There are so many things about those numbers that just boggle the mind. I'm a big-time baseball guy (used to write a column twice a week for a buddy's on-line sports page) and am a statistics freak. The things Bonds has done at the plate this season are almost beyond comprehension, especially when you consider breaking the single season records for walks AND homeruns in the same season. Think about that for a minute. Here's a guy who really didn't get that many good pitches to hit, but when he did get one he made the most of it.
This whole season has been just phenomenal.
"The things Bonds has done at the plate this season are almost beyond comprehension, especially when you consider breaking the single season records for walks AND homeruns in the same season. Think about that for a minute. Here's a guy who really didn't get that many good pitches to hit, but when he did get one he made the most of it.
Not unprecedented, though. When Ruth hit a then-record 54 homers in 1920, he also had a then-record 150 walks. And when McGwire hit his 70 in '98, he set an NL record of 162 walks.
"This whole season has been just phenomenal."
As a fellow student of the game, I heartily concur.
Bonds (73) and Aurillia (37) combined to hit 110 homers this year. That puts them ahead of Ruth (60) and Gehrig (47) at 107 in 1927, and behind Maris (61) and Mantle (54) at 115 in 1961.
Whoa.
BTW, Jeff Kent became only the second 2nd baseman in history to knock in 100 RBIs in 5 straight seasons, after Detroit's Charlie Gheringer (5 times from 1932 to 1936).
Actually, if the Giants had a decent leadoff hitter, the 160 RBI's would have been likely, regardless of Aurilia's HR's. Murray and Benard were not the answer, although I had hope for Murray since he is by far the better fielder of the two.