ATM report--Braves clinch; Rodriguez HR feats; Johnson SO/RCAA feats

[nyy26wc]

1) Yesterday's games--

AL
BlueJays 11, Indians 9
Redsox 6, Devil Rays 3
Whitesox 10, Royals 6
Twins 5, Tigers 2
Rangers 12, Mariners 7
A's 2, Angels 1

NL
Mets 6, Phillies 4
Reds 9, Pirates 8
Cardinals 3, Brewers 0
Cubs 3, Expos 2
Astros 6, Rockies 5 (10)
Diamondbacks 5, Padres 2
Giants 6, Dodgers 5

2) Standings--

AL EAST         WON  LOST  PCT  GB      HOME   ROAD   EAST  CENT  WEST STREAK
Yankees          89   53  .627   -     45-25  44-28  36-26 25-05 17-15 WON  1
Redsox           80   62  .563   9     37-34  43-28  41-22 16-13 18-14 WON  1
e--Orioles       64   77  .454  24 1/2 33-37  31-40  23-32 18-14 14-22 LOST 4
e--BlueJays      64   80  .444  26     34-38  30-42  32-31 11-16 12-24 WON  2
e--Devil Rays    48   95  .336  41 1/2 26-46  22-49  18-39 13-19 10-26 LOST 1

AL CENTRAL      WON  LOST  PCT  GB      HOME   ROAD   EAST  CENT  WEST STREAK
Twins            83   61  .576   -     47-26  36-35  15-17 39-19 19-17 WON  1
Whitesox         70   74  .486  13     40-32  30-42  14-12 33-31 15-21 WON  2
Indians          64   79  .448  18 1/2 34-38  30-41  17-13 29-34 12-20 LOST 2
e--Royals        55   88  .385  27 1/2 33-39  22-49  10-22 26-31 14-22 LOST 7
e--Tigers        52   92  .361  31     31-40  21-52  11-19 26-38 09-23 LOST 2

AL WEST         WON  LOST  PCT  GB      HOME   ROAD   EAST  CENT  WEST STREAK
A's              91   52  .636   -     46-25  45-27  23-22 32-09 20-19 WON  3
Angels           88   55  .615   3     46-26  42-29  28-13 30-15 19-20 LOST 1
Mariners         84   59  .587   7     41-30  43-29  25-20 23-18 25-14 LOST 1
e--Rangers       66   77  .462  25     37-35  29-42  25-16 18-27 14-25 WON  1

NL EAST         WON  LOST  PCT  GB      HOME   ROAD   EAST  CENT  WEST STREAK
x--Braves        90   51  .638   -     47-24  43-27  36-20 24-12 15-16 LOST 1
d--Phillies      70   73  .490  21     35-36  35-37  29-34 17-13 14-18 LOST 4
d--Expos         70   74  .486  21 1/2 42-29  28-45  28-35 17-14 13-19 LOST 1
d--Marlins       69   73  .486  21 1/2 42-29  27-44  26-30 18-18 15-17 WON  1
d--Mets          68   74  .479  22 1/2 33-38  35-36  31-31 17-13 10-22 WON  7

NL CENTRAL      WON  LOST  PCT  GB      HOME   ROAD   EAST  CENT  WEST STREAK
Cardinals        82   61  .573   -     44-27  38-34  11-19 48-29 15-09 WON  6
Astros           77   67  .535   5 1/2 42-30  35-37  16-14 43-34 13-12 WON  3
Reds             70   73  .490  12     35-37  35-36  12-12 42-35 14-16 WON  2
e--Pirates       63   81  .438  19 1/2 32-39  31-42  13-11 37-41 10-20 LOST 2
e--Cubs          61   83  .424  21 1/2 33-40  28-43  11-14 31-46 13-17 WON  1
e--Brewers       51   93  .354  31 1/2 29-44  22-49  07-23 31-47 11-13 LOST 2

NL WEST         WON  LOST  PCT  GB      HOME   ROAD   EAST  CENT  WEST STREAK
Diamondbacks     88   56  .611   -     47-25  41-31  21-11 21-09 35-29 WON  1
Dodgers          82   61  .573   5 1/2 40-31  42-30  20-12 20-16 30-27 LOST 3
Giants           82   61  .573   5 1/2 43-29  39-32  17-14 17-13 40-24 WON  4
e--Rockies       65   79  .451  23     41-30  24-49  18-14 16-15 24-39 LOST 2
e--Padres        61   83  .424  27     38-35  23-48  16-16 13-23 24-34 LOST 1

x--clinched the division title
d--mathematically eliminated from winning the division title
e--mathematically eliminated from winning the division title and the postseason

3) Wild card standings--

AL              WON  LOST  GB
Angels           88   55    -
Mariners         84   59    4
Redsox           80   62    7 1/2

NL              WON  LOST  GB
Dodgers          82   61    -
Giants           82   61    -
Astros           77   67    5 1/2

4) The Braves clinched the division title for the 8th consecutive year.

5) The Indians will be mathematically eliminated from winning the division title and from the postseason if they lose to the BlueJays or the Twins beat the Tigers.

6) The Cardinals clinched a winning season for the 3rd consecutive year.

7) The Giants tied the Dodgers for 2nd place in the NL West and for the wild card lead.

The Giants clinched a winning season for the 6th consecutive year.

8) Magic numbers--

AL East--Yankees, 12
AL Central--Twins, 6
AL West--A's, 17
AL wild card--Angels, 16

NL East--Braves, clinched
NL Central--Cardinals, 14
NL West--Diamondbacks, 14
NL wild card--Dodgers/Giants, 20

9) Race for the postseason seeds--

AL--The A's lead the Yankees by 1 1/2 games for the #1 seed. The Yankees lead the Twins by 7 games for the #2 seed.

NL--The Braves lead the Diamondbacks by 3 1/2 games for the #1 seed. The Diamondbacks lead the Cardinals by 5 1/2 games for the #2 seed.

NOTE--Comparisons are just between division leaders.

10) Today's schedule--

AL
Orioles (Jason Johnson and Sidney Ponson) at Yankees (Andy Pettitte and Jeff Weaver), DH, 1:05 and 7:05
BlueJays (Justin Miller) at Indians (Ricardo Rodriguez), 7:05
Redsox (John Burkett) at Devil Rays (Joe Kennedy), 7:15
Whitesox (Gary Glover) at Royals (Runelvys Hernandez), 8:05
Tigers (Shane Loux) at Twins (Kyle Lohse), 8:05
Mariners (Joel Pineiro) at Rangers (Kenny Rogers), 8:05
A's (Ted Lilly) at Angels (Ramon Ortiz), 10:05

NL
Marlins (Julian Tavarez and Gary Wayne) at Phillies (Randy Wolf and Vicente Padilla), DH, 5:05
Pirates (Kip Wells) at Reds (Danny Graves), 7:10
Mets (Pedro Astacio) at Braves (Damian Moss), 7:35
Expos (Javier Vazquez) at Cubs (Carlos Zambrano), 8:05
Rockies (Denny Neagle) at Astros (Wade Miller), 8:05
Cardinals (Matt Morris) at Brewers (Wayne Franklin), 8:05
Padres (Jake Peavy) at Diamondbacks (Curt Schilling), 9:35
Dodgers (Kevin Brown) at Giants (Jason Schmidt), 10:15

11) Yesterday's HRs--

Alex Rodriguez--#52 & #53
Jim Thome--#44
Barry Bonds--#43
Rafael Palmeiro--#40
Pat Burrell--#36
Brian Giles--#35
Mike Piazza--#27
Manny Ramirez--#27
Paul Konerko--#27
Todd Helton--#26
Garret Anderson--#25
Carlos Beltran--#24
Trot Nixon--#23
Mike Sweeney--#22
John Olerud--#22
Eric Hinske--#21
Vernon Wells--#20
David Bell--#20
Jermaine Dye--#18
Ron Gant--#18
Alex Gonzalez (Cubs)--#17
Erubiel Durazo--#16
Lee Stevens--#15 (#5 in AL)
Terrence Long--#14
Corey Patterson--#14
Josh Phelps--#13
Michael Barrett--#12
Jason LaRue--#11
Joe Crede--#8 & #9
Jason Varitek--#9
Geoff Blum--#9
Ichiro Suzuki--#7
Desi Relaford--#6
Jose Guillen--#6
Joe Borchard--#2
Eric Munson--#2
Jason Lane--#1

12) HR leaders--

AL
1) Alex Rodriguez--53**
2) Jim Thome--44*
3) Rafael Palmeiro--40*
4) Jason Giambi--36
5) Alfonso Soriano--35
6) Magglio Ordonez--32
T7) Eric Chavez--31
T7) Miguel Tejada--31
9) Tony Batista--28
T10) Manny Ramirez--27*
T10) Ellis Burks--27
T10) Torii Hunter--27
T10) Paul Konerko--27*

NL
1) Sammy Sosa--44
2) Barry Bonds--43*
3) Shawn Green--40
4) Lance Berkman--39
T5) Vladimir Guerrero--36
T5) Pat Burrell--36*
7) Brian Giles--35*
8) Jeff Kent--33
9) Albert Pujols--32
10) Andruw Jones--29

**--hit 2 yesterday
*--hit 1 yesterday

13) Barry Bonds watch--hit #610, is 145 behind Aaron's record.

OBA--.570, on pace for a new record; current record--.553, Ted Williams, 1941
SLG--.812, on pace for #4 all time; record--.863, Barry Bonds, 2001
OPS--1.382, on pace for a new record; current record--1.379, Babe Ruth, 1920 or Barry Bonds, 2001*
RCAA--144, currently tied for #5 all time, on pace for 163 which would rank #3; record--173, Barry Bonds, 2001
pursuit of Gehrig for 4th place on the career RCAA list--trails Gehrig by 15
BB--165, currently #3 all time, on pace for 187, which would be a new record; current record--177, Barry Bonds, 2001

14) Mike Piazza passed Ellis Burks and Jack Clark into 66th place on the all time HR list, with 341.

15) Jim Thome passed Willie Horton into 78th place on the all time HR list, with 326.

16) Ron Gant passed Cecil Fielder into 83rd place on the all time HR list, with 320.

17) Alex Rodriguez passed Rusty Staub and Kent Hrbek into 98th place on the all time HR list, with 294.

Rodriguez set the major league record for HR in a season by a SS--

1    Alex Rodriguez           2002       53   
2    Alex Rodriguez           2001       52   
3    Ernie Banks              1958       47   
4    Ernie Banks              1959       45   
5    Ernie Banks              1955       44   
6    Ernie Banks              1957       43   
T7   Alex Rodriguez           1999       42   
T7   Alex Rodriguez           1998       42   
T9   Ernie Banks              1960       41   
T9   Alex Rodriguez           2000       41   

(NOTE--These are the full season HR totals for players who were shortstops and are not necessarily the total hit while playing SS.)

Rodriguez broke his own team single season record--

1    Alex Rodriguez           2002       53   
2    Alex Rodriguez           2001       52   
3    Frank Howard             1969       48   
T4   Rafael Palmeiro          1999       47   
T4   Rafael Palmeiro          2001       47   
T4   Juan Gonzalez            1996       47   
7    Juan Gonzalez            1993       46   
8    Juan Gonzalez            1998       45   
T9   Frank Howard             1968       44   
T9   Frank Howard             1970       44   

The franchise was the Washington Senators, from 1961-71.

18) Rafael Palmeiro reached 40 HR for the 4th time and 3rd consecutive year.

Rodriguez and Palmeiro became the 4th set of teammates to both hit 40+ HR in a season in back to back years.

Lou Gehrig, Babe Ruth             1930-31 Yankees
Vinny Castilla, Andres Galarraga  1996-97 Rockies
Ken Griffey Jr., Alex Rodriguez   1998-99 Mariners
Rafael Palmeiro, Alex Rodriguez   2001-02 Rangers

They are the first set of teammates to have one hit 50+ and the other 40+ in consecutive years.

19) Alex Gonzalez hit his 100th career HR.

20) Jose Guillen hit his 50th career HR.

[nyy26wc]

1) Randy Johnson reached 300 SO for the 6th time and 5th consecutive year. He tied the career record and extended his own consecutive years record.

300+ SO in consecutive years--

1    Randy Johnson            1998-02    5   
2    Nolan Ryan               1972-74    3   
T3   Rube Waddell             1903-04    2   
T3   Sandy Koufax             1965-66    2   
T3   Nolan Ryan               1976-77    2   
T3   J.R. Richard             1978-79    2   
T3   Curt Schilling           1997-98    2   

300+ SO seasons

T1   Randy Johnson             6   
T1   Nolan Ryan                6   
3    Sandy Koufax              3   
T4   Walter Johnson            2   
T4   Sam McDowell              2   
T4   Rube Waddell              2   
T4   Pedro Martinez            2   
T4   J.R. Richard              2   
T4   Curt Schilling            2   
T10  Vida Blue                 1   
T10  Steve Carlton             1   
T10  Mike Scott                1   
T10  Mickey Lolich             1   
T10  Bob Feller                1   

Johnson reached 50 RSAA (he has 51) for the 4th consecutive year, tying the modern day major league record--

T1   Lefty Grove              1929-32    4   
T1   Randy Johnson            1999-02    4   
3    Lefty Grove              1935-37    3   
T4   Cy Young                 1901-02    2   
T4   Walter Johnson           1912-13    2   
T4   Walter Johnson           1918-19    2   
T4   Carl Hubbell             1933-34    2   
T4   Bobo Newsom              1939-40    2   
T4   Hal Newhouser            1945-46    2   
T4   Roger Clemens            1990-91    2   
T4   Greg Maddux              1994-95    2   
T4   Greg Maddux              1997-98    2   
T4   Roger Clemens            1997-98    2   
T4   Pedro Martinez           1999-00    2   

Kid Nichols (6 in a row: 1893-98) and Cy Young (5 in a row: 1892-96) had longer streaks in the 19th century.

2) Dodgers P Kazuhisa Ishii had surgery yesterday to remove bone chips from his nasal passage. He's expected to remain hospitalized for at least a few days. While his season is probably over, there is no word on any longterm damage.

3) The Dodgers called up 1B-OF Chin-Feng Chen, OF Luke Allen and Ps Victor Alvarez and Robert Ellis.

Chen, 24, came into the year with a .875 OPS (.383 OBA, .492 SLG) in 3 minor league seasons, including a 1.051 OPS (.422 OBA, .629) while splitting the 2001 season in Hi-A and AA. He had a .862 OPS (.352 OBA, .510 SLG) in AAA this year. He was given a B+ grade by the Minor League Scouting Notebook, which ranked him as the 30th best prospect in baseball, and will become the first Taiwanese player in MLB history.

4) Pedro Martinez is now scheduled to pitch tomorrow.

After 1.75 ERA/77 RSAA and 2.39 ERA/28 RSAA the past 2 years, Martinez is off to a 2.22 ERA/43 RSAA start in his first 27 starts. He has a 2.62 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.46, and 396 RSAA in 323 games.

5) Mariners P Kazuhiro Sasaki has been bothered recently by a sore elbow, but says he's healthy enough to pitch.

After starting his American career with 3.16 ERA/9 RSAA and 3.24 ERA/7 RSAA seasons, Sasaki is off to a 2.13 ERA/12 RSAA start in his first 54 games.

6) Rangers 3B Herbert Perry's contract extension is for 2 years, $3 million, covering the 2003-04 seasons.

7) The Royals released P Blake Stein.

After 4.68 ERA/5 RSAA and 4.74 ERA/3 RSAA the past 2 years, Stein is off to a 7.91 ERA/-14 RSAA start in 27 games (2 starts). He has a 5.41 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.69, and -32 RSAA in 117 games.

8) Phillies P Dave Coggin will have season ending arthroscopic shoulder surgery on Monday. Coggin also suffered a torn labrum in 1998, but this injury is to a different spot in his arm.

After starting his career with 5.33 ERA/-2 RSAA (5 G/GS) and 4.17 ERA/1 RSAA (17 G/GS) seasons, Coggin finishes with a 4.68 ERA/-8 RSAA in 38 games (7 starts).

9) The Reds traded OF Brady Clark to the Mets as the player to be named later in the Shawn Estes trade.

After starting his career with .636 OPS/-1 RCAA (11 G) and .799 OPS/0 RCAA (89 G) seasons, Clark was off to a .197 SLG, .233 OBA, .430 OPS, -9 RCAA start in his first 51 games (74 PA), before being sent to the minors.

10) The Indians called up C Victor Martinez and P Jason Davis and moved P Heath Murray from the 15 to the 60 day DL, to open a spot on the 40 man roster.

Martinez, 23, has emerged as the expected Indians C of the future. He came into the season with a .820 OPS (.376 OBA, .444 SLG) in 3 minor league seasons, including a .882 OPS (.394 OBA, .488 SLG) in Hi-A in 2001. Martinez had a .993 OPS (.417 OBA, .576 SLG) season in AA this year.

11) The Mariners called up P Aaron Taylor.

12) The Astros activated RF Richard Hidalgo from the DL.

After 47 RCAA/1.028 OPS and 0 RCAA/.811 OPS the past 2 years, Hidalgo is off to a .416 SLG, .320 OBA, .736 OPS, -10 RCAA start in his first 113 games. He has a .846 career OPS, compared to his league average of .782, and 38 RCAA in 613 games.

13) Jeff Kent reached 1000 career RBI.

After 67 RCAA/.1.021 OPS and 34 RCAA/.877 OPS the past 2 years, Kent is off to a .578 SLG, .377 OBA, .955 OPS, 47 RCAA start in his first 136 games. He has a .856 career OPS, compared to his league average of .768, and 215 RCAA in 1486 games.

14) Indians CF Milton Bradley had to leave yesterday's game, due to a strained left oblique muscle.

15) The Whitesox were considering either moving Keith Foulke into the rotation for the final weeks of the season, or at least give him a spot start. But, they've ruled out those possibilities.

After 2.97 ERA/22 RSAA and 2.33 ERA/21 RSAA the past 2 years, Foulke is off to a 3.26 ERA/11 RSAA start in his first 59 games. He has a 3.42 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.66, and 70 RSAA in 351 games.

[nyy26wc]

1) Brewers 2B Eric Young reached 30 SB for the 9th time and 8th consecutive year.

After 15 RCAA/.766 OPS and -12 RCAA/.726 OPS with the Cubs the past 2 years, Young is off to a .369 SLG, .341 OBA, .709 OPS, -6 RCAA start in his first 125 games. He has a .755 career OPS, compared to his league average of .770, and -37 RCAA in 1362 games.

Young has a chance to become the first player in modern major league history to have a 30+ SB, double digit negative RCAA season with 4 different teams.

Those who did it with 3--

Tom Goodwin     Royals (3 times), Rangers, Rockies
Brian Hunter    Astros, Tigers (twice), Mariners
Otis Nixon      Expos, Rangers, BlueJays
Eric Young      Rockies, Dodgers, Cubs

Tommy Dowd (4 teams), Tommy Corcoran (4), Charles Comiskey (3), Arlie Latham (3) and Joe Hornung (3) did it in the 19th century, with most of those seasons coming under before the modern day SB definition started.

2) The Reds placed 3B Brandon Larson on the 15 day DL and called up OF Wily Mo Pena.

Larson suffered a broken hand and is out for the rest of the season.

Pena, 20, is a former hyped Yankees prospect. He came into the year with a .753 OPS (.314 OBA, .439 SLG) in 3 minor league seasons, including a .812 OPS (.327 OBA, .485 SLG) in A ball in 2001. Pena had a .735 OPS (.330 OBA, .405 SLG) in AA this year and was given a C+ grade by the Minor League Scouting Notebook. Since the Yankees had given him a major league contract when he was signed, Pena will be out of options going into next year's spring training.

3) Reds 1B Sean Casey will have season ending arthroscopic surgery on his shoulder on Thursday.

4) Dodgers P Andy Ashby was scratched from his start today, due to a blister on his middle finger. He's tentatively scheduled to start on Sunday, with Kevin Brown taking his spot today.

After 4.92 ERA/-4 RSAA and 3.86 ERA/0 RSAA (just 2 GS) the past 2 years, Ashby is off to a 3.54 ERA/4 RSAA start in his first 28 starts. He has a 4.04 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.26, and 8 RSAA in 284 games.

After 2.58 ERA/43 RSAA and 2.65 ERA/16 RSAA the past 2 years, Brown is off to a 4.45 ERA/-5 RSAA start in his first 16 games (9 starts). He has a 3.21 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.29, and 281 RSAA in 418 games.

5) The Giants sent OF Arturo McDowell and Nelson Castro outright to the minors after they cleared waivers. Both players were already in AAA and they are now off the 40 man roster.

6) Royals 2B Carlos Febles had to play SS as a 9th inning defensive replacement after Neifi Perez refused to enter the game.

If this is the final straw that leads to Perez's release, it's the best thing that's happened to the Royals in a while.

7) Phillies 3B Placido Polanco was out of the lineup yesterday, due to the flu, and is day to day.

After -6 RCAA/.765 OPS and -14 RCAA/.725 OPS the past 2 years, Polanco's off to a .399 SLG, .327 OBA, .726 OPS, -6 RCAA start in his first 129 games (first 94 with the Cardinals). He has a .721 career OPS, compared to his league average of .779, and -44 RCAA in 524 games.

8) Rod Beck, who has sat out the whole season after major elbow surgery, says he plans on making a comeback for next year.

Beck had 3.10 ERA/8 RSAA and 3.90 ERA/6 RSAA with the Redsox the past 2 years. He has a 3.28 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.16, and 64 RSAA in 642 games.

9) The Rockies would like to bring in a veteran to replace SS Juan Uribe for next year.

After posting -4 RCAA in 72 games as a 21 year old rookie in 2001, Uribe is challenging the modern day NL record for worst RCAA, with a .322 SLG, .275 OBA, .597 OPS, -56 RCAA in his first 140 games.

1    Tommy Thevenow           1930      -61   
T2   Juan Uribe               2002      -56   
T2   Neifi Perez              1999      -56   
T4   Goldie Rapp              1922      -54   
T4   Neifi Perez              2000      -54   
6    Hughie Critz             1930      -51   
T7   Neifi Perez              1998      -49   
T7   Tommy Helms              1970      -49   
9    Bill Hallman             1901      -48   
T10  Leo Durocher             1937      -47   
T10  Doc Farrell              1928      -47   

The all time NL mark is -76, by Jiggs Parrott, in 1894, while the all time major league mark is -77, by Levey, in 1933.

[gyb13]

imagine if Uribe didn't play in Coors....

ROAD OPS: 517