Second-Tier Cornerstones

Carlos Gonzalez or Hunter Pence?

In draft formats this isn't much of a question. I'd take Gonzalez in a heartbeat. They were pretty close in 2011, but Gonzalez has a slight chance at being 2012's answer to Matt Kemp. Pence's ceiling is likely to be what he did last year.

In an auction, though, I have a suspicion that Pence is going to fall in more cheaply....despite the fact that Pence was mighty good last year.

2011 Carlos Gonzalez: 495 AB, 26 HR, 92 RBI, 20 SB, 92 R, .295 BA, $33

2011 Hunter Pence: 606 AB, 22 HR, 97 RBI, 8 SB, 84 R, .314 BA, $31

Pence didn't excel in a single category, yet was the 8th highest earner in RBI and the 4th highest earner in BA. Add his runs (20th) and home runs (23rd) and while you don't have an elite player, you have one that came pretty close. Pence earned $31 last year and was the 11th best hitter in N.L.-only Rotisserie.

It's not so much that I love Pence; it's more that these guys don't come cheaply.

Top 10 2010 N.L. Hitters in 2011.

Rank	Player	$	Sal	+/-	CBS	LABR	TW	PK	2010
1	Carlos Gonzalez	$33	39	-6	44	37	36	38	$45
2	Albert Pujols	$35	44	-8	49	40	42	44	$40
3	Joey Votto	$34	40	-6	45	39	36	36	$40
4	Hanley Ramirez	$16	44	-28	49	41	42	41	$33
5	Ryan Braun	$47	39	8	45	37	36	38	$33
6	Matt Holliday	$24	33	-9	37	30	32	29	$32
7	David Wright	$17	34	-17	37	32	34	33	$31
8	Troy Tulowitzki	$32	40	-8	48	35	37	36	$31
9	Jayson Werth	$18	27	-9	26	27	27	27	$30
10	Angel Pagan	$22	20	2	20	19	22	22	$30
	Average	$28	36	-8	40	34	34	34	$35

Despite the fact that these guys earned almost as much as they could possibly earn in 2010, as a group they get raises in 2011.

I've got nothing against Troy Tulowitzki. But $40? He's not going to earn that unless he runs like crazy. Hanley Ramirez with an $11 raise coming off of a down year? Forty-four dollars for Pujols?

Yes, most of these guys are the crème de la crème. So some of them are going to excel (tip your hat to the crowd, Ryan Braun). But for the most part the best hitters one year are bound to slip the following year. I'm not recommending discounts, but rather saying that paying last year's freight is usually OK. Paying more than that is often folly.

Which brings me back to Pence. When the top players are getting raises, guys like Pence are the unsung heroes you should be targeting. Pence, Brandon Phillips, Shane Victorino, Corey Hart...these are the kind of "vanilla" players I love owning if and when they fall through. Every year, these guys go for what they earned last year or a little less and usually these types of players maintain or do a little better. They might not seem sexy, but all of them are $20+ earners who typically don't get overpaid and in some leagues go for less than they should.