I've recently been reminded of a debate that, not so long ago, I found awfully compelling.
Before revisiting that debate, though, a list:
Jason Kipnis
Joe Panik
Brian Dozier
Logan Forsythe
Dee Gordon
Jose Altuve
Ian Kinsler
Brock Holt
Kolten Wong
Danny Espinosa
DJ LeMahieu
Those have been the 11 best second basemen in Major League Baseball this season, via FanGraphs (and yes, allowing for the loose description of Brock Holt as a second baseman).
Now, let's travel back in time just two or three years, when one thing seemed terribly obvious: the two best second basemen in the major leagues were Robinson Canó and Dustin Pedroia; the only question was which was better.
On the list of second basemen this season, Pedroia's 12th and Canó's 17th.
Doesn't mean they'll finish there, or that they'll be there next season. Next season, both figure to rank higher.
How much higher, though? If you could choose five second basemen for 2016, would you choose Pedroia and Canó? Pedroia or Canó?
Maybe not, but maybe. For what it's worth, rudimentary projections stlil rank Canó third in the majors, Pedroia fifth.
It's hard to figure these things, though. And it's good to get the occasional reminder of just how hard.
