Hoffman may find his way to Cooperstown some day, but he might not have that record when he does. His retirement has opened the door for Mariano Rivera to establish himself as baseball’s all-time saves king sooner rather than later. Rivera, who signed a two-year contract with the New York Yankees this offseason, is 42 saves behind Hoffman. It’s realistic he could pass it next season, and if not, early in 2012.
It makes one think about the upcoming season and what it will mean for records, milestones or statistical achievements. In the interest of looking ahead to some celebrated moments, here are 10 players with either major or minor marks within sight, in no particular order:
Derek Jeter
The Yankees captain will become the 28th player in baseball history to hit the magical 3,000-hit mark, likely in the first half of the season. He is just 74 hits shy of the milestone. In all likelihood, it’ll come on a single to right, courtesy of a Jeterian swing.
Jim Thome
He needs just 11 homers to join Alex Rodriguez and become the eighth member of the 600 home run club. The slugger had a bit of a rebirth last season and is itching for a bigger contract to validate his campaign. If someone wants to sign him for two years, they might also get to witness him supplant Reggie Jackson as the all-time strikeouts leader. Jackson leads Thome, who is second on the career list, by 202.
Tim Wakefield
He needs seven wins to reach 200, a reasonable figure for a guy that may vulture a few victories in relief and perhaps pick up a few more in spot starts. If and when he gets to that figure in 2011, Wakefield will be the 111th player in baseball history to do so. Andy Pettitte needs 10 wins to reach 250 (only 46 have done so) but it is not yet clear whether he will return.
Alex Rodriguez
Like others on this list, Rodriguez moves up the ladder in many categories with almost everything he does going forward. But if he matches his 2010 total of 125 RBIs, Rodriguez would rocket from 17th to sixth on the all-time list, a massive move that would push him past Ken Griffey Jr., Rafael Palmeiro and nine Hall of Famers. Rodriguez would then have his sights set on the top five — Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, Cap Anson, Barry Bonds and Lou Gehrig. The push will probably be as awkward as A-Rod’s pursuit of 600 home runs was last season.
Juan Pierre
If he duplicates his 68 steals from 2010, Pierre would be on the verge of becoming the 18th player to ever reach 600. He would also surpass Dummy Hoy, a deaf center fielder who played primarily in the late 19th century and is currently ranked 18th all-time in steals.
Mariano Rivera
With his 13th outing in 2011, he will become the 15th pitcher in history to appear in 1,000 games.
Omar Vizquel
The 43-year-old, who re-signed with the Chicago White Sox in November, is high on several lists. If he can somehow worm his way into 137 games this year, he will move into the top 10 in games played, surpassing Barry Bonds. Not likely, but if injuries hit the Pale Hose, it might be worth watching. Or not.
Ivan Rodriguez
Fireworks will go off at Nationals Park and the standing ovation could last upwards of five minutes if and when Pudge hits into his 20th double play of the season. That would make him the career leader in GIDPs, a coveted crown that would deflate current titleholder Cal Ripken Jr. Rodriguez hit into 25 double plays in just 111 games last year, so it’s more than possible if he gets some playing time.
Matt Stairs
If and when Stairs makes the 25-man roster for Washington, which has signed him to a minor league deal with a spring training invitation, he will be the first man to play for 13 different franchises, if you allow us to bend the rules and consider the Montreal Expos and the Nationals to be separate. Stairs came up with the Expos in 1992. He is tied with former right-hander Mike Morgan with 12. Technically, he would remain tied, but since he is Matt Stairs and since we are running out of milestones, go ahead and have fun with this one.
David Ortiz
His first home run of the season is his 350th, tying him with newly named Pawtucket hitting coach Chili Davis for 81st on the all-time list. His second ties him with Richie Allen and his third puts him side-to-side with Ellis Burks. Ortiz’s 413th of the year, less likely now that the Red Sox are choosing not to bring in the right-field fence, knots Ortiz with Barry Bonds.
