Which 2-man combos would you say are better than Berkman/Lee?

[bchapman101]

think Berkman and Lee will have incredible years, rivaling the best in baseball. The stats will be amazing. Any doubts?

[TMac#1]

Papi and Manny - duh

But Berkman is flat out the best hitter in baseball IMO and he and Lee are going to be very productive.

[LonghornFan]

Everett/Ausmus.

This thread is over.

[yaopao]

Papi and Manny - duh

But Berkman is flat out the best hitter in baseball IMO and he and Lee are going to be very productive.

I love Berkman, but he is not a better hitter than Pujols and it could be argued that he's not a better hitter than Manny.

[StupidMoniker]

ARod/Giambi
Manny/Ortiz

[percicles]

Beltran\Delgado.

[Lil Francis]

Thome/Dye

[bchapman101]

Everett/Ausmus.

This thread is over.

dude that was hilarious

[Cannonball]

Everett/Ausmus.

This thread is over.
http://www.bjacked.net/LuvToHunt/forums/phpBB2/modules/gallery/albums/album01/Beat_Dead_Horse.jpg

[MadMax]

I love Berkman, but he is not a better hitter than Pujols and it could be argued that he's not a better hitter than Manny.

i think you're missing the point. he's not comparing Berkman to any other single hitter. he's comparing Berkman/Lee to any other duo out there.

who is Pujols' Carlos Lee? Scott Rolen.

i'd take Berkman/Lee over Pujols/Rolen in terms of production this season.

[The Cat]

Beltran\Delgado.

Lee and Delgado are around the same, but Berkman is clearly a superior hitter to Beltran, making Berkman/Lee the better duo.

Thome/Dye are a better duo based on last year, but Dye's 2006 screams career year. Assuming he regresses to his norm, Berkman/Lee will be better.

[Xerobull]

Berkman/Lee will be the best 1-2 punch this year. Better than Popi and Manny, Pujols/Rolen, in that order.

But Berkman is flat out the best hitter in baseball IMO and he and Lee are going to be very productive.

That's some straight homer talk right there. Berkman is top 3-5 in baseball right now, but Pujols will end up being one of the all-time great hitters of all time.

[Major]

i think you're missing the point. he's not comparing Berkman to any other single hitter. he's comparing Berkman/Lee to any other duo out there.


I think he was responding to TMac#!'s post about Berkman.

Other possibilities:

Berkman / Ensberg (good Ensberg)
Beltran / Wright
Howard / Utley
D. Lee / Soriano

Berkman's better than all of those guys, but all of them are better than Carlos Lee. Keep in mind that Lee has never had a season with a 0.900 OPS.

[justtxyank]

Ortiz/Manny is significantly better.
A-Rod/Giambi is better

Pujols/and a healthy Rolen could be better
Haffner/Martinez can be better

Berkman is an all-world hitter, but Carlos Lee is not. His highest HR total ever is 32 and his highest full season OPS ever is only .891. That's nice but not amazing.

Ortiz, Giambi, etc. all top that.

For example, last year in what many considered a down year, Alex Rodriguez posted a .914 OPS, 23 points higher than Lee.

In terms of counting stats, Berkman and Lee will both have the issue that the overall team obp will still be low. Here's hoping Chris Burke thrives as the leadoff hitter, because he could be the key to a good offense, not Carlos Lee.

[Nick]

That's some straight homer talk right there. Berkman is top 3-5 in baseball right now, but Pujols will end up being one of the all-time great hitters of all time.

Pujols is already doing what NOBODY has ever done in his first 5 years in the big leagues.

I mean, if this guy goes on to play another 15 years (which is wishful thinking, given his body-type which could be prone for breakdown later in his career)... he may very well be the best hitter ever.

That is scary.

[The Cat]

His highest HR total ever is 32 and his highest full season OPS ever is only .891.

Lee hit 37 HR last year.

[justtxyank]

Lee hit 37 HR last year.

Yeah you're right. I forgot to add his two teams totals.

Still, the point stands despite his one big year hitting homeruns. He is not anywhere near the hitter that Berkman is, nor guys like A-Rod, Ortiz, Manny, Giambi, Pujols, Hafner, etc.

[Pocket Rockets]

glaus and wells are a good combo in toronto..i see them having a great year

still think we have the better combo though

[rhino17]

1) Manny/Ortiz
2) Berkman/Lee
3) Soriano/Lee

[jopatmc]

Ortiz/Manny is significantly better.
A-Rod/Giambi is better

Pujols/and a healthy Rolen could be better
Haffner/Martinez can be better

Berkman is an all-world hitter, but Carlos Lee is not. His highest HR total ever is 32 and his highest full season OPS ever is only .891. That's nice but not amazing.

Ortiz, Giambi, etc. all top that.

For example, last year in what many considered a down year, Alex Rodriguez posted a .914 OPS, 23 points higher than Lee.

In terms of counting stats, Berkman and Lee will both have the issue that the overall team obp will still be low. Here's hoping Chris Burke thrives as the leadoff hitter, because he could be the key to a good offense, not Carlos Lee.


Burke is going to have a coming out party this year. Top of the order and he will see a lot of fastballs as pitchers try to bypass him quickly and get to the heart of the order with no runners on. If Ensberg has a strong year, and I think he will, we are going to have a very devastating offensive lineup. The addition of Lee allows everyone else to be better, to see better pitches.

[Buck Turgidson]

[Bleep] the AL.

In the NL, here's the tops off the top of my head, in no particluar order, and the 3rd fiddle:

Howard & Utley (Rollins? Burrell?)
Lee & Soriano (Ramirez)
Beltran & Wright (Delgado)
Pujols & Rolen (Nobody)
Berkman & Lee (2005 Ensberg, 2006 Scott)
Andruw & McCann (Larry Wayne, if he's healthy)

Up & comers:

Holliday & Atkins (Hawpe)
Cabrerra & Handjob (Jacobs? Hermida?)
Hall & Fielder (Weeks?)
Stephen Drew & Somebody (Upton, Jackson, Quentin)

[bchapman101]

Ortiz/Manny is significantly better.
A-Rod/Giambi is better

Pujols/and a healthy Rolen could be better
Haffner/Martinez can be better

Berkman is an all-world hitter, but Carlos Lee is not. His highest HR total ever is 32 and his highest full season OPS ever is only .891. That's nice but not amazing.

Ortiz, Giambi, etc. all top that.

For example, last year in what many considered a down year, Alex Rodriguez posted a .914 OPS, 23 points higher than Lee.

In terms of counting stats, Berkman and Lee will both have the issue that the overall team obp will still be low. Here's hoping Chris Burke thrives as the leadoff hitter, because he could be the key to a good offense, not Carlos Lee.

yea, I can understand that, however, I dont think Berkman or Lee ever had a very strong hitter hitting next to them (Bagwell was already far below his best numbers when Berkman started ripping it), and so now I think both will flourish as a result, and yea I think Burke will be on base alot, a huge offensive upgrade over Willy T, for many more RBI possibilities

[JeopardE]

Papi and Manny - duh

But Berkman is flat out the best hitter in baseball IMO and he and Lee are going to be very productive.

Eh man ... Berkman is definitely one of the best hitters in baseball, but no way in hell is he better than Albert Pujols. Pujols is a wizard at the plate.

[Nick]

When you factor in the righty/lefty factor, the home ballpark, and their ages.. Carlos Lee and Lance Berkman compare VERY favorably among duos.

I wouldn't say they're the best... but Astros fans have nothing to complain about regarding the "heart" of their lineup.

[Buck Turgidson]

I wouldn't say they're the best... but Astros fans have nothing to complain about regarding the "heart" of their lineup.
No doubt.

Another interesting tidbit I just noticed - in light of the constant b!tching about the Astros' bringing up prospects slowly (I'm talking to you Charlie "It's pathetic that Hunter Pence won't be a big league starter until he's age 25/26" Palillo) - Chase Utley & Ryan Howard both had their first full seasons at age 26.

[Uprising]

OMG I can't wait for April!

[texanskan]

I think he was responding to TMac#!'s post about Berkman.

Other possibilities:

Berkman / Ensberg (good Ensberg)
Beltran / Wright
Howard / Utley
D. Lee / Soriano

Berkman's better than all of those guys, but all of them are better than Carlos Lee. Keep in mind that Lee has never had a season with a 0.900 OPS.

HOMER, Berkman and anyone is a good combo because of how great Lance is but putting Ensberg in elite company is a freaking joke.

Berkman and Lee are a top teir 2 man combo for sure

[Major]

HOMER, Berkman and anyone is a good combo because of how great Lance is but putting Ensberg in elite company is a freaking joke.


"Good Ensberg" (2003, 2005) put up numbers better than ANY of Carlos Lee's 8 years in the majors. He's had an OPS over 0.900 twice. Lee never has.

Of course, we have no idea which Ensberg which show up this year.

[msn]

"Good Ensberg" (2003, 2005) put up numbers better than ANY of Carlos Lee's 8 years in the majors. He's had an OPS over 0.900 twice. Lee never has.

Of course, we have no idea which Ensberg which show up this year.
What's with the statistics? It's more fun to call names, homer.

[Major]

What's with the statistics? It's more fun to call names, homer.

Well fine! As a homer, Berkman/Ausmus is the best of these combos. If you disagree, you're a freakin' anti-Astro loser.

[texanskan]

What's with the statistics? It's more fun to call names, homer.

stats are good to a certain extent but I need to see someone produce on a consistant basis. If Ensberg can put it together for an entire season this year then maybe I'll buy all the "ensberg is elite but he was injured at this point so he did not produce he was also injured at this point etc. etc."

[msn]

stats are good to a certain extent
Agreed on stats--they must be used in their proper context.

If Ensberg can put it together for an entire season this year then maybe I'll buy all the "ensberg is elite but he was injured at this point so he did not produce he was also injured at this point etc. etc."
First of all, Ensberg *has* put it together for an entire season--twice. Two outstanding, outstanding seasons, one in which he garnered some MVP votes.

Secondly, no one is calling Ensberg "elite", and I agree with you that based on his year-to-year inconsistency he ain't "elite". The point was simply this--Berkman paired with 2005 Ensberg is one of the deadliest offensive combinations around. And, that's a valid idea.

[texanskan]

Agreed on stats--they must be used in their proper context.


First of all, Ensberg *has* put it together for an entire season--twice. Two outstanding, outstanding seasons, one in which he garnered some MVP votes.

Secondly, no one is calling Ensberg "elite", and I agree with you that based on his year-to-year inconsistency he ain't "elite". The point was simply this--Berkman paired with 2005 Ensberg is one of the deadliest offensive combinations around. And, that's a valid idea.

Well I am not trying to argue with you because we are in agrement for the most part but it's easy to say I'll take Berkman with the 06 Gary Mathews Jr or the 95 (or whatever year he went off) Brady Anderson or the second half of 06 Luke Scott etc. etc.

[msn]

it's easy to say I'll take Berkman with the 06 Gary Mathews Jr or the 95 (or whatever year he went off) Brady Anderson or the second half of 06 Luke Scott etc. etc.
Good point.