Ranking the Lineup Positions 2006

Last year, I ranked the MLB lineup positions by OBP and found it quite interesting, so I figured I'd try it again for 2006.  Yes, we're in 2007 now, but these numbers give us a good insight into where the Phils' offensive strengths and weaknesses lay last year.  With that info, we can better evaluate the team's moves so far (and those forthcoming) for 2007.

So, to describe this again, these charts are a very simple ranking by OPS (if tied, then by OBP) of every team's lineup position for 2006.  For example, reading the first line of the chart below indicates that the best lineup position in all of baseball last year was the Cardinals' number 3 spot.  It's pretty obvious why:  unlike Ryan Howard, Albert Pujols didn't shift in the Cardinals lineup, so other than the time Pujols spent on the DL, the Cardinals had his amazing production almost every time the third spot in the lineup came to the plate.

How'd the Phils fare?  As you'd expect from the NL's top scoring offense, very nicely.  The Phils (highlighted in bold in the charts below) had 4 of the top 45 offensive lineup spots and 6 of the top 104.  The problem, as with 2005, is that the three other spots were pretty bad.  But, unlike 2005, the three other spots were 6-8-9, not 7-8-9. Thanks to the surprising second-half from the Phils' catchers, the number 7 spot in their lineup was pretty good.

The other thing to note about the Phils is how atrocious their 9-hole hitting was again in 2006.  In 2005, it was the second worst in baseball.  Last year, the team did 2005 one better, taking the trophy for the worst lineup spot in the majors with a .419 OPS.  Imagine what the Phils offense could do with league-average hitting pitchers and pinch hitters.

Here's the beginning of the list, numbers 1 through 100. 101-200 and 201-270 are listed in separate stories.