2004 season provided lots to talk about
By By Will Bardwell / staff writer
September 30, 2004
It's not 1998, when Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire had their race to Roger Maris' home run record, but the 2004 Major League Baseball season has been fun.
None of the milestones reached had the sex appeal of the single-season home run mark, but they're no less impressive.
So as the final days of the regular season wind down, let's look back on those historic moments.
Thirteen straight titles
When the season opened back in April, I resigned myself to the conclusion that my beloved Atlanta Braves had hit the end of the line.
The Phillies looked solid. The Mets looked like potential contenders. And don't forget that the defending world champion Florida Marlins were hanging around.
Considering the Braves' gigantic roster losses Javy Lopez, Gary Sheffield, Greg Maddux and Vinny Castillo it looked to be a long year at Turner Field. And a slow start in Atlanta did nothing to allay my concerns.
But lo and behold, the Braves have done it again. Thirteen straight division titles. Is it possible that Bobby Cox knows what he's doing after all? The guy did win his 2,000th game on Wednesday.
With the possible exception of Atlanta's 1991 pennant, this one is probably the most improbable. That's why, no matter what happens in the playoffs, I'm content. Every October since 1991 (with the obvious exception of '94), I've cursed the Braves up and down for a lackluster showing in the postseason. But this year, they weren't supposed to come within sniffing distance of the postseason.
Which, incidentally, brings me to my next point
Sunny and 104 in Hell
Satan just called. He's been keeping me updated on weather changes since April. Granted, he said, there are four days left in the season, but Hell is still hot. Scorching, in fact. Not even a dry heat.
It's a far cry from the iced-over underworld predicted by Sports Illustrated at the beginning of the season. Hell Freezes Over' the magazine declared on its cover, forecasting the Chicago Cubs' first World Series title in a century.
Today, though, the Cubs are struggling to keep their hopes alive for a playoff berth, much less a world championship. After another come-from-ahead loss on Wednesday night, the Cubs are half a game back in the NL wild card race.
I don't believe in curses, ladies and gentlemen. I don't believe in hexes, and I don't believe in luck. But I do know there are forces bigger than you, me or free agency at work in Major League Baseball. For whatever reason, the Cubs are eternally banished to mediocrity.
Relax, Cubs fans. You've had 100 years of failure to prepare you for this.
Ichiro: Sayonara, Sisler!
One thing that baseball fans haven't been prepared for in recent decades is the chance of someone breaking George Sisler's single-season record for hits. Still, Seattle Mariners hitter Ichiro Suzuki is on the verge of rolling over one of baseball's most prestigious milestones.
As of this morning, Ichiro has a whopping 255 hits two short of tying Sisler's mark.
That's an unbelievable accomplishment. Think about it in one season, Ichiro has gone nearly 10 percent of the way to the 3,000-hit club.
The day-by-day dedication like Ichiro exhibits takes is far more impressive to me than someone who hits 70 home runs.
All this begs an interesting question about Ichiro, who didn't begin playing in the Majors until the ripe old age of 27 is Ichiro a potential Hall of Famer? In his four seasons with the Mariners, Ichiro has already amassed more than 900 hits. If he plays to age 40, he could probably get around 2,500 hits. And as of today, his career batting average is a whopping .340.
Maddux wins 15 again
Here's a guy whose Hall of Fame credentials are less debatable.
Greg Maddux is ridiculous. I know he's lost a lot of his precision over the last few years, but to win 15 games a year for 17 years in a row is unbelievable.
It's been a long time since Maddux was the best in the game, but I'd still take him on my team any day.
