor league system that is the envy of the Major Leagues.

They have stars in Ian Kinsler, Josh Hamilton and Michael Young.

They have young players like Neftali Feliz, Elvis Andrus, Tommy Hunter and Mitch Moreland under contract for years to come. And they’re already playing in the Majors AND they’re under contract for the foreseeable future.

But most importantly: The Rangers learned how to win.

They learned how to win in the ALDS with small ball and timely pitching. They beat the Yankees by scoring early and late, while not giving into the pressures of a Game 1 collapse. And while they lost four of five to the Giants, they learned what it takes to win in the World Series.

No longer will the Rangers be looked at as the cellar dweller of the AL West. Rather, they will be viewed as the team who took out both of the top dogs in the AL East. They will be viewed as a team that can be a player in the free-agent market.

And most importantly, they will be viewed as team to beat.

So while losing in the first World Series in franchise history hurts, remember, we all tripped and fell before we learned to tie our shoes, but when tied, we never stopped walking.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Ramon Ramirez allowed a hit and a walk to open the frame, but the hard-throwing righty finally gets the first out of the ninth on a pop to right.

Jeremy Affeldt comes in, tosses a 55-foot fastball to the backstop on pitch No. 1, then walks Josh Hamilton to load the bases.

In comes dynamic Giants closer Brian Wilson. No word on whether or not “The Machine” is watching.

Vlad Guerrero greets Wilson with a liner to right, caught by Nate Schierholtz, that scores Julio Borbon on a sac fly.

The Giants bullpen had tossed 10 straight innings of scoreless ball this postseason before that Rangers run.

Nelson Cruz then rips a ball into the gap in right-center, scoring two more Rangers, making the score 11-7 with two outs.

Finally, Wilson and his jet-black beard retire Ian Kinsler on a fly to short right to end the game.

The Giants claim Game 1 11-7 and take a 1-0 World Series lead. Cliff Lee gets the first postseason loss of his career.

Take a look at the previous updates or Bleacher Report’s live blog of Game 1 for more specific info on how it all happened.