Bob Sebra’s journey to 2,000 strikeouts didn’t happen in a single dominant season or by overpowering hitters with one unhittable pitch. It happened over a decade of methodical, high-IQ pitching—outsmarting batters, adjusting his craft, and delivering year after year of frontline results. On Saturday, the 33-year-old right-hander became the latest member of the DBL’s 2,000-strikeout club, fanning his milestone batter in the sixth inning...
It didn’t take long. Less than a week after The Diamond Chronicle reported on Kirk Gibson’s frustration with his assignment to AAA Danville, the Boston Red Sox made the move everyone was waiting for: they called him back up to the majors. And now, the countdown is back on. After two games in a Red Sox uniform, the 38-year-old slugger has notched his 2,497th career hit, a sharp single to right that drew a loud ovation from the Fenway...
June 22: Abbott Explodes, Erickson Deserved Better, and the Sox Show LifeKurt Abbott has been on a quiet heater, but he blew the doors off on Thursday. The White Sox shortstop went 3-for-4 with 5 RBIs and a home run in a 7–1 win over the Cubs. That gives him three homers and 14 RBIs in his last seven games, and if he keeps hitting like this, someone might want to check his bat for pine tar. Greg Mathews made sure the Cubs didn’t make it...
At this point, it’s not even surprising. Greg Maddux, the Los Angeles right-hander with a Hall of Fame résumé in progress, is once again in vintage form. Now 29 years old and in his tenth full season, Maddux is showing no signs of slowing down—in fact, his recent stretch might be his most dominant work in years. Over his last 10 starts, Maddux has gone 9–0 with a 1.91 ERA, walking just eight batters while striking out 93 across 88.1...
Kirk Gibson is sitting on 2,496 career hits. Just four shy of joining one of the rarest clubs in professional baseball. In the history of the Doubleday Baseball League, only five players—George Brett, Alan Trammell, Tim Raines, Carney Lansford, and Don Mattingly—have ever reached the 2,500-hit plateau. Gibson could be next. The problem? He’s not in the majors. He’s in Danville. Since being traded to the Boston Red Sox on May 29, the...
Eric Davis has always been a player who moves at full speed. Whether it was swiping a base, turning a single into a double, or making a leaping catch in center field, Davis never coasted. So it was only fitting that his 1,000th career run came the same way he built his entire career—with burst, urgency, and a bit of flair. Crossing the plate for the 1,000th time in Wednesday’s contest against Atlanta, the 33-year-old Cincinnati star became...
June 19: Pedro and Neagle Spin Gems, Burnitz Brings the Boom You won’t find many better pitching lines than what Pedro Martinez gave the Expos:9 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 15 K in a 4–0 shutout of the Padres. That’s Pedro’s third double-digit strikeout game in June—and he’s making it look effortless. Not to be outdone, Denny Neagle tossed a complete game, 4-hit shutout against the Spiders, striking out 11. Oh, and Jeromy Burnitz? Two homers and...
It took them half a season, but the St. Louis Cardinals have finally landed at the top of the power rankings. With Montreal and San Francisco tied for second, and Cincinnati surging behind them, the top of the table is starting to reflect performance rather than reputation. Meanwhile, the Cleveland Spiders and Los Angeles Dodgers are among the week’s biggest risers, and the Texas Rangers and Orlando Sun Rays are sliding fast.Teams (Total...
This week’s Player of the Week honors went to two players on very different paths to greatness—Texas third baseman Chipper Jones continued to build his breakout season in the Federal League, while Montreal’s Jon Lieber put together a pair of masterful starts on the mound in the United League. Both players showed poise, power, and command, giving their teams a major boost heading into the heart of the summer schedule. Federal League: Jones...
June 16: Stairs Keeps Mashing, Pulsipher Surprises, Harnisch Heartbreaker Matt Stairs stayed white-hot for the Reds, crushing two homers and driving in three in a 6–4 win over the White Sox. Since stepping into the everyday lineup, Stairs has been a force—and a much-needed one in a division full of bats. Bill Pulsipher stole the show in L.A., going the distance in a 3–2 win over Toronto. The rookie allowed just three hits and struck out...