Much of that is true, but then you Alfonso Soriano, who in two years has gone from an intriguing prospect to a true superstar � and is a threat in some eyes to become baseball�s first 50/50 man.

That is as in 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases. Maybe you can find a few other guys who will hit 50+ bombs this year. However, in this age of power the prospects of finding players capable of stealing 50 bases is just as rare. That is unless you want Luis Castillo, who hits in the neighborhood of one home run per year.

Soriano is capable of doing both, and doing it at second base to boot. That said, KACSPORTS ranks Soriano at #2 on the draft board, slightly behind shortstop Alex Rodriguez. The second base rankings are as follows�

1. Alfonso Soriano (NYY) � From .268/77/18/73/43 (very good) in 2001 to 300/128/39/102/41 last year (off the charts) � along with a .547 slugging percentage and .880 OPS. Has only missed six games in two years. Simply stated, the best 5-category player in the game.



2. Jeff Kent (HOU) � Was good enough fantasy-wise with Barry Bonds as protection (or was it the other way around). But Kent�s value increases moving over to the Crooked E in the middle of a rock-solid offensive lineup. Went .313/102/37/108 last year, increasing the HR�s from 22 in 2001. Also had a .565 slugging percentage and .933 OPS. Every bit the player of Soriano after throwing SB�s and some runs out of the equation.



3. Jose Vidro (MON) � A solid #3 in the second base rankings this year. Bounced back from a subpar �01 to score 103 runs, with 19 HR and 96 RBI. That follows 101 runs, 24 HR, and 97 RBI in 2000. Vidro also has four consecutive .300+ campaigns. Now in his fifth full season and with the Expos playing 22 home games in a very hitter friendly park in Puerto Rico, Vidro is a solid threat for a monster year along with 30 HR�s. Only possible downside could be a possible trade, as is the case with any marketable Expo player.



4. Luis Castillo (FLA) � Carries his value mainly due to two categories, BA (.305 last year) and steals (an MLB high 193 since �99). On the downsie only has 155 career RBI in 2749 AB�s. Run production is so-so, crossing the plate 86 times in �02. As is the case with Vidro, Castillo is a good bet to be involved in trade rumors at some point this season � which could either be good or bad.



5. Brett Boone (SEA) � A predictable, hefty drop from his MVP caliber #�s (.331/118/37141) in �01 to .278/88/24/107 last year. But by just repeating �02�s #�s Boone would still rank in the upper half-dozen among second basemen. But also keep in mind Jeff Kent returned to the sick zone after falling off some in �01, so a similar rebound could well be in store for Boone.



6. Junior Spivey (AZ) - .325/53/9/43 in first 65 games before landing on the DL for 15 days, then hit the wall somewhat and went .282/50/7/35 the rest of the way. Don�t be surprised to see the power increase into the 20-25 HR range. Stolen bases (11 last year) are also a possibility as he once stole 42 in the minors back in 1998. Always on the plus side playing for Zona will be nine road games in Colorado and never having to face teammates Randy Johnson or Curt Schilling. One word of caution is that Spivey was not a highly regarded prospect as recently as two years ago, and was only hitting .232 in 54 minor league games in �01 before getting the call from the D-backs, and has hit .291 since.



7. Ray Durham (SF) � After going to Oakland in a trade-deadline deal to help in their pennant drive, Sugar Ray takes his act to the National League for the first time. No up or downside, just a durable, very consistent performer. 550+ AB�s every year since 1996, 100+ runs every year since �97 (twice over 120), and 20+ steals every year since �96. Also good for about 15-20 HR�s and a .270-.280 average on a yearly basis.



8. Roberto Alomar (NYM) � Alarming drop in all departments, going .266/73/11/53/16 with the Mets after .336/113/20/100/30 in his last year in Cleveland. At age 35 don�t expect the SB�s to rebound, but should be very capable of at least splitting the difference between �01 and �02 in the other areas.



9. Mark Bellhorn (CHC) � If he can get more RBI�s (56) to go along with his 27 home runs and .512 slugging percentage from last year, Bellhorn would rightfully take his place among the top half-dozen second sackers. Most fantasy players will use Bellhorn (also eligible at 1B and 3B) at second, but for those of you playing CDM � he is a third basemen there.



10. Craig Biggio (HOU) � Believe it or not, the onetime catcher heads into his 16th season with the Stros. I don�t think anyone will be wearing #7 in Houston once he hangs it up. This will most likely be Biggio�s last year of eligibility as a second basemen, as the acquisition of Jeff Kent moves him into the outfield. BA slipped to .253 last year, but still had 96 runs, 15 homers and 16 stolen bases after just stealing 7 in 2001. With the exception of an injury shortened 2000 season (his only trip ever to the DL), Biggio scored 100 runs in every year since 1995 (including 146 in �97), as well as 15+ home runs in every non-strike year since �93.



11. Fernando Vina (STL) � Hit over .300 in 1998, 2000, and �01, but slumped to .270 last year. Has stolen 17 bases the past two years, but never more than 22 in his ten year career. Power (36 HR) is not much of an option.



12. Eric Young (MIL) � Got off to a horrific start last year, but rallied by hitting .342 in August and September to finish at .280. Fell off to 57 runs scored with the woeful Brewers after 98 tallies with the Cubs in both 2000 and �01. The plus side are the steals, he has had 30+ in every year since 1998, but turns 36 early this season.



13. Adam Kennedy (ANH) � Sparkplug in Halos title run hit .312 along with 17 stolen bases. 51 SB�s over the past three seasons.



14. Orlando Hudson (TOR) � Got a nice two-month look with the Jays to close out �02, going .276/20/4/23 in 194 AB�s. One downside was not a single stolen base. Did steal 19 bases between AA and AAA in �01. Should be part of a good young offensive nucleus with the Jays in �03.



15. Brandon Phillips (CLE) � 21 year old five-tool prospect considered one of the centerpieces of the Tribe�s youth movement. 5�11� 185 lb right-handed hitter combined for 18 home runs and 14 SB�s in the minors, before getting an 11-game September look in the bigs. Has been on the fast track toward the majors since being a second round pick of the Expos back in �99. For those playing CDM, he is listed at a rock bottom 400 salary.



16. Luis Rivas (MN) � Missed much of last year with injury, going .256/46/4/35 in 93 games. Most disturbing was only nine stolen bases after 31 in his rookie year. Still listed at only 23 years of age, so a real breakout is possible in �03.



17. Brent Butler (COL) � Has inside track on Rockies second base job after .259/55/9/42 in 344 AB�s in his first extended big-league duty. 20 HR and 90 RBI are possibilities in the thin air if he can secure full-time duty.



18. Todd Walker (BOS) � His fantasy value dropped when leaving Colorado for Cincinnati in the middle of the �01 season, but his BA did not drop much finally getting a shot at playing every day � hitting .295 and .299 for the Reds after hitting .316 for the Rockies in 2000. Now with the Red Sox, Walker should equal or even improve on his �02 numbers (79 runs, 11 HR, 64 RBI).



19. Jerry Hairston (BAL) - .251 career BA and crap team are issues, but had 21 SB�s in just 122 games, following 29 steals in �01.



20. Marcus Giles (ATL) � Nice power #�s with 17 HR, 54 RBI in just 457 career AB�s, .247 career BA is a real downer though. A bad start, badly sprained ankle, and a family crises derailed most of the �02 season, he should bounce back though.




Also, Bobby Hill (.253/26/4/20 in 190 AB�s) has the inside track towards the Cubs second base job, but will have to fight off veteran acquisition Mark Grudzielanek.





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