Who Has the Best One-Two Punch in Baseball?

Columnist Written on July 06, 2009

MILWAUKEE - OCTOBER 04: Prince Fielder #28 of the Milwaukee Brewers greets Ryan Braun #8 during player introductions against the Philadelphia Phillies in Game three of the NLDS during the 2008 MLB playoffs at Miller Park on October 4, 2008 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Since David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez parted ways last summer, there has been a void left throughout baseball on the most feared pair.

Who has taken their spot as the best one-two punch in the league?

Here lies the beauty of baseball; one question can warrant a wide variety of intelligent, yet debatable answers.

Is it Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder? Tom Oates thinks so.

"The Brewers are proof of that this season as Braun and Fielder have flat-out carried the team. They have become the major leagues’ best run-producers in the three-four spots and their consistency is the biggest reason Milwaukee remains in playoff contention at mid-season despite shaky starting pitching and slumping hitters elsewhere in the lineup."

“It’s been tremendous,” said third base coach Brad Fischer, who is in his first year with the Brewers. “It’s been fun to watch those two guys.”

Indeed, Braun and Fielder are the top three-four combination in the game this season. They’ve been better than Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees, Joe Mauer and Jason Morneau in Minnesota, Chase Utley and Ryan Howard in Philadelphia and Albert Pujols and anybody in St. Louis."

Is it Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau? Tigers manager Jim Leyland seems to think so.

"I think Minnesota has two of the top 10 players in all of baseball, Mauer and Morneau. I think, if people said name me your top 10 players in all of baseball, I think Mauer and Morneau would be in the top 10. I think Mauer probably in the top five and Morneau in the top 10."

"Ask Detroit's Jim Leyland what he thinks of Twins first baseman Justin Morneau and catcher Joe Mauer, who wore out his pitching staff as his team lost two out of three here, and the Tigers manager said: 'It's probably the best back-to-back tandem of anyone in baseball.'"

For my money, I would take Mauer and Morneau as the best one-two punch in the league. Even though Mauer isn't known as a big time power hitter, his ability to hit for average and get on base is ridiculous. And as for Morneau, the dude can flat out rake. He is one of the best power hitters in baseball and in my eyes, ridiculously underrated.

By the way, we can't sleep on Chase Utley and Ryan Howard from Philadelphia or Mark Teixeira and A-Rod from the Yankees. Both of those combos, when healthy, are pretty damn good in their own right.

Thoughts?

This article is also featured on Jorge Says No!

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written on July 06, 2009 Opinion

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