Baltimore Orioles: Jonathan Schoop Soars in AL East Second Base Rankings
By Nate Wardle
![Sep 21, 2016; Baltimore, MD, USA; Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia (15) cannot catch the ball to make the force out on Baltimore Orioles second baseman Jonathan Schoop (6) in the third inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports Sep 21, 2016; Baltimore, MD, USA; Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia (15) cannot catch the ball to make the force out on Baltimore Orioles second baseman Jonathan Schoop (6) in the third inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/391d2d18fce295b5e8a8dd43bd66ecf1591f0a6a58a0e37a0ce372aaffb2a785.jpg)
5. Toronto Blue Jays – Devon Travis, Darwin Barney, Ryan Goins
Preseason prediction: 5th, Ryan Goins, Devon Travis, Darwin Barney, Ryan Adams
Someone had to be the fifth-place team, and this isn’t a knock on Devon Travis or Darwin Barney, but the way it goes.
Travis, who struggled coming back from an injury at first but by the end of the season, he was quite productive, hitting .300/.332/.454 in 96 games started. Travis added 11 HR, 28 2Bs (a great number for the number of games played), 50 RBIs and 54 runs. And, most of this was from either the top or bottom of the Jays’ order.
The metrics like Travis as well, as he finished with a 2.7 oWAR and a 0.5 dWAR. The one knock is that his range numbers were very slightly below league average, and he did have 11 errors in the games he played.
Barney filled in rather admirably during the first part of the year, sharing time with Ryan Goins. He started 32 games at second, and finished with the second-best numbers of his career, surpassed by only his rookie year. Barney hit .269/.322/.373 with 4 HRs, 13 2Bs, 19 RBIs and 35 runs from the bottom of the order. He rated with a 1.3 dWAR, but that was at numerous positions, but overall a good year for Barney.
Goins continued to be what he is, a defensive second baseman. He once again hit under .200, coming in at .186. But, on a Jays team with a lot of offense, he played up the middle defense while Travis was out.
Did you know, Russell Martin played two innings at second base?
With a healthy Travis moving forward, the Jays will almost certainly not be in this position next year, but it is a very tough position.