2011 MLB Playoffs: 10 Best Bats Sent Packing

Well, the division series are over, and both the Phillies and Yankees, the favorites to win going in, have been knocked out of contention.

In somewhat of an oddity, in several of the series ended with one team scoring more runs, but the other team winning the series. So I thought I'd rank the 10 best batting performances from the Yankees, Phillies, Rays and Diamondbacks during the division series, based on a variety of metrics.

Companion to 10 Best Bats Still Playing.

10. Ben Francisco, Phillies

Ben Francisco had the highest OPS of anyone in the postseason thus far, a whopping 2.500.  That's largely due to the fact that he only had one hit in two at-bats.

But the fact that that one hit was a three-run bomb that won Game 3 for the Phillies is good enough for No. 10 on this list. 

9. Jorge Posada, Yankees

Before the ALDS, Posada was considered to be the zombie in the Yankees' lineup.  However, unlike overpaid, underperforming stablemate Alex Rodriguez, the Yankees' switch hitter actually got hits, leading all ALDS players in batting average.  He led the Yankees in OPS for the series with 1.150, and added to that 8 total bags and four runs.

8. Ryan Roberts, Diamondbacks

Roberts, one of the NL's better three-baggers, was snubbed by being left of this year's All-Star roster.  However, he showed his prowess on a team that was so close to the NLCS, with a 1.050 OPS, 14 total bags, six driven in, and two dingers, including a game four grand slam.

7. Desmond Jennings, Rays

You've probably never heard of Desmond Jennings, but you should remember him for his playoff performance. Jennings was one of the Ray's better bats in the ALDS, with five hits, two dingers, 12 total bags, and a 1.244 OPS.

6. Kelly Shoppach, Rays

The Rays catcher appeared in only three games, fewer than anyone on this list except Francisco.  He also had a better OPS than anyone on this list (1.455) except Francisco.  In only ten at-bats, he had four hits, two home runs, ten total bags, and drove in six.  

5. Robinson Cano, Yankees

Yankees' second baseman Robinson Cano has the distinction of having driven in more people than anyone else in the Division Series, with 9 driven in (including four by grand slam and six in one game).  Cano also had 15 total bags for the series and a 1.057 OPS.

4. Chase Utley, Phillies

 The Phillies two-bagger led the NL East champs in OPS for the series (among players with at least three plate appearance) with 1.259.  He also had seven hits (for a .4375 batting average), notched 11 total bags, drove in one, and scored one. 

3. Jimmy Rollins, Philadelphia

The aging Phillies shortstop gets on this list for having more hits, 9, than anyone else eliminated in the Division Series. Rollins notched 13 total bags, had a .450 batting average and an OPS of 1.126.  He is also tied with Derek Jeter for most runs scored in the ALDS.

2. Paul Goldschmidt, Diamondbacks

Two months ago, Paul Goldschmidt was in the minor leagues. Now, he's No. 2 on a list with impressive company.

The Arizona first baseman had seven hits for 13 total bags and a 1.339 OPS. He also had two home runs, including a grand slam, while driving in six and scoring four times.  

1. Chris Young, Diamondbacks

Two Diamondbacks at the top?  Guess Kirk Gibson taught them to hit.

So why is Chris Young tops on this list?  He had more total bases (17) than anyone in the division series and smacked three home runs toward a 1.394 OPS.