Five upcoming milestones to watch in 2015 MLB season
Sep 22, 2013; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez (13) tosses his bat after striking out in the fourth inning of MLB gameagainst the San Francisco Giants at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports
Unfortunately for fans of major statistical milestones, the 2015 MLB season will not offer much. Unlike years where several players were closing in on 3,000 hits, 500 home runs or 300 wins, the 2015 season has few major numbers within grasp.
Firstly, a notable mention to Alex Rodriguez. He enters the 2015 season 61 hits shy of 3,000. I am not including him on the list of five because of the way his career has turned out. Rodriguez may end up as the first guy to get booed on his 3,000th career hit.
Rodriguez’s very possible future accomplishment aside, these are five others the fans can look forward to in 2015.
Sep 19, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz (34) hits the game-winning two-run home run in the tenth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The Red Sox won 5-3. Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports
David Ortiz reaches 500 home runs
David Ortiz, the greatest designated hitter of all-time, is closing in on 500 career home runs. On Opening Day, Ortiz will have 466 of them. For those who skipped math class, this leaves him 34 shy of joining the 500 home run club.
Last season, Ortiz hit 35 long-balls. This was a bit higher than what he has hit of late, so we may need to wait until 2016 to see Ortiz reach number 500. Before 2014, the last time Ortiz hit 34 or more home runs was 2007. It’s going to take a little bit of luck and a few hanging breaking balls for Ortiz to reach 500 in 2015.
Sep 4, 2014; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Mark Buehrle (56) is congratulated by teammates in the dugout at the end of the eighth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Mark Buehrle wins 200 games
Mark Buehrle started of the 2014 season with a 10-1 record. Needing 14 wins by the end of the season to reach 200 for his career, we thought it was a near guarantee. A rough summer pushed his 200th win back a season. Now with 199 in his career, Buehrle needs just a lone win to get to 200.
Certainly 200 wins won’t get Buehrle into the Hall of Fame or mentioned among the greats. Still, one more win will allow him to join the only three active pitchers with 200 in their career: Tim Hudson, CC Sabathia and Bartolo Colon. More than anything, 200 wins for Buehrle is a testament to his consistent ability to stay healthy and win ballgames.
Sep 9, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers catcher Alex Avila (left) and relief pitcher Joe Nathan (right) celebrate after the game against the Kansas City Royals at Comerica Park. Detroit won 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Joe Nathan reaches 400 saves
Last year was one of the worst seasons of veteran right-hander Joe Nathan’s career. His 4.81 ERA and career-high seven blown saves nearly cost him the closer’s job with the Detroit Tigers. Although, since the team has few options to replace him, Nathan will likely get another shot in 2015 to rack up the saves.
Nathan only needs 24 saves to get to 400 for his career. This should come easy as even in 2014 he managed to earn 35. Reaching 400 career saves brings Nathan into rare company. Only five others have ever gotten to 400. Before he does that, Nathan will need to pass Dennis Eckersley at 390. All it will take is an average season from Nathan to earn save number 400 – or even a bad one. I have faith in him.
May 10, 2014; Milwaukee, WI, USA; New York Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia (52) pitches in the first inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
CC Sabathia moves into top 30 on the all-time strikeout list
There’s a chance CC Sabathia has nothing left in the tank. An ERA above 4.00 in 2013 and one above 5.00 in 2014 have marked what might be the final days of a once great pitcher. However, even with the surplus runs allowed, Sabathia has continued to strike out batters. He’s the active leader with 2,437 punchouts and is likely to get into the top thirty on the all-time list in 2015.
Getting into the top 30 would knock Christy Mathewson down one position and out. Mathewson had 2,507 career strikeouts, which means Sabathia needs only 71 in 2015 to pass him. If Sabathia strikes out 150 batters he gets into the top 25 while passing both Bob Feller and Warren Spahn. This is very possible and will only take innings and his usual strikeout rate to get there.
Sep 22, 2014; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees right fielder Ichiro Suzuki (31) scores on an RBI triple by New York Yankees designated hitter Jose Pirela (not pictured) during the third inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Ichiro Suzuki reaches 3,000 hits, steals 500 bases and becomes the all-time hit king
The left-handed-swinging outfielder has led the league in hits seven times in his big league career. He only ever led once in stolen bases, but he is still the current active leader with 487. Those stolen bases, combined with his 2,844 career hits, make this a special season for Suzuki in 2015. He’s 156 hits away from 3,000 and only 13 away from 500 stolen bases.
Combined with the 1,278 he had in Japan before coming to the Seattle Mariners in 2001, Suzuki already has 4,122 hits in his career. This puts Suzuki 134 shy of tying Pete Rose’s 4,256 career hits.
Unfortunately, statistics from the two leagues are separate so Suzuki’s accomplishment will require an asterisk.