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06/11/2004 Archived Entry: "MLB news: Pedro moves up K list"
Pedro moves up career K’s list
Milestones: May 30 to June 10
By Michael Toeset
JEFF CONINE collected his 300th double on May 30. Conine has never been a doubles machine, only hitting more than 30 in two seasons – 32 in 1996 and 33 in 2003 – but he’s hung around long enough to land him in the 300-double club. (Which actually isn’t all that great: To crack the top 100 all-time, Conine would need about 430).
CARLOS BELTRAN started out the year as if auditioning for the Yankees, but he’s come back to earth. It looked as if he might near 80 RBI by the All-Star break, but a cool-down ensured that isn’t going to happen. But he is steadily marching on, and on June 1, the switch-hitter drove in the 500th run of his career. For the season, Beltran is hitting .270 with 12 home runs, 11 steals, 40 runs and 43 RBI.
PEDRO MARTINEZ stuck out his 2,500th batter on June 2, also placing himself at No. 26 on the all-time K list. Martinez is currently at 2,510, which moved him up another spot, past Christy Mathewson, to No. 25. Barring injury, Martinez will easily be in the top 20 by year’s end. Over the course of his career, Martinez has averaged 1.16 strikeouts per inning, a phenomenal rate.
If ROYCE CLAYTON manages to hang around long enough, he’ll end up with some decent career numbers – save for the batting average. On June 4, Clayton collected hit No. 1,500. The shortstop’s career numbers now read: .257 average, 103 home runs, 196 steals, 1,503 hits, 752 runs and 593.
Speaking of guys who hang around a long time, old man B.J. SURHOFF scored his 1,000th run on June 4. Surhoff has had an up-and-down career, never having a fantastic year (he’s never topped 30 home runs and only drove in more than 100 runs once). But he’s been around since 1987, and he’s still adding to his career totals of a .282 average, 177 home runs, 2,179 hits, 1,001 runs and 1,085 RBI.
FRANK THOMAS, who despite his surly reputation has played for the same team his entire career, set a White Sox record on June 8, clubbing his 441st double, passing Luke Appling to claim the record. Thomas has always been able to pound the ball, as evidenced by a .568 slugging percentage. His best doubles totals: 46, 44, 36 and 36.
On the North Side of Chicago, TODD WALKER also logged a milestone, getting hit No. 1,000 on June 9. Walker started out his career great, but he has never really bested his first full season in the majors as far as all-around production. Nonetheless, he has hit the ball well enough (.289 career average) to get to 1,000.
Seeing Walker get to 1,000 hits, BERNIE WILLIAMS thought he’d show him true success and collected his 2,000th hit the next day. Williams has never been a slugger who garners a lot of attention, but he’s been a sensational player over the course of his career. His numbers are: .303 average, 2,000 hits, 249 home runs, 143 steals, 1,179 runs and 1,082 RBI.
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