Major League Baseball's Most Cohesive Lineup

(Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images)

I began toying with this idea the other day: What if I could build the most cohesive lineup Major League Baseball could assemble?

Not just the top slugger at every position on the field, but a lineup whose pieces compliment each other. It would be a card that would be built to win as many games out of 162 that it could.

Finally, after work last night, I put it all together.

1-(RF)-Ichiro Suzuki-(.310-213 hits-43 stolen bases)

Ichiro is the best leadoff man in baseball, bar none. He gets on base more and strikes out less than Hanley Ramirez and Grady Sizemore.

He's the one player who seems to consistently turn ground balls into singles. When you're looking for a catalyst at the top of the order, Ichiro is just that guy. He's also a brilliant baserunner who is always a stolen base threat. He's even a Gold Glove outfielder.

2-(2B)-Dustin Pedroia-(.326-17 home runs-86 RBI-20 stolen bases)

I had a tough choice here between Pedroia and Ian Kinsler. I wanted a middle infielder with pop and good baserunning skills, but not necessarily a 40 stolen base guy. I went with Pedroia because he's more proven.

Pedroia has Rookie of the Year, Gold Glove, and an MVP accolades already to his name. In theory, he would be there to move Ichiro over and get himself on base. The people behind him in the order are there to bring him home but Pedroia is very good at manufacturing runs.

3-(SS)-Hanley Ramirez-(.301-33 home runs-67 RBI-35 stolen bases)

Hanley Ramirez is one of the most exciting players in the game today and by far the best shortstop. His RBI numbers are low because he has been a leadoff man his whole career.

However, a move to the three hole with another big bat behind him would lead Ramirez to a statistical explosion. He plays solid defense and can steal a base. He's a danger to the opposing pitcher every time he steps up to the plate.

4-(DH)-Ryan Howard-(.251-48 home runs-146 RBI-92 walks)

In order to make the best lineup, I wasn't going to try to find pitchers that can hit. Ryan Howard would be the perfect designated hitter, a middle-of-the-order big bat. No one has had more big flies in the past two years than Howard. If at the DH spot, he wouldn't have to worry about fielding anymore.

Howard also walks alot and draws a lot of intentional passes. When your cleanup guy can't give you a big fly, a walk isn't a bad consolation prize.

5-(1B)-Albert Pujols-(.357-37 home runs-116 RBI-104 walks)

In case you've been on the moon the past five years, Albert Pujols is by and large the best offensive player in the game. He's a career .331 hitter, he averages about 40 home runs and 115 RBI a season, and is an excellent defensive first baseman.

There are no flaws in his game, no holes in his mechanics and while he isn't a stolen base threat, he knows how to run the bases. Not many teams are going to want to walk Ryan Howard if Pujols is coming up next.

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