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

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.

 

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

 

Vin Scully seems to like it:

 

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

 

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.

 

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

 

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

 

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.

 

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.

 

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!

 

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

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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

 

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.

 

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.