Baseball Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous baseball thoughts and observations.

- Maybe the most surprising thing about Derrek Lee's great start is the fact that on top of Triple Crown type numbers (.380 BA / 17 HR / 50 RBI) - he also has 9 stolen bases.

- Just for the heck of it - let's compare Sammy Sosa's numbers to the man who took his spot in right field in Wrigley - Jeromy Burnitz:

Sosa - .246 BA / 5 HR / 17 RBI / .312 OBP / .413 SLG
Burnitz - .258 BA / 8 HR / 30 RBI / .302 OBP / .449 SLG

Pretty close. The one factor that really tips it in Burnitz' favor is the fact that he "only" costs the Cubs $5 million for one year while Sosa will make $17 million this year and $18 million for 2006 (the Cubs are picking up part of the tab but even so).

- I would have bet the house on Randy Johnson last night. Good thing I didn't.

- Today is Jose Canseco's birthday. Do you think he got a card from Bud Selig?

- Alex Rodriguez' next home run will give him 399 and move him past Dale Murphy into sole possession of 37th place on the all-time list.

- Matt Stairs' next home run will give him 200 for his career. 200 MLB HR is like 500 Canadian.

- Mike Lowell, Eric Chavez, or Adrian Beltre? Who has been the biggest disappointment among 3rd basemen this year?

- Mike Piazza needs 2 HR to pass Dwight Evans for 43rd place on the all-time list. Imagine how good Piazza would have been as a defensive catcher if he had Evans' arm instead of Bernie Williams'?

- The Milwaukee Brewers have the best team ERA in the NL with their 3.48 mark. Who saw that coming?

- Despite Carlos Beltran having 6 HR to Johnny Damon's 1 - both centerfielders have 26 RBI and a .458 slugging percentage. Damon has 7 SB to Beltran's 1 and 42 runs scored to Beltran's 26 though.