Milestones '09

Friday, February 06 2009 @ 12:44 PM EST

Contributed by: Mick Doherty

Every year as spring training approaches, we take a look at some of the statistical milestones that are likely (or in some cases, unlikely) to be broached in the coming season.

After what I admit is just a cursory scan of the active leaderboards on the greatness that is BaseballReference.com, focusing solely on round numbers (that is, numbers like "500" rather than the famous-but-uneven like "755" and "5714"), I found about 40 such numbers. I undoubtedly missed some, so speak up ... take a look at the table after the link and chime in ...

Which of these actually, you know, matter -- which ones do you care about?
What numbers are missing from this list?
What, if any, of the below are you looking forward to?
What, if any, of the below, would you prefer to NOT see met?

Shown is the player's name, the numerical milestone in sight and, parenthetically (the number needed to make the target).

Likely
Gary Sheffield, 500 homers (1)
Mariano Rivera, 500 saves (18)
Albert Pujols, 1000 runs (53)
Albert Pujols, 1000 RBI (23)
Alex Rodriguez, 2500 hits (96)
Manny Ramirez, 2500 hits (108)
Jason Giambi, 400 homers (4)
Vladimir Guerrero, 400 homers (8)
Jim Edmonds, 400 homers (18)
Jimmy Rollins, 100 3B (10)
Carl Crawford, 100 3B (16)
Carlos Delgado, 1500 RBI (11)
Jim Thome, 1500 RBI (12)
David Ortiz, 1000 RBI (31)
Lance Berkman, 1000 RBI (39)
Todd Helton, 2000 hits (43)
Bobby Abreu, 2000 hits (54)
Miguel Tejada, 2000 hits (85)
Brian Giles, 2000 hits (146)
Magglio Ordonez, 2000 hits (170)
Ichiro Suzuki, 2000 hits (195)
Johnny Damon, 2000 games (12)
Derek Jeter, 2000 games (15)
Randy Johnson, 300 wins (5)
Jamie Moyer, 250 wins (4)
Jason Isringhausen, 300 saves (7)
Huston Street, 100 saves (6)
Tim Wakefield, 2000 K (53)

Maybe
Alex Rodriguez, 600 homers (47)
Randy Johnson, 5000 strikeouts (211)
Roy Halladay, 150 wins (19)
Roy Oswalt, 150 wins (21)
Brad Lidge, 200 saves (36)
Jamie Moyer, 4000 IP (253.1)
Roy Halladay, 50 CG (10)
Johnny Damon, 100 3B (8)

Unlikely but at least possible
Jim Thome, 600 homers (59)
Andruw Jones, 400 homers (29)
Chipper Jones, 1500 RBI (126)
Troy Glaus, 1000 RBI (123)
Juan Pierre, 500 SB (71)

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