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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories App Finder: Great garden apps Nonprofit hopes to 'Get the Girls Out' Teen girls learn to fight back A loving lampoon has fun with 'Ashlandia' A change in the weather underway Education Grizzlies shine at Eugene speech tourney Ashland High School named among best in the state High school Student of the Month: Jackson Richmond Senior party fundraising starts The birdman of Bellview Environment The birdman of Bellview Controlled burn planned for Ashland watershed on Friday Mt. 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Fantasy Sports: Youth is the way to go when stocking up at second Comment By Josh Bousquet The Worcester Telegram & Gazette DailyTidings.com By Josh Bousquet The Worcester Telegram & Gazette Posted Feb. 24, 2015 at 8:11 AM By Josh Bousquet The Worcester Telegram & Gazette Posted Feb. 24, 2015 at 8:11 AM » Social News Finding fantasy value at second base has traditionally been like searching for good BBQ in Minnesota — you might uncover something passable, but it’s not going to be really good. However, that may be changing. After all, Robinson Cano went to Seattle last year, put up a good season when he batted .314 with 14 homers, 82 homers, 77 runs and 10 steals and may have still moved down to the No. 3 spot at the position. When looking at Cano’s season by itself, the numbers aren’t bad. They did, however, tie for the fewest homers in his career and were his fewest RBIs and runs since 2008. A combination of age and new surroundings may have the longtime top-tier second baseman on the downward side of his career. When looking at Cano’s season alongside others at the position, the numbers start to get even worse After all, there are pair of players who haven’t yet turned 25 and are still trending upward. At the top of my list is Houston’s Jose Altuve. And I assure you that I have given this much thought and also can’t believe an Astro tops any list. Altuve doesn’t turn 25 until May and already batted. 341 last season with 56 steals. His power numbers of seven homers and 59 RBIs would ideally be higher, but with his age it is not inconceivable that Altuve could still have a few upcoming 12-75 seasons in him. The Nationals’ Anthony Rendon is a little younger, not turning 25 until June, and already has shown some pop, finishing the 2014 season with 21 homers and 83 RBIs. His .287 average, 111 runs and 17 steals were not bad, either. With no improvement, Rendon would already be a second-base stud. With any improvement, he may be the position’s top star and a first-round pick next season. The youth at the position isn’t only at the top, either. We may have already been waiting a couple of years for the Cardinals’ Kolten Wong to come into his own, but he still only turns 25 in October. In 402 at-bats last season, he only batted .249, but his 12 homers, 42 RBIs, 52 runs and 20 steals project into solid numbers over a full season. If he can also increase his average 20 points, he could join the position’s upper tier. The Cubs look set to go with Javier Baez, who doesn’t turn 23 until December, as their second-base starter. He got a taste of the big leagues last season, and looked overwhelmed as he batted .169 with 95 strikeouts in 213 at-bats. Baez comes to the majors with an impressive power pedigree, though. In 130 minor league games in 2013, he batted .282 with 37 homers, 111 RBIs, 98 runs, and he even stole 20 bases. He played in 104 Triple-A games last year before going to Chicago and batted .260 with 23 homers, 80 RBIs, 64 runs and 16 steals in that time. His approach obviously needs some refinement at the big-league level, meaning a sudden maturation does not appear destined to happen this season, but he bears watching. In this Benjamin Button-style story, we now come to Texas’ Rougned Odor, who only turned 21 this month but his claim to a starting slot increased with the news that Jurickson Profar may miss his second-straight season due to injury. Further interesting fact: He has a younger brother also named Rougned Odor, who is also in the Texas system and is also a middle infielder. Take that, early-’90s pitchers Greg Harris and Greg A. Harris. In 386 major league at-bats last season, Odor hung in with his elders by batting .259 with nine homers, 48 RBIs, 39 runs and four steals. If he could expand that into the area of .270-12-65-55-6, we will have a very serviceable second baseman as a late-round draft pick with plenty of remaining maturation upside. Even with the more experienced players at second base, there is something fantasy owners can reap at the position, and that is stolen bases. It starts with the comparatively elderly, yet only soon-to-be 27-year-old Dee Gordon. He is taking his game to Miami after leading the majors with 12 triples and 64 stolen bases last season with the Dodgers. In fact, among my top 13 players at the position, only two did not record double-digit steals in 2014. Those miscreants are Boston’s Dustin Pedroia, with his six steals, and the snail of the position is Pittsburgh’s Neil Walker, who only swiped a pair of bases. Those guys offer other things, though. Something that we may enjoy being more accustomed to overall at this traditionally weak position. Josh Bousquet writes for The Worcester (Mass.) Telegram & Gazette. Contact him at [email protected]. By Josh Bousquet The Worcester Telegram & Gazette DailyTidings.com By Josh Bousquet The Worcester Telegram & Gazette Posted Feb. 24, 2015 at 8:11 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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