Comments on: Milestone Watch: 2008 Edition

By: tom hoffman

tom hoffman — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 23:00:42 +0000

One inning doesn’t say that much, especially in spring, but if I’m right I’ll graciously accept apologies. I hope I’m wrong, but I’d say he’s finished.

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By: Sarah Green

Sarah Green — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 19:17:12 +0000

The weirdest thing about Gagne’s struggles with Boston was his BABIP, which was in the .400’s in a Red Sox uniform (and nearly twice what it was in Texas). Surely, part of that is just luck—good luck in Texas, bad luck in Boston. After all, his K/9 was actually *better* in Boston. But part of the problem shows up in his groundball-to-flyball ratio, which deteriorated a bit in Boston. You won’t see the impact of that in his HR rate, but it does show up in his rate of giving up doubles—he coughed up 8 in Beantown, only 4 in Texas (and pitched almost twice as many innings in Texas). He also induced 3 DPs in Texas and none in Boston—it’s hard to get out of a jam when you can’t get a grounder to save your life.

That said, the man still knows where the strike zone is. If he can keep the ball down, he’ll be fine. Not the Gagne of yore, perhaps, but fine.

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By: Coley

Coley — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 18:55:18 +0000

Whoah, Tom, hyperbole much? One of the weirdest things in baseball history? Gagne had an ERA of 2.16 and a WHIP of 1.05 with the Rangers last season. Let’s not place too much importance on Gagne’s struggles over 18 innings as a Red Sox.

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By: Tom Hoffman

Tom Hoffman — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 18:39:35 +0000

The Sox have given up some great relievers over the years (Sparky Lyle, Dennis Eckersley), but if Gagne comes back strong it would be one of the wierdest things in the history of baseball. Perhaps you have a guilty conscience for the things you have said about him?

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By: Sarah Green

Sarah Green — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 15:24:10 +0000

And Armando Benitez is in line for his 300th save too. If he gets out of Triple A this year.

I thought about the 2,500th hit thing for a few guys. I didn’t forget it, overlook it, or ignore it. I just thought to myself, “since when is there a 2,500 hits club?” Same for 350 wins, though, yes, Maddux is only 3 away from that benchmark. To heck with these halfway marks!

What’s actually more interesting to me about Maddux is that, if he doesn’t retire until he’s Roger Clemens’ age (45) and pitches well enough to notch 14 wins a year, he could top 400 wins. Now that would be hot (if improbable).

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By: Marty

Marty — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 14:39:06 +0000

How about Greg Maddux’s 350th win?

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By: Paul Moro

Paul Moro — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 13:53:49 +0000

Doug, to be fair, there’s a lot of guys in line for their 100th win this year. I mean hell, Darren Oliver has a shot (well, maybe not, but still…)

Same with the 2500th hit. It might be a big deal here in NYC, but Pudge, Lofton, and Frank Thomas, may all get there too.

Izzy’s 300th save is a good point though.

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By: Doug

Doug — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 13:36:35 +0000

You forgot or overlooked or simple ignored…

Johan Santana 100th Win. Needs just 7 more wins.

Jason Isringhausen 300th save. Needs just 19 if he can stay healthy.

And Cheater Jeter’s 250th hit. Needs 144 this season to reach 2500 on his career. Yank fans have been talking for the last 2 years about when he’ll reach 3000 hits.

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By: Sarah Green

Sarah Green — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 13:28:51 +0000

Peter, yes, the Dodgers have too many outfielders. But on the other hand, you never know what Joe Torre will do when it comes down to choosing the established veteran or the younger player with something to prove. Oh, wait…. :)

And @ Andrew, I really hope Johnson gets to 300. He’s just such an awesome pitcher; I had sort of forgotten just how awesome, until I was looking over his stats for this post. But I must disagree about Bonds. I think any team who signed him now would be in for a massive headache as they tried to rationalize the signing of a player indicted for perjury—and for a still-young team like the Diamondbacks, that could be an especially fatal distraction as the season wears on. Yeah, they need a power bat. But they don’t need all that baggage.

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By: Andrew Ryan

Andrew Ryan — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 06:34:44 +0000

I like the milestone possibilities here. As for the Unit…he’s looking strong so far this spring…believe he’s going to get to 300…and maybe right on the number..and then retire.

As for Bonds…would like to see him in a D-backs uniform this year. He provides that big bat for one year that this team so desperately needs.

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