Cubs’ Baez on Pace for Some Noteworthy Numbers

August 24, 2014 @ admin → No Comments

Sunday smorgasbord: Cubs second baseman Javier Baez homered for the second consecutive day in a 7-2 victory vs. the Baltimore Orioles at Wrigley Field. Meaning he has seven in 78 at-bats. He also struck out three times in going 1-for-4 to give him 34. Meaning he strikes out 44 percent of the time and hits a home run every 11.1 at-bats. The all-time leader in home-run frequency (players with at least 3,000 plate appearances) is Mark McGwire. He averaged a homer every 10.61 at-bats; Babe Ruth is second at 11.76.

Are you ready for some: Miami Dolphins cheerleader video below.

* Speaking of Baez homers and strikeouts, if he plays 15 big-league seasons with 500 at-bats per season and continues to strike out at his current rate, he would set the record for most strikeouts in a career with about 3,300. The present record-holder is Reggie Jackson with 2,597. If Baez continues to homer at his present rate (and plays 15 seasons with 500 at-bats), he would end up with about 676. Just guessing the Cubs would settle for that. Especially from a middle infielder.

* Speaking of things numerical, the Cubs-Orioles game had a rain delay of 3:09. The actual time for playing the game also was 3:09. None of which is particularly significant. Other than rain delays sure last a lot longer than they did in the good, old days. Umpires nowadays tend to call game only if the water level on the field exceeds the height of the length of your average big-league baseball bat.

* Speaking of the Cubs (59-72), they are 14 games behind the National League Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers. If it is any consolation to the Cubs and/or their fans (and the guess here is that it actually might be), the Cubs are only two games behind the White Sox (59-70) for the best record of Chicago’s big-league teams.

* Still speaking of the Cubs, congratulations are in order. They can record their first series sweep since July 2 with a victory Sunday.

* Speaking of congratulations, here is to the Jackie Robinson West team from Chicago that won the U.S. title in the Little League World Series with a 7-5 victory against the previously undefeated team from Las Vegas. Both teams ended up with one loss. In case the youngsters from Nevada need a reminder that sometimes life is not always equitable.

* Also to be congratulated is Joe Torre, who was honored before the White Sox-Yankees game by having his No. 6 retired at Yankee Stadium. And then the Sox lost their fifth in a row 5-3. Among those attending the festivities was former Yankees catcher Yogi Berra. Even the Hall of Famer might make an exception for the Sox for one of his famous quotes (“It’s not over till it’s over.”), because it sure seems over for them.

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