Who's Got the Best Middle of the Order

                    
          Holliday and Beltran: A Force in the Middle of the Card's Lineup

At the halfway point of the season, I decided to find out which team has the best trio of hitters. Most of these guys are primarily 3-4-5 hitters, but there is some #2 hitters as well. Coming into the season, I thought that the Tigers would have the best middle of the order with Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder. They still have one of the better ones in the league, but they are not the best statistically.

Honorable Mention

San Francisco Giants(Melky Cabrera, Buster Posey, Pablo Sandoval)
Boston Red Sox(Adrian Gonzalez, David Ortiz, Jarod Saltalamacchia)
Baltimore Orioles(Adam Jones, Matt Wieters, Chris Davis)

10) Los Angeles Angels(Torii Hunter, Albert Pujols, Mark Trumbo)

    .281 BA(T-10th), .341 OBP(14th), .500 SLG(9th)
    46 HR(T-7th), 143 RBIs(T-10th), 124 Runs(12th), 432 TB(12th)

Notes: Trumbo has provided protection for Pujols, and Mike Trout has been a great tablesetter for these guys. Hunter has been good out of the #2 spot.

9) New York Yankees(Mark Teixiera, Alex Rodriguez, Robinson Cano)

    .279 BA(12th), .356 OBP(T-11th), .498 SLG(11th)
     48 HR(5th), 143 RBIs(T-10th), 152 Runs(T-3rd), 467 TB(5th)

Notes: Curtis Granderson bats #2 in this lineup, and Cano should probably bat #3 instead of #5. A-Rod is past his prime, but still is a good hitter. Tex has had a down season, only hitting in the .250s.

8) Pittsburgh Pirates(Andrew McCutchen, Pedro Alvarez, Neil Walker)

     .298 BA(5th), .365 OBP(6th), .508 SLG(8th)
    40 HR(T-13th), 151 RBIs(T-7th), 137 Runs(9th), 494 TB(T-9th)

Notes: McCutchen has carried this trio, and the Pirates for that matter. Walker has started hitting better, and is in the .290s. Alvarez doesn't hit for average, but he has been hitting for power this year.

7) Milwaukee Brewers(Ryan Braun, Aramis Ramirez, Corey Hart)

   .277 BA(13th), .357 OBP(T-9th), .524 SLG(4th)
    50 HR(4th), 151 RBIs(T-7th), 153 Runs(2nd), 486 TB(3rd)

Notes: This lineup isn't as powerful without Prince Fielder, but Braun has still put up monster numbers, and leads the NL in home runs. Ramirez and Hart have had decent seasons.

6) Chicago White Sox(Paul Konerko, Adam Dunn, Alex Rios)

    .285 BA(9th), .370 OBP(4th), .517 SLG(5th)
    51 HR(3rd), 152 RBIs(T-5th), 138 Runs(T-7th), 464 TB(6th)

Notes: Konerko is having another great season this year. Rios and Dunn have rebounded from subpar seasons last year. Dunn still doesn't hit for a high average, but is drawing walks and hitting for power again this season.

5) Detroit Tigers(Miguel Cabrera, Prince Fielder, Delmon Young)
    
    .299 BA(4th), .356 OBP(T-11th).496 SLG(12th)
     43 HR(10th), 171 RBIs(3rd), 127 Runs(T-11th), 478 TB(4th)

Notes: Delmon Young holds this trio back, but he is the Tigers #5 hitter. Cabrera is having another terrific year, and has over 70 RBIs so far. Fielder hasn't hit for as much power in Comerica Park, but still is hitting well.

4) Toronto Blue Jays(Colby Rasmus, Joey Bautista, Edwin Encarnacion)

     .266 BA(14th), .356 OBP(T-11th), .532 SLG(2nd)
     67 HR(1st), 176 RBIs(1st), 160 Runs(1st), 502 TB(1st)

Notes: Encarnacion has had a breakout season with the Jays this year. Bautista started slow, but has been crushing home runs this year, and may hit 50 again. Rasmus has already hit 3 more home runs than he did last year, and has 17 home runs and 53 RBIs for the year.

3) Cincinnati Reds(Joey Votto, Brandon Phillips, Jay Bruce)

     .291 BA(6th), .374 OBP(2nd), .515 SLG(6th)
     42 HR(T-11th), 152 RBIs(T-5th), 141 Runs(5th), 457 TB(7th)

Notes: Votto might be the best all around hitter in the game right now. Dusty Baker has batted Phillips in the cleanup spot to seperate Votto and Bruce, two lefties.

2) St. Louis Cardinals(Matt Holliday, Carlos Beltran, Allen Craig)

     .308 BA(2nd), .387 OBP(1st), .549 SLG(1st)
     47 HR(6th), 165 RBIs(4th), 138 Runs(T-6th), 435 TB(11th)

Notes: Beltran has had a better year than Albert Pujols this year, and the Cardinals still have the NL's best offense. Holliday has been on fire the last month in a half. Craig missed half the year, and still has put up impressive numbers. If he was healthy all year, the Cardinals could of had the best trio.

1) Texas Rangers(Josh Hamilton, Adrian Beltre, Nelson Cruz)
    
    .300 BA(3rd), .359 OBP(8th), .530 SLG(3rd)
    53 HR(2nd), 182 RBIs(1st), 152 Runs(T-3rd), 497 TB(2nd)

Notes: Hamilton is having another MVP type season, and had a 4 HR game earlier in the year. Beltre has made his third straight All Star team, and has been a better option at cleanup than Michael Young last year.