Hitting #3 makes the world go 'round

New Rangers DH Lance Berkman said he’s comfortable moving back to the No. 3 spot in the lineup, “It’s an interesting spot. It makes the world go ’round. It takes a different skill set to hit there than in some other spots” according to a blog report from Evan Grant of the Dallas News. Manager Ron Washington said earlier this week he expects Berkman will hit third in the Rangers’ lineup, replacing Josh Hamilton. “It’s definitely the spot in the lineup where you want your best hitter,” Berkman said.

Nine to Know

To prove Berkman's point, here are the top 2012 #3 hitters in the lineup

Rk	Player	Split	G	HR	GS	RBI	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
1	Miguel Cabrera	Batting 3rd	161	44	161	139	66	98	.330	.393	.606	.999
2	Josh Hamilton	Batting 3rd	143	42	143	127	58	162	.284	.352	.575	.927
3	Ryan Braun	Batting 3rd	153	41	153	112	63	128	.320	.392	.596	.988
4	Adam Dunn	Batting 3rd	146	39	145	90	102	220	.200	.330	.460	.790
5	Andrew McCutchen	Batting 3rd	156	31	156	96	70	132	.328	.400	.554	.954
6	Albert Pujols	Batting 3rd	154	30	154	105	52	76	.285	.343	.516	.859
7	Chase Headley	Batting 3rd	141	29	141	105	78	141	.280	.373	.499	.872
8	Jose Bautista	Batting 3rd	92	27	92	65	59	63	.241	.358	.527	.886
9	Matt Holliday	Batting 3rd	154	27	154	102	75	130	.297	.381	.500	.881
10	Josh Reddick	Batting 3rd	133	27	133	76	50	141	.241	.307	.460	.766

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used Generated 1/15/2013.

2012 #3 Batters | Create infographics

 

2012 Home Run Leaders by Outs

2012 0 Outs HR Leaders | Infographics

2012 One Out HR Leaders | Infographics

2012 2-Outs HR Leaders | Infographics

Lance Berkman: The Anti-Hamilton

Looking to add some punch to their lineup after losing Josh Hamilton to the division-rival Angels, the Rangers have reportedly signed his polar opposite at the plate. Lance Berkman will DH for Texas on a one-year, $10 million deal with a vesting option for the 2014 season, so long as his surgically-repaired right knee checks out. The 37-year-old  switch-hitter was limited to just 32 games last year, but his three-year OPS+ (139) is within shouting distance of Hamilton's (146). That's where the comparison ends, though, as the uber-patient Berkman and hacking Hamilton take far different approaches at the plate.

Take a look at Berkman and Hamilton's swing rates by pitch location since the beginning of the 2010 season. Berkman swung at cookies thrown down the middle and rarely ventured outside of the strike zone. Hamilton, meanwhile, swung at everything from El Paso to Texarkana:

Berkman's swing rate by pitch location, 2010-12

              

Hamilton's swing rate by pitch location, 2010-12

Berkman swung at lots of strikes (69.3% of pitches thrown over the plate, well above the 63.6% major league average) and took would-be balls, chasing just 21.4% of pitches thrown out of the zone (28.1% MLB average). Hamilton offered at a major league-high 81.6% of in-zone pitches over the 2010-12 seasons, but he also jumped at 38.8% of out-of-zone pitches (and was even jumpier last year).

The contrast is even greater when you look at how often the two swing at "non-competitive" pitches, which are those thrown at least 18 inches away from the center of the strike zone. Berkman has swung at such junk pitches 5.6% of the time, far below the 9.1% MLB average. Hamilton, meanwhile, has gone after such offerings 14.1% of the time.

How's that for irony: Having lost their star hacker to L.A., Texas' playoff hopes may now hinge on the play of their new anti-Hamilton. If Berkman can remain healthy and come anywhere near replicating Hamilton's production in 2013, the Rangers will be thrilled.