The Batter's Box: Career Stats & Commentary.

"Like drinking coffee with a fork."

-- Willie Stargell, on hitting Sandy Koufax

(St. Petersburg, June 19, 2000) Wade Boggs has retired, and Gwynn overcomes yet another DL stint.

(Boston, November 24, 1998) Here are some selected stats which include (with the exception of Eddie Murray) the 1998 season. Quite a few players in mid-career putting up some pretty good numbers. Molitor and Murray may retire, but have hit some of the magical marks. Barry Bonds has become the first to drill 400 homers and swipe 400 bases. Gwynn, Boggs, and Ripken (sans streak) are closing on 3000 hits. And Griffey, who just turned 29, is putting up power numbers the likes of which baseball has rarely seen. Frank Thomas, despite the "off-year", still has my vote as the best hitter in baseball, but there are many great ones.

Career Numbers through 1998

Gold Dust Twins

	ave	g	ab	runs	hits	2b	3b	hr	rbi	bb	k	sb	obp	slg	notes
Tony Gwynn	.338	2368	9185	1378	3107	533	84	134	1121	780	423	318	.388	.458	8 batting crowns
Wade Boggs	.328	2439	9180	1513	3010	578	61	118	1014	1412	745	24	.415	.443	5 batting crowns

Headed for the Hall

	ave	g	ab	runs	hits	2b	3b	hr	rbi	bb	k	sb	obp	slg	notes
Paul Molitor	.306	2683	10835	1780	3319	605	114	234	1307	1094	1244	504	.369	.448
Barry Bonds	.290	1898	6621	1364	1917	403	63	411	1216	1357	1050	445	.411	.556	3-time MVP
Eddie Murray	.287	3026	11336	1627	3255	560	35	504	1917	1333	1516	110	.359	.476
R. Henderson	.283	2612	9473	2014	2678	442	60	266	978	1890	1390	1297	.404	.426
Cal Ripken	.276	2704	10433	1510	2878	544	44	384	1514	1067	1174	36	.343	.447	the Streak
Mark McGwire	.264	1535	5131	941	1353	219	5	457	1130	1052	1259	11	.391	.576	70 in 1998

In the Zone

	ave	g	ab	runs	hits	2b	3b	hr	rbi	bb	k	sb	obp	slg	notes
Mike Piazza	.333	840	3119	511	1038	148	4	200	644	330	493	11	.396	.575
Frank Thomas	.321	1236	4406	894	1416	281	10	286	963	989	675	25	.443	.584	2-time MVP
Mo Vaughn	.304	1046	3848	628	1165	199	10	230	752	519	954	28	.394	.542
Jeff Bagwell	.304	1155	4197	778	1276	279	21	221	835	736	779	128	.411	.538
Junior Griffey	.300	1375	5226	940	1569	294	27	350	1018	656	876	143	.379	.568	On the road to 755?
Albert Belle	.296	1237	4684	795	1388	316	19	321	1019	530	811	71	.368	.577
Juan Gonzalez	.290	1104	4269	677	1238	246	18	301	947	293	842	18	.339	.568	2-time MVP

Tres Amigos

	ave	g	ab	runs	hits	2b	3b	hr	rbi	bb	k	sb	obp	slg	notes
A. Rodriguez	.313	513	2070	383	648	135	11	106	352	154	386	97	.364	.543	.310, 42, 124 w/ 46 sb in '98
N. Garciaparra	.309	320	1375	244	425	83	22	69	236	72	168	39	.346	.552	.323, 35, 122
Derek Jeter	.308	480	1910	352	588	85	22	39	239	182	357	67	.373	.437	.324, 19, 84

(Boston, November 25, 1998) In 120 or so years of professional baseball, the shortstop has been the anchor of the infield... the finest defensive player, the "glue of the gloved ones". And through the eons, there have been many a vacuum cleaner. And a good many hitters. The question is, has there ever been this many (in one league, none the less) shortstops that can field, hit, run, and hit for power? Omar Visquel, since Hall of Famer Ozzie's retirement, is acknowledged as the #1 gloveman. And Barry Larkin as perhaps the best overall. But the future is here...

Admittedly, this is an early call. I have not seen A-Rod enough to make judgement on his defense (his offense is unquestioned, .358, 36, 123, 141 runs, 215 hits in 1996, his first full year), and the others are only 2-3 years in... but Nomar Garciaparra and Derek Jeter can do it all. Jeter made one of the most spectacular clutch plays ever in the 1998 World Series. Garciaparra drove in a record 12 runs in a 4-game Division Series. A-Rod became the third 40-40 man (alongside Barry Bonds and Jose Canseco.) Time will tell, but their careers are those for whom the bell tolls...

-- Johnny B --