2008 Potential Milestones

Last year was the year of milestones:

Hitting:

• Barry Bonds: 756 HR, passing Hank Aaron for 1st all-time.
• Sammy Sosa: 600 HR.
• Alex Rodriguez: 500 HR, youngest even to reach this mark.
• Frank Thomas: 500 HR.
• Jim Thome: 500 HR.
• Craig Biggio: 3,000 Hits.

Pitching:

• Pedro Martinez: 3,000 K's.
• Roger Clemens: 350 Wins.
• Tom Glavine: 300 Wins.
• Trevor Hoffmann: 500 Saves.
• Todd Jones: 300 Saves.
• Gregg Maddux: 20th consecutive season with 10+ wins.
• Kenny Rogers: 91th pickoff (t-1st all-time).

Which will most likely be the milestones this year and how probable are they?

• Ken Griffey: 600 HR? -No doubt, unless he does what he usually does, i.e., get hurt.
• Manny Ramirez: 500 HR? -No doubt.
• Garry Sheffield: 500 HR? -Most likely.
• Chipper Jones: 400 HR? -For sure.
• Barry Bonds: 700 HR? -Not unless he plays all year and overdoses on steroids.
• Barry Bonds: 3,000 Hits? -Not unless he plays at least half the season.
• Barry Bonds: 2,000 RBI? -Not unless he plays a few games!
• Gregg Maddux: 350 Wins? -Absolutely.
• Randy Johnson: 300 Wins? -Doubt it.
• John Smoltz: 3,000 K's? -Already did it this week!
• Billy Wagner: 400 Saves? -It'll take him a good year, but he's safe with the Mets.
• Armando Benitez: 300 Saves? -He's close, but where is he?
• Jason Isringhausen: 300 Saves? -No doubt.
• Bob Wickman: 300 Saves? -He can, but is he even playing or is he injured?

Are there other minor milestones to look for, and what are their likelihood?

• Alex Rodriguez: 550 HR? -For sure.
• Mike Piazza: 450 HR? -For sure, unless he's hurt all year, like last year.
• Carlos Delgado: 450 HR? -For sure.
• Jeff Kent: 400 HR? -Not likely.
• Frank Thomas: 550 HR? -Likely.
• Frank Thomas: 2,500 Hits? -Certainly.
• Frank Thomas: 500 2B's? -Certainly.
• Manny Ramirez: 500 2B? -For sure.
• Ken Griffey: 500 2B? -Hard, but not impossible.
• Jim Thome: 1,500 RBI? -Very likely.
• Jeff Kent: 1,500 RBI? -For sure.
• Kenny Lofton: 2,500 Hits? -Very likely.
• Ichiro: 8th consecutive season with 200 Hits, tying Willie Keeler for most ever? -Of course!
• Trevor Hoffmann: 550 Saves? -Why not? He's Trevor Hoffmann!
• Mariano Rivera: 450 Saves? -Absolutely. 500 Saves? -That's another question.
• Roberto Hernandez: 350 Saves? -Not unless they make him a closer again!
• Troy Percival: 350 Saves? -Likely.
• Jose Mesa: 350 Saves? -He'll need to record 30, but is he even playing this year?
• Todd Jones: 350 Saves? -Difficult, but possible.