Who has the best 'Heart of the Order' (3/4/5) in Baseball?

[thacabbage]

Discuss.

[Puedlfor]

If I had to win a game tomorrow, and needed a 3/4/5 - I'd take the Astros. Lance Berkman's phenomenal hitting tear elevates that group above everyone else.

If I had to win for the entire season - I don't know. The Astros would be up there - but so would the Cubs, Braves, Red Sox and Yankees.

[ryan17wagner]

B.L.T. BABY!!!!!!!!!

May 8, 2008
Beware of B.L.T.


Five in a row. Eight straight home wins. 12 wins in their last 16 games. If you haven't been out to Minute Maid Park recently, then you're missing quite a show. The surging Houston Astros are one of the hottest teams in baseball and their being led by some clutch hitting by a mean sandwich called B.L.T. (Berkman, Lee and Tejada).

Lance Berkman, also known as Big Puma, 'cause he's agile and fast like a cat, has been on quite a tear recently. The former Rice Owl is 11-for-13 since Sunday with two HR's and six RBI. He even tied the franchise record last night with eight straight hits. Heck, even opposing managers are starting to get the jimmy legs when it comes to pitching to the Texan. Berkman had two intentional walks last night. For the season, Berkman has been his finest. The Triple Crown threat is batting .361 with 10 HR's and 33 RBI. If you're going to Yankee Stadium this year for the All-Star game, book on Berkman being there.

Carlos Lee, the $100-million cattleman from Panama, has been Mr. Clutch the past two games providing jaw-dropping game winning hits to keep the Astros winning streak alive. His big bat is sporting a .276 AVG with seven HR's and 21 RBI. Though he's not having a Berkman-like season at the plate, Lee is a regular for 30 HR's and 100 RBI, a stat should be good as gold this year with Matsui, Tejada and Berkman batting ahead of him.

And finally, there's Miguel Tejada. Tejada's free spirit and enthusiasm has been embraced by the team. Although this is Tejada's first year with the team; he is no doubt the leader of the team. He has taken charge on the field and can be seen regularly giving advice and assurance to the Astros pitching staff. His passion for the game is a breath of fresh air to Minute Maid Park. With Tejada on your team, you want to play, work and hustle harder. This home stand is proof of that. Winning is contagious and Tejada brings that to the ballpark everyday.

Tonight, Brandon Backe (2-3, 4.42) faces John Lannan (2-3, 3.74) as the Astros look to sweep the Washington Nationals. B.L.T. will be there looking to continue their dismantling of N.L. pitching. Game time is 7:05 p.m. Don't be late!

http://houstonist.com/2008/05/08/beware_of_blt.php

[Uprising]

Vin Scully seems to like it:

Watch this : http://houston.astros.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?mid=200805102673225

The LA commentator : "Boy, that's SOME 3,4,5 hitters."

[whag00]

If Ryan Howard gets his batting average up...the Phillies have one of the best

3 - Utley .336 13 28
4 - Howard .167 6 17
5 - Burrell .303 9 30

[Puedlfor]

The thing with the Phillies is that as Howard's numbers come up, Burrell's will probably come down pretty hard. Howard isn't bad a hitter as he's performed, but Burrell isn't as good as he's been.

[DaDakota]

I am loving this Astros team, if we can somehow get another starting pitcher, we could have something.

What about David Wells, does he have anything left, or what about that cheater Roger Clemens?

DD

[ryan17wagner]

Getting Cy Wandy on the mound at MMP will be a big plus. He needs to hurry up!

[Nice Rollin]

If Ryan Howard gets his batting average up...the Phillies have one of the best

3 - Utley .336 13 28
4 - Howard .167 6 17
5 - Burrell .303 9 30
he's never hit for average. i think the guy is overrated, and a product of ESPN. Not to say i'd never take him on my team.

[Major]

he's never hit for average. i think the guy is overrated, and a product of ESPN. Not to say i'd never take him on my team.

:confused: His MVP year, he had a 0.313 average. He should be around 0.280 in general, and has been for his career. He certainly strikes out a lot, but the last two years he hit 58 and 47 HRs (despite sucking in April and missing half of May) and averaged over 140 RBI. He also walks 100 times a year.

He's struggling so far this year, but you'd expect 100 runs, 120 RBIs, and 40+ HRs in an average year.

[dream34shake]

The Red Sox I'd have to say have the best 3/4/5/.
3-Big Papi
4-Manny
5-Lowell

[ryan17wagner]

The Red Sox I'd have to say have the best 3/4/5/.
3-Big Papi
4-Manny
5-Lowell


Big Papi- .241, 7 HR, 28 RBI
Manny- .312, 7 HR, 24 RBI
Lowell- .269, 2 HR, 7 RBI
vs.

Tejada- .338, 5 HR, 26 RBI
Berkman-.380, 12 HR, 35 RBI
Lee- .284, 7 HR, 24 RBI

I'll take the Houston line up!

[H-townhero]

I wouldn't say they're better, about the same. Currently I'd say ours is the hottest in baseball. Even Carlos is starting to heat up

[bobrek]

The Red Sox I'd have to say have the best 3/4/5/.
3-Big Papi
4-Manny
5-Lowell

Based on the first 6 weeks of the season, their production isn't anywhere close to Tejada, Berkman, Lee.

HRs - 16 - 24
RBI - 59 - 85
Runs - 55 - 83
AVG - .272 - .333
SLG - .481 - .615

[ryan17wagner]

Based on the first 6 weeks of the season, their production isn't anywhere close to Tejada, Berkman, Lee.

HRs - 16 - 24
RBI - 59 - 85
Runs - 55 - 83
AVG - .272 - .333
SLG - .481 - .615


He just took a wild guess w/o looking at any stats.

[BigM]

right now i'd say the astros and i think it's unfair to say they're just the hottest trio because certainly all three of them have the credentials to back up their current play.

[DoitDickau]

Well there is a difference between who is the "best" (and the best going forward) and who has played the best to start the year.

I would imagine the astros' 3 have had the best start to the season. I think they'd be in the mix for the top middle of the order as well. Off the top of my head I would also guess that Detroit (Guillen, Ordonez, Cabrera), Atlanta (Chipper, Texiera, McCann), Philadephia (Utley, Howard, Burrell), Yankees (Rodriguez, Matsui, ?) would also be in the mix. If i had to pick one, maybe Detroit,but i'm not sure there is one middle of the order that really stands out against the rest of the best.

[SuperBeeKay]

thus far its the Astros but I think it will change by the end of the year to the Mets or yankees or Red Sox

[johnmvp]

I'm excited to say Astros are top three on the list. I'm even more excited to say we have a even better punch than three in a row if we get a few guys out of slumps.

[dream34shake]

Big Papi- .241, 7 HR, 28 RBI
Manny- .312, 7 HR, 24 RBI
Lowell- .269, 2 HR, 7 RBI
vs.

Tejada- .338, 5 HR, 26 RBI
Berkman-.380, 12 HR, 35 RBI
Lee- .284, 7 HR, 24 RBI

I'll take the Houston line up!


In 2007
Berkman .278 34 HR 102 RBI
Lee .303 32 HR 119 RBI
Tejada .296 18 HR 81 RBI
vs.
Ortiz .332 35 HR 117 RBI
Ramirez .296 20 HR 88 RBI
Lowell .324 21 HR 120 RBI

I'd take either honestly, and the question wasn't who's hotter right now the question was who has the best heart of the order. Fact is astros and red sox have the top 2 best 3/4/5's in baseball.

[Supermac34]

I watched a lot of those highlights on the link provided above. I like that LA announcer.

[msn]

I watched a lot of those highlights on the link provided above. I like that LA announcer.
Don't have time to check it out myself right now, but if I understand correctly, that LA announcer would be Vin freaking Scully. Of course you like that LA announcer!

[MadMax]

by the way....we're on a pace to win 90 games right now, even after the rough start. i'm thinking we won't be losing 100 games this season. just sayin'. :D

[weslinder]

Don't have time to check it out myself right now, but if I understand correctly, that LA announcer would be Vin freaking Scully. Of course you like that LA announcer!

Vin Scully : Baseball :: Gene Peterson : Basketball

The man just sounds like baseball. I like Milo, but Vin Scully is just on another level.

[bobrek]

Vin Scully : Baseball :: Gene Peterson : Basketball

The man just sounds like baseball. I like Milo, but Vin Scully is just on another level.

It is highly annoying listening to Vin Scully do a game. Although he is fair and generally accurate, he is alone in the booth and talks non-stop for 9 innings. Over the course of a 3 game series, he also repeats the same anecdotes a number of times. He needs a sidekick to break things up.

[Ottomaton]

There are so many great baseball anouncers that to claim one is the consumate anouncer is just not right.

Off the top of my head, I vastly prefer Mel Allen, Jack Buck, and Curt Gowdy to Vin Scully, who always has that horrible nasal thing working.

[msn]

There are so many great baseball anouncers that to claim one is the consumate anouncer is just not right.

Off the top of my head, I vastly prefer Mel Allen, Jack Buck, and Curt Gowdy to Vin Scully, who always has that horrible nasal thing working.
Love Allen and Buck, haven't heard much of Gowdy--but I'm not with you guys on Scully; I love Scully as well.

[MadMax]

Mel Allen

How about that!!

Loved "This Week in Baseball" with Mel.

I DVR the new ones every Saturday and watch them with my older boy...I wish Mel were still around.

[msn]

How about that!!

Loved "This Week in Baseball" with Mel...

wish Mel were still around.
Every Saturday for me in childhood consisted of:
--Superman
--Bugs Bunny
--TWIB with Mel Allen
--one game on NBC
--two games on CBS

That's when TV was TV! All this japanamation and NASCAR is just crap. Bring back Bugs and Mel Allen!!

[bobrek]

by the way....we're on a pace to win 90 games right now, even after the rough start. i'm thinking we won't be losing 100 games this season. just sayin'. :D

So where has "jopatmc" been lately? It's been 2+ weeks since he posted any Astros' related musings.

[xiki]

It is highly annoying listening to Vin Scully do a game. Although he is fair and generally accurate, he is alone in the booth and talks non-stop for 9 innings. Over the course of a 3 game series, he also repeats the same anecdotes a number of times. He needs a sidekick to break things up.

Vin Scully is, or at least was - haven't heard him in a while, certifiably great!

I grew up with Mel Allen, great. Red Barber - overrated, tho he was, in fact, great on NPR with Bob Edwards.

Curt Gowdy was horrid. His protege, Bob Murphy, even worse.

Don't discount Milo, even in his dotage.

[bobrek]

Vin Scully is, or at least was - haven't heard him in a while, certifiably great!

I grew up with Mel Allen, great. Red Barber - overrated, tho he was, in fact, great on NPR with Bob Edwards.

Curt Gowdy was horrid. His protege, Bob Murphy, even worse.

Don't discount Milo, even in his dotage.

Not doubting Scully's greatness, but listening to any one person talk non-stop for 3 consecutive games with no one to share the duties is painful.