MLB Power Rankings: Listing the 15 Best Offensive Seasons in 2011

After impressive offensive seasons from sluggers like Matt Kemp, Miguel Cabrera and Adrian Gonzalez, which 15 MLB superstars put up the most prominent numbers in the 2011 regular season?

Even though power numbers are still on the decline in MLB—Jose Bautista hit the most with 43—that still didn't prevent players from compiling some fantastic all-around seasons. The rare combination of power and speed was put on display in 2011, and the numbers that Curtis Granderson, Jacoby Ellsbury and Ryan Braun put up certainly drive that point home.

There are a number of offensive statistics that epitomize a successful season, but the importance of on-base percentage (OBP) is paramount. There are players who hit 30 home runs with 90-100 RBI, but they fail to get on base the majority of the time, which is what eventually wins baseball games in the long run.

With that being said, here's a list of the 15 best offensive seasons in the 2011.

15. Michael Young

Batting average: .338

Home runs: 11

RBI:106

The only reason Michael Young is so low on this list is because his power numbers weren't that impressive. However, that shouldn't take anything away from the season that Young put together this year.

It was Young's sixth season with over 200 hits, which is quite an impressive feat. However, his .380 OBP and .474 slugging percentage (SLG) aren't anything to write home about.

Nonetheless, it was a great season for the Rangers most reliable hitter, and it's still not even over yet for him.

14. David Ortiz

Batting average: .309

Home runs: 29

RBI: 96

It's weird why no one is really talking about David Ortiz anymore.

Once one of the league's most feared hitters, "Big Papi" had seemingly disappeared from the spotlight after his three mediocre seasons from 2007-2010.

But then, seemingly out of the blues, Ortiz put together a fantastic 2011 season in his attempt to remind baseball fans that he hasn't gone anywhere.

13. Troy Tulowitzki

Batting average: .302

Home runs: 30

RBI:105

There truly isn't a better shortstop in the game right now than Troy Tulowitzki.

He can hit for average, and hit for power. He can field, and he can grow a pretty mean mullet. He even has one of the best nicknames in all of baseball.

"Tulo" got off to a sizzling hot start in the 2011 campaign, but then he saw his numbers decline after his average dropped all the way down to .246 in late May.

But then, Tulo did what Tulo does better than anyone in MLB: he got hot. Tulowitzki heated up again for the last four months of the season, and eventually ended the season with some very impressive numbers.

12. Curtis Granderson

Batting average: .262

Home runs: 41

RBI:119

You may be surprised to see Curtis Granderson—the potential AL MVP award winner—so low on this list. However, Granderson's 41 home runs, 119 RBI and 25 stolen bases don't exactly tell the whole story.

His batting average is just a shade over .260, which isn't that impressive. His strikeout percentage was 24.7 percent. He was also caught stealing in 30-percent of his attempts.

Don't get me wrong, Granderson had a fantastic year. But all of this MVP talk is ridiculous. A player who batted .260 and struck out once out of every four at bats does not deserve to win the MVP honors.

11. Albert Pujols

Batting average: .299

Home runs: 37

RBI: 99

No one expected to see Albert Pujols so far down on a list of this sort.

Pujols, a man who batted at least .300, hit 30 home runs and had over 100 RBI for the first 10 seasons of his career, missed that mark by only one RBI this season...

Some may call it an off-year, but I call it an end to one of the most impressive streaks in all of sports.

10. Jose Reyes

Batting average: .337

Home runs: 7

RBI: 44

Despite his impressive 2011 season, Jose Reyes lost the respect of many of his peers and followers.

In a selfish attempt to win the NL batting title, Reyes laid down a bunt in the first inning of the last game of the regular season. Sure, you can't fault him for bunting for a hit, but it's what he did afterwards that has everyone shaking their heads.

Reyes then decided to take himself out of the game in order to preserve his lead.

After that play, I hoped the Pittsburgh Pirates—the team that Ryan Braun was facing—threw Braun a few fastballs right down the middle so that he could overtake Reyes' top spot in the NL batting race.

9. Joey Votto

Batting average: .309

Home runs: 29

RBI: 103

While Joey Votto's 2011 season wasn't as impressive as his 2010 MVP season, it was still pretty darn good.

Votto finished the season with an OBP over .400 and an batting average over .300, which was the third year in a row that he accomplished that feat.

Votto is truly one of baseball's purest hitters.

8. Lance Berkman

Batting average: .301

Home runs: 31

RBI: 94

Lance Berkman could very well be this year's comeback player award winner.

At age 34, many were ready to stick a fork in Berkman after his less-than-impressive 2010 campaign.

Then lo and behold, Berkman burst out of the gates in 2011 and carried a Cardinals offense that was riddled with injuries. Berkman's .412 OBP epitomizes the fantastic season that he truly had.

7. Prince Fielder

Batting average: .299

Home runs: 38

RBI: 120

At the moment, there isn't a more intimidating player in baseball than Prince Fielder.

His vicious swing that utilizes every ounce of his 285-pound frame sends baseballs into areas of the stadium that a baseball has never seen before.

With an OPS of .981, which was fifth-best in MLB, Fielder had the best offensive season out of all the NL first baseman.

6. Adrian Gonzalez

Batting average: .338

Home runs: 27

RBI: 117

Out of the two big fishes that the Boston Red Sox caught this offseason, only one panned out to be worth the money—Adrian Gonzalez. The other fish was Carl Crawford, who struggled mightily in his first season with the Red Sox.

Many envisioned a 50-plus home run season from Gonzalez, who was consistently hitting 30 or more in the unfriendly hitting confines of Petco Park. 

Even though Gonzalez still hit 27 home runs this season, we all knew he was capable of more than that. However, Gonzalez took another approach at the plate: Trying to become a better hitter.

Mission accomplished.

Gonzalez's .338 batting average was 34 points higher than his previous career high that he set in 2006.

5. Jacoby Ellsbury

Batting average: .321

Home runs: 32

RBI: 105

What in the world got into Jacoby Ellsbury this year?

He must've eaten his Wheaties every morning for breakfast because Ellsbury put together one of the most well-rounded seasons in 2011.

The former Oregon State Beaver more than tripled his previous career high in home runs, and drove in 45 more runs than his preceding career high of 60.

4. Ryan Braun

Batting average: .332

Home runs: 33

RBI: 111

You shouldn't even be surprised to see Ryan Braun on this type of list anymore. He has put up phenomenal numbers across the board ever since he came into the league in 2007, and this year was no different. 

Braun arguably had his best season yet, and his .998 OPS—which was the third highest in MLB—certainly backs that statement up.

He also struck out under 100 times this season for the first time in his career. For a power hitter like Braun who had over 550 at bats, that's an extremely impressive feat.

Oh, and don't forget his 33 stolen bases either.

3. Jose Bautista

Batting average: .302

Home runs: 43

RBI: 103

For those who thought Jose Bautista was a one-hit wonder in 2010, you were dead wrong.

After he exploded onto the scene last season by crushing 54 home runs, Bautista was determined to prove that he and his recently changed batting stance were the real deal.

Bautista ended up doing that, and much more.

He led the league in home runs this year with 43, and also led the league in OPS with a 1.056 average. On top of that, he still managed to hit over .300 and drive in over 100 runs.

I think it's safe to say that Bautista is legit.

2. Matt Kemp

Batting average: .324

Home runs: 39

RBI:126

Try to find a player who had a more well-rounded stat sheet than Matt Kemp.

Hopefully you didn't look too long, because I guarantee you won't find one.

Even though Kemp struck out often, he made up for it with his .986 OPS, which was the fourth-highest in MLB. He was also one home run shy of being the first member for the 40/40 club since Alfonso Soriano accomplished it in 2006.

1. Miguel Cabrera

Batting average: .344

Home runs: 30

RBI: 105

Even though Miguel Cabrera is considered to be one of the league's most dangerous hitters, he is still vastly underrated. Players like Albert Pujols, Adrian Gonzalez, Josh Hamilton and Prince Fielder are regularly considered to be the best hitters in the game today, and rightly so.

However, Cabrera's name should be breathed in the same sentence as those listed above. The numbers he consistently puts up every year are astonishing, and 2011 was the same old story for Cabrera.

His OPS of 1.013 was the second-highest in MLB, and his OBP of .448 tops them all. What makes Cabrera so amazing is his ability to consistently put the ball in play, or take the walk when the pitcher gives him nothing to hit. His BB/K ratio of 1.21 was the second-highest in baseball.

Cabrera is undoubtedly one of the best hitters in the game today.