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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Week-long lane closure coming to Tenth Street 10 things to know for Tuesday Funds sought to upgrade youth prison 10 things to know for Monday Medford's second-hand law gets a second look Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency Services, Feb. 24 Man critically burned in trailer fire Medford neighbors take up arms against a sea of graffiti Emergency Services, Feb. 23 Car crashes into new south Medford home Politics and Elections Ballots on Jackson County marijuana tax go out Friday Brown's inauguration brings hope to local lawmakers Kate Brown sworn in as Oregon's 38th governor Gov. Kitzhaber steps down, federal investigation begins Gov. Kitzhaber announces resignation Education Medford, Ashland districts fall short of anti-bullying standards Grace to assume school governance AHS principal up for national award Today is exclusion day for kids who don't have required vaccines A question of punishment Environment Lost Creek Lake logjam could become hazard for boaters Made in the Shade Controlled burn planned for Ashland watershed on Friday Coho salmon road trip Mt. Ashland Ski Area celebrates snow State News Oregon to launch investigation into Kitzhaber email leak Brown says she'll preserve Oregon death penalty moratorium Tentative deal reached in West Coast port labor dispute State Senate votes to dissolve Cover Oregon Psychic gets 8 years for con of timber heir Nation - World Obituaries "Billy" Geyer Gregory Paul Harlow Everett Raymond Evon "Bud" Pennington Death Notices Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Shareable Mars One attracts science fiction geeks and people who hate society This $1 million Mercedes is like an armored private jet for the road Sports Latest Stories Fantasy Sports: Youth is the way to go when stocking up at second Harden's triple-double boosts Rockets LOCAL REPORT No. 8 Kansas victimized by K-State comeback LOCAL EVENTS Varsity 541 College Sports No. 8 Kansas victimized by K-State comeback Raiders host Yotes in quarterfinal round Beavers a win away from outright Pac-12 title Comeback in Corvallis Bubble Breaker? Pro Sports Harden's triple-double boosts Rockets Playoffs could use overhaul A-Rod back, but avoids PED specifics Grizzlies overcome deficit to beat Blazers Hahn wins Riviera after playoff Community Sports Business Latest Stories Warm winter has fruit growers poised for action People in Business Ride & Drive: 2015 VW Golf R Silvio Calabi: Kia Soul mixes practicality with personality Briefcase: Business briefs for Feb. 21 Real Estate News Housing prices climb 9 percent in Jackson County Big plans on the Butte Homes for the long haul People In Business People in Business People in Business Transportation Medford airport flies past January record Agriculture Warm winter has fruit growers poised for action Briefcase: Business briefs for Feb. 21 1-800-Flowers dumps Harry & David execs Nine companies pitch investment opportunities in Medford Darigold to shutter Medford plant, putting 29 out of work Opinion Latest Landgren cartoon: Old Man Winter Our View: Homeless food proposal is the best solution yet Letters to the Editor, Feb. 24 Guest Opinion: Bill would shore up legal aid funding Mark L. Hopkins: History speaks to us on our present economic situation Editorials Our View: Homeless food proposal is the best solution yet Our View: Smell of trouble may spark marijuana limits Voter bill secures a fundamental right Our view: Will Brown reach out to rural Oregon? Our view: Expulsions hurt students, district, community Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, Feb. 24 Feb. 23: Letters to the editor Feb. 22: Letters to the editor Feb. 20: Letters to the editor Feb. 19: Letters to the editor Columns Guest Opinion: Bill would shore up legal aid funding Parker: Cable news twists the 'war on Islam' Independent Party focuses on the public interest Milbank: Walker's cowardice on view in NY Will: Tweet this: Digital dialogue won't work Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: Bill would shore up legal aid funding Guest Opinion: Weed killers should not be sprayed on streams, homes Guest Opinion: Understanding Wes Cooley Guest Opinion: Smokers: Quit before this happens to you Guest Opinion: Our public school system is a stew pot of clashing ingredients Lifestyle Latest stories Community blog: Clean anything with lemons, baking soda, vinegar Wry & Ginger: Nobody nose sternutation consternation Donna Knight: Going through priceless memories Shayne Looper: Whoever exalts himself will be humbled Dr. Elaine Heffner: Oscars and reality Food Community blog: Clean anything with lemons, baking soda, vinegar Food for Thought: Feed your creativity with Havarti Kitchen Call: Baseball, beans and Bob Motley Gail Ciampa: Scrod Francaise fits the bill for Lenten dining Restaurant Inspections: Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015 Home and Garden Home Help: Low-maintenance landscaping ideas Garden Cameos: Winter is the time to prune How to install energy-efficient windows the right way Dear Monty: Nine downsizing tips for seniors Carol Link: Prime time for pruning blueberries approaches Health Community blog: And if I Die Before I Wake Dr. Murray Feingold: Does a sedentary lifestyle make you prone to disease? Dr. Jeff Hersh: Breathe easy - all about lung function Health Watch: Health improvements you can make today that will pay off for a lifetime Runners’ Corner: Helpful winter running hints Hiking Biking Faith Religion briefs: Friday, Feb. 20 Religion News: Pope makes surprise shantytown visit Religion briefs: Friday, Feb. 13 RELIGION BRIEFS, Feb. 6 Religion News: Church of England consecrates first female bishop Milestones and Achievements Anniversary: Hofer New arrivals: Sunday, Feb. 8 Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories SOU presents 'She Stoops to Conquer' Live Music in Local Clubs OSF kicks off its 2015 season SOU presents 'The Glass Menagerie' Third Fridays showcases local artists Theater SOU presents 'She Stoops to Conquer' 'The Glass Menagerie' is polished and professional OSF kicks off its 2015 season SOU presents 'The Glass Menagerie' Le Cirque presents 'City Walk' Music Professor Gall plays Oberon's Tavern Live Music in Local Clubs The music that made Paris famous Blues Jam at The Little Brown Jug Southern Oregon Jazz Orchestra Community Events Third Fridays showcases local artists Southern Oregon Rod and Custom Show Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhibits by regional artists Jacksonville celebrates Chinese New Year Comedian Susan Westenhoefer pulls no punches Dining Restaurant Inspections: Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015 Saigon Xich Lo Vietnamese cuisine The zwickels shall flow Soo Rah Korean Cuisine Stylish shareables are the feature at Brickroom Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obits Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines/Special Sections Business Services NEWS NOW Our View: Homeless food proposal is the best solution yet ... Guest Opinion: Bill would shore up legal aid funding ... Medford's second-hand law gets a second look ... Our View: Homeless food proposal is the best solution yet ... Guest Opinion: Bill would shore up legal aid funding ... Medford's second-hand law gets a second look ... Fantasy Sports: Youth is the way to go when stocking up at second By Josh Bousquet The Worcester Telegram & Gazette MailTribune.com By Josh Bousquet The Worcester Telegram & Gazette Posted Feb. 24, 2015 @ 8:12 am By Josh Bousquet The Worcester Telegram & Gazette Posted Feb. 24, 2015 @ 8:12 am » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> 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 MailTribune.com By Josh Bousquet The Worcester Telegram & Gazette Posted Feb. 24, 2015 @ 8:12 am » Comment or view comments /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » 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 MailTribune.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 Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked 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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