"Round" milestone of the year for 2007?
| Glavine 300 wins (293) |  65 (36.31%) |
| Sosa 600 homers (592) | 9 (5.03%) |
| Thomas, Thome, A-Rod, Manny 500 HR | 48 (26.82%) |
| Bonds 2000 RBI (1,942) | 15 (8.38%) |
| Lofton 600 SB (605) | 2 (1.12%) |
| Martinez 3000 K (2,998) | 15 (8.38%) |
| Hoffman 500 saves (485) | 19 (10.61%) |
| Other (who and what?) | 6 (3.35%) |
179 votes | 14 featured comments
I only included the milestone numbers that seemed like, health permitting, slam dunks to be reached in 2007. And only round numbers, so no "756" on this board.
Yes, Lofton has reached his already, last week. Onward and upward to 700?
I think Hoffman getting his 500th save is a big deal as it is the first time anyone has reached that level and, with just Rivera closing in on it, it won't be watered down like the 300 & 400 save marks were.
I didn't figure Lofton would get much support, though he may be the last 600-steal guy for a looooong time, but hey -- everyone enjoy this latest episode of Everybody Hates Sammy.
If Sosa had a genuine comeback season, it would be a big deal. If he limps to 600 while hitting .220 (and then retires some time in July or August with 603), he's just another has-been who stuck around too long in pursuit of a magic number.
My apologies to Craig Biggio, who is knocking on the door of 3000 hits and should be on this list..
My bad. Guess he won't mention me in his Hall of Fame speech in 2013 or 2014.
My bad. Guess he won't mention me in his Hall of Fame speech in 2013 or 2014.
he's just another has-been who stuck around too long in pursuit of a magic number.
I'm just curious, who are some of the fellas to be listed in this group?
I'm just curious, who are some of the fellas to be listed in this group?
Early Wynn is the obvious example; he bounced around looking for win #300 forever, didn't he?
My first thought was Kaline, who got to 3007 hits off a poor final season or two, but he retired with 399 homers, so that seems unlikely.
A-Rod - 100 HR in a season...
Okay, okay. I'll join the crew voting for Glavine.
Okay, okay. I'll join the crew voting for Glavine.
I'll go with the 500 HR guys, by process of elimination. Sosa's HR total is a joke, plain and simple, and I'm not even convinced he'll make it to 600 this season; RsBI, Ws, and saves are bad stats; and I wouldn't be surprised if Pedro doesn't pitch this season. Lofton's milestone is impressive, given his 80% career success rate, but for some reason I don't get too excited about SBs.
Early Wynn is the obvious example; he bounced around looking for win #300 forever, didn't he?
Wynn and Lefty Grove are the obvious ones to me. So I'll tell the stories!
Lefty Grove got off to a late start, but by age 39 he'd racked up 286 career victories. And he could still pitch - as a 39 year old left-hander in Fenway Park, he led the American League in ERA (15-4, 2.54). But in 1940, he went 7-5, 3.99 - hs worst full season since his rookie year of 1925. He came back in 1941 and managed to get his 300th win in July, while the world was looking the other way (DiMaggio had a hitting streak going.)
Early Wynn won the Cy Young Award in 1959 (there was only one) when he was 39 (22-10, 3.17), as he helped pitch the White Sox into the World Series for the first time since 1919. He had 271 career wins at that point. He had a pretty good year in 1960 (13-12, 3.49), and then he got old. In 1961, he could only make 16 starts - he went 8-2, leaving him just 8 wins shy of 300. But in 1962, the wheels came off his wagon. He went 7-15, 4.46, and was released by the White Sox after the season. He signed on with Cleveland midway through the 1963 season. He pitched a complete game his first time out, but lost 2-0 (to the White Sox) on a ninth inning homer by Ron Hansen. He took no decisions in his next two starts, allowing just three runs over twelve innings. Then, after an appearance in relief, the Indians staked him to a 5-1 lead against Kansas City. Wynn staggered through the fifth inning, allowing the A's to close to within a run, but he came out after five with a 5-4 lead, and the bullpen held on to get him his 300th. He hung around for the rest of the season, working almost entirely in relief (and doing a pretty decent job, actually) but never won another game.
As for Kaline, the end of his career almost has a certain natural logic. Right up through age 37, he was an outstanding player. Then at age 38, he suddenly has a poor season - his batting average dropped from .313 to .255. So he came back at age 39, probably to see whether it was just an off year or really the end of the road. He had essentially the same season, concluded it was the end of the road, and retired. With 399 home runs.
And nobody - nobody - had better mention Don Sutton in this context. (I've heard people bring up Sutton's name.) Don't do it. Or I'll jump all over you!
Wynn and Lefty Grove are the obvious ones to me. So I'll tell the stories!
Lefty Grove got off to a late start, but by age 39 he'd racked up 286 career victories. And he could still pitch - as a 39 year old left-hander in Fenway Park, he led the American League in ERA (15-4, 2.54). But in 1940, he went 7-5, 3.99 - hs worst full season since his rookie year of 1925. He came back in 1941 and managed to get his 300th win in July, while the world was looking the other way (DiMaggio had a hitting streak going.)
Early Wynn won the Cy Young Award in 1959 (there was only one) when he was 39 (22-10, 3.17), as he helped pitch the White Sox into the World Series for the first time since 1919. He had 271 career wins at that point. He had a pretty good year in 1960 (13-12, 3.49), and then he got old. In 1961, he could only make 16 starts - he went 8-2, leaving him just 8 wins shy of 300. But in 1962, the wheels came off his wagon. He went 7-15, 4.46, and was released by the White Sox after the season. He signed on with Cleveland midway through the 1963 season. He pitched a complete game his first time out, but lost 2-0 (to the White Sox) on a ninth inning homer by Ron Hansen. He took no decisions in his next two starts, allowing just three runs over twelve innings. Then, after an appearance in relief, the Indians staked him to a 5-1 lead against Kansas City. Wynn staggered through the fifth inning, allowing the A's to close to within a run, but he came out after five with a 5-4 lead, and the bullpen held on to get him his 300th. He hung around for the rest of the season, working almost entirely in relief (and doing a pretty decent job, actually) but never won another game.
As for Kaline, the end of his career almost has a certain natural logic. Right up through age 37, he was an outstanding player. Then at age 38, he suddenly has a poor season - his batting average dropped from .313 to .255. So he came back at age 39, probably to see whether it was just an off year or really the end of the road. He had essentially the same season, concluded it was the end of the road, and retired. With 399 home runs.
And nobody - nobody - had better mention Don Sutton in this context. (I've heard people bring up Sutton's name.) Don't do it. Or I'll jump all over you!
I'll throw out a few more names in the "hangers-on to get a milestone" category:
Pete Rose and the Hit record. Possibly the worst case of all time, certainly the worst case in my memory. I only recall Pete Rose (player-wise) as a washed up slap hitter who was lucky to slug .300.
Ernie Banks and 500 HR.
McGriff tried to hang in there to get 500, but fell short.
Pete Rose and the Hit record. Possibly the worst case of all time, certainly the worst case in my memory. I only recall Pete Rose (player-wise) as a washed up slap hitter who was lucky to slug .300.
Ernie Banks and 500 HR.
McGriff tried to hang in there to get 500, but fell short.
I probably had Fred McGriff on my mind when I posted that. Didn't make it, but I remember a fair bit of hype (such as one can get when talking about a Devil Ray) on McGriff's quest for 500.
Gaylord Perry is the President of the Overlyripe Cheese Club for my money. Watching him grind his way to 300 in Seattle was tough to watch. His last good season was at age 41 in Texas - he then kept going for 3 more years with OPS+ of 91,96 and 90. When I say him in '82 it was almost 100% spitballs.
I didn't vote, I just wanted to say Johnny Damon is on the doorstep of 2,000 hits, with 1,972.