Write On Sports LLC - "A year of numbers" by Tyler Clifton

A year of numbers

2007-08-08 21:27:03 | By: Tyler Clifton

Tom Glavine reached a personal milestone after the Mets' 8-3 win against the Cubs at Wrigley Field Sunday night. Glavine became only the fifth left-handed pitcher in history to win 300 games, and it was undoubtedly a sign of relief for the man who was flying family and friends to each start.

There were a couple of nails bitten when the bullpen allowed the Cubs to pull within two runs late, but the powerful Met offense responded with two runs of its own against the questionable Chicago bullpen. Billy Wagner made sure this was going to be Glavine's night after sealing the deal.

Although he will go into the Hall of Fame as an Atlanta Brave (and so should Greg Maddux for that matter), Glavine got 242 wins before bolting to the northeast (familiar ground for the Massachusetts native). He can now ride off into the sunset whenever he wishes, and only time will tell if he will ever wear the Boston Red Sox uniform.

Let's take a closer look to what has been a year of personal accomplishments. Alex Rodriguez became the youngest player to reach 500 home runs at just more than 32 years of age. What would have made the event more memorable would be if A-Rod had began running to first base instead of standing at home plate acting like he's the second coming.

People complain about our wonderful game taking too long to play, yet they don't question the eternity it takes those such as Mr. Rodriguez to run the bases when they walk the first 90 to 120 feet it takes to get to home plate. Rodriguez will surpass whatever record Barry Bonds sets, but like Bonds, he has yet and might not ever win a championship.

Rodriguez, the best player money could buy right? Sammy Sosa hit his 600th career home run in late June at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington against Chicago's Jason Marquis (who has the privilege of giving up Sosa's home run and losing to Glavine for win No. 300). Sosa is also in the middle of the steroid situation with his inability all of a sudden to be able to speak English in front of Congress.

It's ironic he will be wearing the same hat of the team he hit No. 600 against when his bust for the Hall is made, despite what the fans on the north side currently think of him.

Frank "The Big Hurt" Thomas hit the 500 homer plateau this season and has done everything the right way. If only they were all like him. Thomas should be the south side's representative in the Hall of Fame, but more impressive was the ability to revive his career in Oakland and keep it going north of the border in Toronto.

A former Blue Jay in Roger Clemens won his 350th career game even though his engine is sputtering as we speak. It won't matter, because any strong baseball mind knows if Clemens and the Yankees (currently near the top of the AL Wild Card list) can simply make it to the playoffs, then it's anybody's ballgame - especially the "Rocket". They certainly could still win the division as well.

The closer role has taken on an increased amount of significance in the last 30 years, and Trevor Hoffman will go down as one of the game's best. Hoffman notched his 500th save early in the season and has shown no signs of slowing down in 2007. The only thing he's missing is a World Series ring, and the Padres are currently in the NL Wild Card lead and could get back to the Fall Classic.

If San Diego gets to the ninth inning with a lead, you have to like its chances. Tony Gwynn certainly won't be the last Padre to be enshrined in Cooperstown.

Last, but certainly not least, is Craig Biggio, a man who has been a model of consistency throughout his career. It's certainly nothing short of spectacular to be able to tell people you have more doubles than any right-handed batter in Major League Baseball history.

Biggio did it all while starting as a catcher before moving to second base, then the outfield and back to second base. It's a career resembling the one of Milwaukee's Robin Yount, who won a Most Valuable Player award as a shortstop and an outfielder. Biggio has done Houston proud and has been everything a player should be when it comes to role model status. There could be more records set on the home run front with Ken Griffey Jr., Jim Thome and Manny Ramirez in what has already been a year of memorable baseball moments.

May more come in the near future.