The Third Best Hitter in Baseball: Part Four of a Six-Part Series

Grapefruit and Cactus League play is in full swing. The rumors as to who is on the juice, and who is not, are picking up as well. Yep, you guessed it; the start of the Major League season is right around the corner.

Our national pastime has endured a lot throughout its very extensive history. From scandals, to a strike, to steroids, baseball has been marred by not only controversy, but apparently the letter S as well.

Scandal, strike, steroids, BondS, SoSa, RoSe, McGwire—but I digress.

In continuing with this six-part series, analyzing the third best player in all the major sports, we will take at look at today’s third best offensive threat in major league baseball.

Baseball poses one of the more difficult decisions when choosing which players to analyze. Albert Pujols and Alex Rodriguez, despite recent findings, remain the two best all-around offensive threats in MLB today.

If not for emerging during the Barry Bonds era at the early part of this decade, Albert Pujols would be the owner of four or five MVP trophies.

Despite recent findings of performance enhancing drug use, A-Rod remains one of the most consistent offensive threats to take the field.

Whether you side with Pujols or A-Rod, there is very little question that both not only rule their respective leagues, but also are the two best offensive players in the game today.

With so many great hitters at the Major League level, it is difficult to figure out just where the second tier of hitters begins and where it ends.

The following five players have shown a level of consistency and performance that far supersedes that of their everyday competition.

As a side note, I will be examining offensive players only. It is very hard to analyze pitching in the Major Leagues, as there is a high turnover rate for pitchers. Injuries, fatigue, and poor team performance all affect today’s pitchers. Consistency is just not what it was 20, 30, or even 10 years ago.

Vladimir Guerrero: OF, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Vlad is one of, if not the, best players in the league at putting the bat on the ball. If he swings, chances are he is going to make contact.

Guerrero has been a successful hitter at the Major League level for over a decade. He has never recorded a batting average below .300, and only three times since his rookie season in 1997 has he recorded an average below .315; those seasons being 1997, 2001, and 2008.

Guerrero has also knocked in more than 100 runs in every season excluding his rookie campaign and two injury-shortened seasons in 2003 and 2008.

Vlad has only struck out more than 80 times in a season twice and has never struck out more than 95 times in a season. When it comes to putting the bat on the ball, Guerrero can get the job done.

His averages in the major statistical categories since 2005 are as follow: 30 HRs, 110 RBI, 90 runs, and a .318 average. His career numbers are even better, and these numbers are by far a phenomenal season in today’s game.

Vlad may not blow anyone away with 50 HRs, but he is a threat to put the ball out any time he swings. Where you may only be able to expect 30 or 35 HRs, you are able to bank on at least a .300 average.

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