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

 

Best DH Seasons For Greybeards

Can Lance Berkman, 37, make like Edgar Martinez and Frank Thomas by raking as a greybeard DH?Since the Yankees' Ron Blomberg stepped to the plate as Major League Baseball's first designated hitter on April 6, 1973, the DH has been a saving grace for slow-footed or injury-prone sluggers looking to prolong their careers. Case in point: Lance Berkman, who recently signed a one-year, $11 million deal with the Texas Rangers. "Big Puma" was once nimble enough to patrol center field, making circus catches on Tal's Hill. But these days, the 37-year-old's brittle knees would make his still-potent bat irrelevant if he had to cover ground in the field.

The Rangers hope that Berkman can stay healthy and at least partially make up for the loss of Josh Hamilton. It's not a totally crazy notion, considering Berkman's OPS+ over the past three seasons (139) is close to that of the Angels' latest free agent mercenary (146). If Berkman's bat remains that dangerous, he'll join an elite list of greybeard DHs. Courtesy of Baseball-Reference's Play Index Tool, here are the highest OPS+ totals posted by DHs at age 37 or older (minimum 400 plate appearances):

Rk	Player	OPS+	PA	Year	Age	Tm
1	Edgar Martinez	160	581	2001	38	SEA
2	Edgar Martinez	158	665	2000	37	SEA
3	Frank Robinson	151	630	1973	37	CAL
4	Edgar Martinez	141	603	2003	40	SEA
5	Frank Robinson	141	579	1974	38	TOT
6	Frank Thomas	140	559	2006	38	OAK
7	Edgar Martinez	139	407	2002	39	SEA
8	Ellis Burks	139	570	2002	37	CLE
9	Paul Molitor	138	516	1994	37	TOR
10	Dave Winfield	138	670	1992	40	TOR
11	Rico Carty	138	593	1978	38	TOT
12	Harold Baines	136	486	1999	40	TOT
13	Harold Baines	132	572	1996	37	CHW
14	Brian Downing	132	476	1991	40	TEX
15	Chili Davis	131	567	1997	37	KCR
16	Eddie Murray	129	480	1995	39	CLE
17	Hal McRae	129	654	1983	37	KCR
18	Brian Downing	128	590	1988	37	CAL
19	Frank Thomas	125	624	2007	39	TOR
20	Jim Thome	124	602	2008	37	CHW

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.