Albert Pujols to LA Angels: Power Ranking the Best 3-4-5 Hitters in Baseball

The most feared part of any baseball team's lineup is the heart of its order, the 3-4-5 hitters.  The men in these spots are the ones who managers count on to get the big hits, specifically those that end up either in the gaps or over the fence.  These men are great hitters by trade and seem to have a knack for getting the clutch hits when they count.

Yesterday, the Los Angeles Angels made the heart of their lineup much stronger by inking first baseman Albert Pujols (pictured) to a 10-year contract worth $254 million.  In doing so, the team has a legitimate shot at becoming more than just a small-ball squad.

After the signing yesterday, I trolled through each team's roster to see which 3-4-5 combos stood out.  Here are the six deemed to be the best.

No. 6: Los Angeles Dodgers

The Los Angeles Dodgers may have been in a funk for most of last season, with many lineup changes occurring due to various slumps.  Yet, the heart of their order usually consisted of three fine hitters: outfielders Andre Ethier and Matt Kemp, and first baseman James Loney.  Each of the three has his own role within the heart and when the trio are running on all cylinders, hold onto your hats.

Ethier is the lefty hitter who has good power, but can also get on base.  Injuries plagued him most of last season as he hit .292, but also had a career-low 11 home runs and 62 RBI (his lowest since his rookie year).  Yet, this is a man who two seasons ago hit 31 homers and drove in 106 runs.  When he's healthy, he can be very dangerous.

Kemp doesn't really need any introduction, as he finished second in MVP voting not too long ago and is proving to be one of the better five-tool players in the game.  He can hit for both average and power, has great speed, plays good defense and has a good arm as well.  Dodgers fans will have the pleasure of watching him for a good while now, as he recently inked an eight-year extension worth $160 million.

Finally, there is Loney, a lefty-hitting first baseman with a knack for getting on base.  He isn't as threatening as his teammates that precede him in this part of the lineup, but he is usually good to have a batting average at or around .280 along with 10-15 home runs.  More importantly, his patience is exceptional, with a career OBP of .346 to go with his .288 career average.

The Dodgers team itself may not look like much, but these three can always be counted on for results.

No. 5: Los Angeles Angels

Once Albert Pujols joins the heart of the Angels' order, he'll be joining the two men at the left: second baseman Howie Kendrick and veteran outfielder Torii Hunter.  Despite the Angels' knack for free-swinging, mark my words.  These three could prove to be a deadly trio.

With Pujols, all we need to look at is his career stat line: .328 career batting average, 445 home runs and 1,329 RBI at just 31 years old.

At age 36, Hunter is the elder statesman of the heart of the order.  He isn't as flashy and versatile a hitter like he was with the Twins, as age has robbed him of his speed, but some of the versatility still remains.  In four seasons with the Angels, he has hit .279 with 89 home runs and 340 RBI and a .349 OBP.  His bat still has some pop, but he has adjusted well to manager Mike Scioscia's "just get on base" approach and can hurt the other team just as well with a single or double.

In terms of Kendrick, the Angels have one of the better pure hitters in the game.  Kendrick's home run output may not climb higher than 10-15 and he may sometimes show impatience at the plate, but the fact remains that he can hit the ball to all parts of the field.

The order in which these three will hit in the heart of the Angels' lineup remains to be seen, but there's no denying that they should click well once the lineup is set.

No. 4: Philadelphia Phillies

Seeing as how including outfielder Shane Victorino in the fifth spot failed during last year's postseason, plus the fact that shortstop Jimmy Rollins could be gone soon, I'm going to anticipate that the Phillies enter 2012 with the heart of their batting order as such: second baseman Chase Utley, first baseman Ryan Howard (assuming he is ready to go after tearing his Achilles last year) and outfielder Hunter Pence.

Utley missed most of last season with a knee injury, but the fact remains that he is still one of the better lefty bats in baseball.  Let's not forget that this is the same man who hit five home runs in the 2009 World Series and, when healthy, can be counted on for as many as 30 dingers to go with a decent batting average.

In Howard, we have a man who can change the game with one swing of his bat.  His batting average will always be...well, average, but his power is impeccable.  To give you a better idea, Howard hit 33 home runs with 113 RBI in 2011, and people called that an off-year for him.

Lastly, we come to Pence, who was acquired from the Houston Astros at the trade deadline.  Like the aforementioned Matt Kemp, Pence is someone who can simply do it all.  He can hit for both average and power, has decent speed and is no slouch in the field either.  In this talented Phillies lineup, let alone the heart of the order, he could finally get the attention he deserves and not just be the "good player on a bad team" that he was in Houston.

That being said, once the lineup is sorted out, look for the Phillies to make another run at the NL pennant next year.

No. 3: Texas Rangers

If the Texas Rangers didn't play in a hitter's park and two thirds of this trio didn't rely so heavily on the long ball, they would probably be number one on this list.  Still, I'm not going to take away from the fact that whenever my beloved New York Yankees play this team, I start shaking when any of the 3-4-5 hitters come to bat.

Let's start with the man in the third spot, outfielder Josh Hamilton.  In 2010, he played in just 133 games yet hit .359 with 32 home runs and 100 RBI and was named AL MVP.  Last year, he played in just 121 games, but hit .298 with 25 home runs and 94 RBI.  Just imagine the damage the man could do if he doesn't miss any games in 2012!

In the cleanup hitter, Michael Young, we have the man who is easily the most underrated hitter in the game.  His power is unpredictable, as he usually tops out around 10-15 home runs, but his average has always been great.  He has hit .304 for his career and posted a career-high .338 average last season.

In the five-spot, there is Adrian Beltre, someone who is like the Tito Ortiz of baseball.  He has many skills, but his greatest strength comes from when he loads up that right-handed swing and just unleashes the fury on the opposition.  In his first year with the Rangers, he hit .296 with 32 home runs and 105 RBI in just 124 games.  As with Hamilton, one can only wonder what he could do in a full season.

With these three manning the heart of the Texas order, it's no wonder that the team has made the World Series the past two years.  With a revamped rotation going into 2012 and most of the lineup intact, fans should be excited.

No. 2: New York Yankees

The New York Yankees are known for having a stacked lineup, and the heart of their order is no exception.  It features a top young hitter who can do it all, and two veterans who have a knack for smacking the ball out of the yard with ease.  That being said, let's dive right in.

In the three-spot, let's assume that second baseman Robinson Cano will be there come Opening Day.  The 29-year-old has drawn comparisons to Hall-of-Famer Rod Carew, but with more power.  He has a .308 lifetime batting average and for the past three seasons, he has hit .314 with 82 home runs (144 for his career) and 312 RBI. 

On top of that, he has a knack for getting clutch hits, be they home runs or singles.  Needless to say, team management will be keeping him around for a while.

In the cleanup spot, there is third baseman Alex Rodriguez.  He didn't have a great 2011 campaign, as injuries robbed him of his productivity.  For the first time since 1997, he failed to have at least 30 home runs and 100 RBI.  Still, the fact remains that he is one of the game's best hitters and should be back full force in 2011, despite getting up there in age.

Finally, we come to switch-hitting first baseman Mark Teixeira in the five-hole.  He has struggled with his average the past couple of seasons, showing difficulty when it comes to hitting breaking pitches, but he can still be counted on for some mammoth long balls.  Since becoming a Yankee in 2009, Teixeira has hit .266 with 111 home runs and 341 RBI.  Say what you want about the average, but those offensive stats are nothing to sneeze at.

Thus, barring a major collapse, this team should contend once again come 2012 as long as all three players contribute effectively.

No. 1: Boston Red Sox

As much as I love my New York Yankees and would love to include them at the top spot, I need to give the Boston Red Sox their due credit.  Their 3-4-5 guys are some of the most talented hitters in baseball.  Their bats can kill the opposition, and do so quickly.

Starting with the three-spot, there is first baseman Adrian Gonzalez.  He had a great first year in Boston, hitting .338 with 27 home runs and 117 RBI.  That could be considered an off-year, given Fenway Park's short porch, but the fact that Gonzalez adjusted his game so that he could get on base more and not just hit balls out of the park makes him all the more dangerous.  In 2011, he set a new career high in total hits with 213.

Moving into the cleanup spot, we have none other than the Greek God of Walks himself, Kevin Youkilis.  He had an off 2011 as he hit a career low .258, but injuries played a role in that and he was still able to hit 17 home runs and drive in 80 runs.  More importantly, he has been one of the team's most consistent producers the past four seasons, batting .296 with 92 home runs and 351 RBI.

Finally, we come to the popular man hitting fifth, David "Big Papi" Ortiz.  Out of all the hitters in the heart of Boston's order, he is the most dangerous.  Since coming to Beantown in 2003, he has hit .289 with 320 home runs and 1,028 RBI.

How dangerous is Ortiz?  Well, I remember there being a five-year stretch, from 2003-2007, where he was the most feared hitter in baseball.  The man simply could not be pitched to, as he would either launch a moonshot of a home run or smack a double into the gap.

Thus, with all three men coming back to Boston next year, look for the Sawx to make yet another run at the AL pennant.