MLB Notes: Looking at the Numbers

A number of records were broken this last week. Frank Thomas became the 21st member of the 500 Home Run club. Thomas did it on June 28, 2007 at the age of 39. Members who are moving in on 500 homers are Alex Rodriguez who has 492; Jim Thome who has 482; Manny Ramirez who has 481 and Gary Sheffield who has 473 all likely to break by the end of next year. Sammy Sosa actually hit his 600th Home Run becoming only the 5th player behind Aaron, Bonds (who hit #750 this week) Ruth and Mays. Can we really utter the name of Sosa with these fellows? Ken Griffey, jr. moved into seventh place this week as well moving ahead of Mark McGwire at 584 Home Runs. In my mind the ultimate loser in the steroid era. We would certainly be uttering his name with the all-time greats already if it weren't for what Bonds, Sosa, McGwire and others have done to the numbers. Griffey could hit #6oo this year and will certainly move ahead of Frank Robinson very soon. Robinson is a seriously underrated player and his status as one of the all-time greats is also in jeopardy because of the steroid era.

Craig Biggio became the 27th member of the 3000 hit club. He did it on four out of five night. Biggio is a player that did his job well and may make the hall of fame, but I personally never considered him to be one of the elite players of the game. In this era alone Kent and Alomar stand far above his contributions to the game. But, a good player nonetheless.

A question that surfaced this week, what is more difficult 3000 hits or 500 Home Runs? Just looking at the numbers 27 members of the 3000 hit club while there are 21 members of the 500 Home Run club, but soon will have about five new members. So, it seems the numbers indicate they are roughly the same. It is similar to the argument is the cycle more difficult to perform than a no-hitter? There have been 234 no-hitters in baseball history while 276 players who have hit for the cycle. And the perfect game has only been done 17 times in baseball history, something my brother did twice.

In my mind the question is rather ridiculous, both feats are difficult and both worthy of comment. The rare player has done both, Aaron, Mays, Murray and Palmeiro. Two all-time greats and two players who were very good, but would not put them in the category of Mantle, Williams or Dimaggio. Maybe a better question now in this era is what is more difficult 700 Home Runs or 4000 hits. Aaron, Bonds and Ruth versus Rose and Cobb. It is interesting to note no player outside of Bonds has a shot at 3000 hits. Bonds is at nearly 2900 and Griffey is moving in on 2500.

Other notes: Glavine won #297 this week; Maddux won #340 and Clemens is moving in on #350. And the Yankees are still way behind!!!!! And of course checking in on what I consider to be the story of the year: Josh Hamilton is starting to hit again at .273, 13 HR and 28 RBI. Rookie of the year?