March 10, 2008

Home runs

Four players are within reach of the 200-HR mark this season. Entering the 2008 season, 39 players have hit the CC mark, most recently Nomar Garciaparra, who's sitting right on 200. Those who will probably become the 40th through 43rd players of the 200-HR club are Lance Berkman (192) of Arkansas, Newark's Bobby Abreu and Tampa Bay's Miguel Tejada (each with 187), and Carlos Beltran (183) of D.C.

Philly's Albert Pujols has rocketed up the all-time HR list, reaching Jeff Kent at No. 32 with 228 already. Looking at 2008, Fat Albert probably will pass Shawn Green (233), who's still active, along with Mo Vaughn (234), Reggie Sanders (239), Ryan Klesko (240), Tim Salmon (241), Ivan Rodriguez (241) and Javy Lopez (260). A big year of 40 or more HRs and he could challenge retirees Albert Belle (266), Fred McGriff and Edgar Martinez (271) who currently share the No. 20 spot on the all-time list.

Todd Helton, traded to from Marietta to Vancouver in the offseason, likely will be the 24th player to hit 250 home runs in the DMBL. He also probably will race Pujols to the top 20.

Frank Thomas (368) has No. 9 Mark McGwire (381) and No. 8 Juan Gonzalez (385) in his sights, but Mike Piazza (406) at No. 7 looks too far ahead this season.

It'll be interesting to watch Newark's Chipper Jones and Blue Ridge's Vladimir Guerrero jockey for position in all-time HRs. Both begin 2008 with 341 HRs, tied for No. 13 on the list, with Larry Walker (348) and Jeff Bagwell (349) within early striking distance. The duo will race to see who becomes the 11th player to reach 350, along with Gary Sheffield, who rehabbed last season, and Jason Giambi, both at 340.

Gonzalez is the highest retired player on the list, so the top seven slots are up for grabs. No. 2 Sammy Sosa (436), after two years off, will try to hold off three longtime DMBLers hot on his heels: Jim Thome of Las Vegas (430), Ken Griffey Jr. of Sardine City (429) and Alex Rodriguez of Arkansas (428). Sosa also will add to his all-time mark for most strikeouts, entering the year with 1,772.

Hits

Five players probably will joing the 2,000-hit club, which currently has only eight players (most recently Marietta's Derek Jeter, 2,005). Manny Ramirez (1,993) probably will be the first, followed closely by Chipper Jones (1,987), but it might be after the all-star break that Vladimir Guerrero (1,907), Frank Thomas (1,906) and Alex Rodriguez (1,903) join them. Barry Bonds of Arkansas (2,444) will look to become reach a first in DMBL with 2,500 hits.

RBIs

Already the first in many categories, Bonds also will try to be the first to 2,000 RBIs, starting the season with 1,938. Carlos Deglado (972) and Todd Helton (901) are the only players with legit chances to get to 1,000 this year; the next player to that mark will become the 20th to reach it (and in the process pass Mark McGwire, 976). Alex Rodriguez, currently at No. 12 with 1,198, will be in the top 10 by season's end, passing Sosa (1,237) and Bagwell (1,242).

Doubles

Edgar Martinez, alone at the top for a few years, will have his record 493 career doubles challenged in 2008 by Barry Bonds (470). A handful of players have legitimate to slim changes of reach 400 doubles in 2008, something only six players have done. Chipper Jones (384), at No. 7, also could pass two players on the list - Jeff Bagwell (406) and Larry Walker (407) -- and finish the year in the top five all-time. Also aiming for 400 are Gary Sheffield (378), who enters the year tied with Roberto Alomar at No. 8, and Todd Helton (367), who also enters 2008 tied, at No. 10 with Tony Gwynn. Jeff Kent (364), Ken Griffey Jr. (363) and Frank Thomas (361) all need strong totals in 2008 to reach 400 doubles.

Newark's Bobby Abreu (334) looks to move up the top 20 this year, passing John Olerud (338), Rafael Palmeiro (342) and Barry Larkin (343) on his way toward the No. 15 Jim Edmonds (360).

Several players likely will get their 300th double early in 2008: Jason Giambi (298), Scott Rolen (295), Alex Rodriguez (294) and Johnny Damon (290).

Stolen bases and triples

Tampa Bay's Kenny Lofton needs 17 stolen bases to be the first to 300. He has a healthy lead over No. 2 Barry Bonds (220). Having passed Deion Sanders (75) last season for the all-time lead in triples, Lofton also will look to extend his career mark of 76. Jose Reyes, already at No. 5 with 57, likely will pass Ray Durham (62) and with a typical year also Roberto Alomar (74) and challenge Lofton and Sanders.

Marietta's Derek Jeter looks (198) to pass Chuck Knoblauch (199) in stolen bases, and when he does would become the fifth player to 200. Within reach in 2008 are Omar Vizquel (212) and Robert Alomar (213). Youngster Jose Reyes of D.C. needs six stolen bases to make it 100 for his career. Blue Ridge's Edgar Renteria (171) could crack the top 10 in 2008, passing Larry Walker (176), Eric Young (179) and Craig Biggio (183).

Miscellaneous

Barry Bonds is on the cusp of becoming the first player with 2,000 walks in his career, entering the season with 1,996, and a massive lead over Frank Thomas (1,271). The difference between them, 725 walks, alone would rank 23rd all-time, ahead of McGriff (723) and just behind Barry Larkin (733).

Jason Giambi (988) will likely become the 8th player with 1,000 for his career, followed by Manny Ramirez (959).

Several players have a shot at scoring the 1,000th runs of their careers in 2008: Vlad Guerrero (952), Jason Giambi (942), Carlos Delgado (932), Gary Sheffield (924), Jim Edmonds (919) and Todd Helton (904).

More Milestones articles can be found in the Milestones Archives.