AB per HR, for 500 HR Club

1. Mark McGwire 10.61
2. Babe Ruth 11.76
3. Barry Bonds 12.92
4. Jim Thome 13.56 (as of 5/22)
5. Alex Rodriguez 14.21 (as of 5/22)
6. Harmon Killebrew 14.22
7. Sammy Sosa 14.47
8. Ted Williams 14.79
9. Ken Griffey Jr. 15.06 (as of 5/22)
10. Mickey Mantle 15.12
11. Jimmie Foxx 15.23
12. Mike Schmidt 15.24
13. Frank Thomas 15.59 (as of 5/22)
14. Willie McCovey 15.73
15. Hank Aaron 16.38
16. Willie Mays 16.49
17. Eddie Mathews 16.67
18. Frank Robinson 17.08
19. Reggie Jackson 17.52
20. Ernie Banks 18.400
21. Rafael Palmeiro 18.404
22. Mel Ott 18.50
23. Eddie Murray 22.49

Surprise to me that Aaron and Mays are in lower third, and that A-Rod is up that high (5th). I read somewhere doubts about Thome's fitness for the Hall of Fame, despite 500 HR's, because of his high strike outs. Fourth-best AB per HR rate ought to put that talk to rest

Berkman

Lance Berkman hit his major-league-leading 16th homer, and now has 129 total bases and a .399 avg. after 43 games. At this rate, he'd get about 60 HR and (get this) 486 total bases. Oh, yeah, and he's got a .800 slugging pct.

Chipper Jones has a .423 average over 1/4th through the season, but would seem a poor bet to be the first .400 hitter in 67 years--he's a .309 career hitter, with a previous high of .337 (last year) and is now 36 years old.

Halladay's a Throwback

Roy Halladay has 5 complete games in 8 starts. Complete games have become so rare in the majors of late that only one of the well over a hundred other starters in the majors this year has even half that--James Shiels of the surprising Tamba Bay Devil Rays. Halladay has shown an unusual talent for (and his manager a willingness to let him) finishing what he starts. He's completed 35 of 230 starts in his career, including 31 of his last 147 (21%).

Bluejays' Closers

And the Bluejays have three relievers with FOUR or more saves already: B.J. Ryan (with a 0.00 ERA!), Scott Downs, and (apparently deposed closer) Jeremy Accardo.

Brewers' Saves All Around

Dang! I just found another team with a struggling closer--the Brewers with Greg Gagne--whose staff has SIX different relievers with a save...

Yeah, I'm Back!

The Cards' closer Jason Isringhausen is struggling this year, but that has allowed the relief staff a luxury that used to be more common, but is rarely seen now--where most everyone gets an occasional shot at a save. The Cards already have 5 relievers with a save (Izzy still has 11 out of the team's 16).