2012 N.L. Second Basemen

No one ever says it, and probably few even think it, but second base in the National League is a consistently deep and solid position.

Ten Most Expensive N.L. Second Basemen 2012

#	Player	$	Sal	+/-	CBS	LABR	TW	PK	2011
1	Brandon Phillips	$24	28	-4	30	27	27	27	$30
2	Dan Uggla	$14	28	-14	28	27	28	26	$20
3	Rickie Weeks	$17	21	-4	21	19	23	22	$20
4	Neil Walker	$18	19	-1	18	20	19	20	$21
5	Chase Utley	$13	17	-4	20	22	10	8	$15
6	Danny Espinosa	$19	17	2	17	16	18	17	$19
7	Ryan Roberts	$7	17	-9	15	19	16	16	$22
8	Jose Altuve	$24	16	8	15	17	17	13	$7
9	Daniel Murphy	$18	16	3	15	17	15	14	$17
10	Aaron Hill	$31	12	13	13	15	15	12	$16
	Average	$18	19	-1	19	20	19	18	$19

For the third year in a row, nine of the 10 most expensive second basemen earned at least $10 or more. And, if your league plays with LABR/Tout Wars rules where you can keep players traded to the other league, Roberts would have made it all 10.

If you factor in Roberts' A.L. earnings ($3.40), the only clear disappointment is Uggla. Losing $4-6 each on Phillips, Weeks, Utley and Roberts isn't good news, but it does mean that everyone at the position provides something.

Just like in most other forms of gambling, this is how you keep your skin in the game. If you buy a second baseman that loses money but doesn't tank entirely, you're still in it. If an entire position keeps your skin in the game, then attention must be paid.

When this chart virtually matches the first chart, it is always worth noting.

Top 10 N.L. Second Basemen 2012

#	Player	$	Sal	+/-	CBS	LABR	TW	PK	2011
1	Aaron Hill	$31	14	16	13	15	15	12	$16
2	Brandon Phillips	$24	28	-4	30	27	27	27	$30
3	Jose Altuve	$24	16	8	15	17	17	13	$7
4	Danny Espinosa	$19	17	2	17	16	18	17	$19
5	Daniel Murphy	$18	16	3	15	17	15	14	$17
6	Neil Walker	$18	19	-1	18	20	19	20	$21
7	Rickie Weeks	$17	21	-4	21	19	23	22	$20
8	Chris Nelson	$14	3	11		4	4	4	$4
9	Dan Uggla	$14	28	-14	28	27	28	26	$20
10	Chase Utley	$13	17	-4	20	22	10	8	$15
	Average	$19	18	1	18	18	18	16	$17

Nelson replaces Roberts, but otherwise this list is constant.

This has mostly been the story for the last three years as well. Nine, eight, and eight of the 10 most expensive second basemen have also been the best.

I always advocate paying more money for reliable players, so even though these groups of players are breaking even or losing a little, perhaps we should give them a little more coin.

Next 10 (11-20) Most Expensive Second Basemen, 2012

#	Player	$	Sal	+/-	CBS	LABR	TW	PK	2011
11	Omar Infante	$13	8	5	4	9	11	12	$14
12	Orlando Hudson	$1	5	-4	3	7	6	5	$14
13	Darwin Barney	$11	5	7	2	7	5	4	$14
14	Taylor Green	$0	4	-4	4	6	2	R2	$0
15	Mark Ellis	$10	4	6	5	3	3	6	$12
16	Freddy Sanchez		4	-4	3	5	3	6	$6
17	Chris Nelson	$14	3	11		4	4	4	$4
18	Matt Downs	$2	1	13		3	1	1	$9
19	Jerry Hairston	$5	1	4		2	2	2	$9
20	Skip Schumaker	$6	1	5	1	3		1	$8
	Average	$6	4	4	2	5	4	4	$9

But looking at this chart, I’d say we’re paying second basemen exactly the right amount.

These guys turn a modest profit. But that's not what caught my attention; what grabbed me were how three of the four double-digit earners earned double-digits again in 2012.

Spending $4-8 per player takes you past the bottom of the barrel, so you're not truly in the endgame. But spending $4 on an everyday player is an absolute steal. The only way you're going to fail is if the player gets hurt or rapidly erodes...like Hudson did this year.

But this is why the market doesn't pay any more for what has become a reliable position. It is not only a reliable position but a deep one as well. Spending $21 on Espinosa might make sense if second base were shallow. Spending $21 on Espinosa given the relative depth of the position did not