Move over Babe!  No, not Barry Bonds, but Luis Gonzalez of the D’Backs moved past Ruth this past weekend on the all-time doubles list with his 507^th career two bagger. 

 

As for Bonds, he doubled in the Giants 10-1 win over Houston to break an 0 for 15 streak, but he did not homer and remains one behind Ruth on the all-time home run list.  Bonds has never faced Tuesday’s starter Wandy Rodriguez.  Giants 3B Pedro Feliz, on the other hand, had three hits, including a grand slam to raise his average in May to .367 (22 for 60) with 5 HR and 13 RBI. 

 

Speaking of history, 25 years ago Monday, Indians pitcher Len Barker became the 10^th pitcher in Major League Baseball to throw a perfect game.   Cleveland beat Toronto 3-0 with just 7,290 fans in attendance at old Municipal Stadium.

 

Stop Thief! Pt I - Orioles receiver Ramon Hernandez leads all Major League backstops in gunning down would be base-stealers, having nailed 16 of 29 (55%) so far this season.  Hernandez also leads all catchers with 6 errors. 

 

Stop Thief! Pt II - A’s catcher Jason Kendall has the next most kills (11) and the 2^nd best percentage (50%) among catchers with at least 20 games played after throwing out just 18% (22 of 123) last year.  Dodgers catcher Dioner Navarro has been the most futile in throwing runners out, not having thrown out a single runner in 16 attempts.

 

Among starters with at least 7 starts, LA’s Derek Lowe leads the majors in GO/FO ratio with an impressive 4.12 mark (101 ground outs to 26 fly ball outs).  Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay, who recorded 18 ground balls outs in a complete game on Saturday, leads the AL with a 3.81 ratio (94/27).  Rounding out the Majors’ top five are Arizona slinger Brandon Webb (3.57, 115/35), Giants hurler Jamey Wright (2.91, 87/33) and Cardinals pitcher Mark Mulder (2.89, 93/36).  Yankees starter Chien-Ming Wang is second in the AL (and 6^th overall) at 2.72 (90/36). 

 

Houston Astros defensive wizard Adam Everett is the only SS in the Majors without an error (minimum 20 games played).  Giants shortstop Omar Vizquel and the Red Sox Alex Gonzalez have made just one apiece, while the Dodgers’ free agent acquisition Rafael Furcal and Tigers SS Carlos Guillen lead the Majors at the position with 9 miscues each.

 

Rangers slugger Hank Blalock has continued his career long trend of hitting much better at hitter friendly Ameriquest Field in Texas.  For his career, Blalock has hit .315/.384/.548 at home while batting just .241/.300/.401 on the road.  This season, while he has done a bit better on the road (.279/.353/.475), he has, as usual, been scalding the ball (.375/.438/.550) at home.

 

The Twins announced on Monday that Carlos Silva will head to the bullpen, for the time being, to try to cure his pitching woes.  Rookie left hander Francisco Liriano will make the start in his place on Friday against the Milwaukee Brewers in an interleague match up.  Silva is just 2-6 with an 8.83 ERA and only one quality start out of eight after surrendering 8 runs in a loss to the White Sox on Sunday night.  Liriano has struck out 32 and walked only 4 in 22.2 innings over 12 outings thus far this season.

 

Giant starter Jamey Wright goes against Astros on Tuesday at Minute Maid Field.  Lifetime in 17 appearances, Wright is 0-12 with a 7.35 ERA versus Houston.

 

The Dodgers have 8 players currently on the injured list (the most of any team in the Majors) while two others, Nomar Garciaparra and Kenny Lofton, have spent time on the DL as well. Los Angeles won on Monday to climb above .500 for the first since April 10.

 

Scott Podsednik continued his hot hitting on Monday, getting three hits in four at bats to raise his average in May to .450 (18 for 40) and boosting it up to .300 overall.

 

Stop Thief!  Pt III – The Cubs Michael Barrett has had the most opportunities to throw out base stealers, having been run on 44 times thus far, nailing just 18% (8 of 44).  Victor Martinez of the Indians and Mike Piazza of San Diego are tied for second with opposing runners having tried 35 times to steal against them.  Both have thrown out just 11% (4 of 35). 

 

Stop Thief! Pt IV – The catcher with the fewest attempted steals against (min. 20 games) is Tiger catcher Ivan Rodriguez.  Only 10 runners have tried and he’s gunned out 4 (40%).  Jason Varitek of Boston (last season’s Gold Glove winner) has been run on only 11 times, throwing out 5 (45%) and the Cardinals’ Yadier Molina has only had 13 runners attempt to steal off of him while he has thrown out 6 (46%)

 

Pitching on his 26^th birthday, Josh Beckett continued his run for the Cy Young award by winning his fifth game of the year Monday, allowing just two hits and one run (on a Miguel Tejada 1^st inning HR) over 7 innings while striking out 6 and walking none.

 

The Diamondbacks on Monday announced a contract extension for 3B Chad Tracy that will run through the 2009 season, with an option for 2010.  Tracy is hitting .301 with 6 HR and 25 RBI and has made just 1 error this season.

 

The Longest Streaks – The Padres lost on Monday in 10 innings to Arizona to end their league-best 5 game win streak, leaving Philadelphia and Detroit tied for the current best run in the majors at 4 games apiece.  Cleveland, rained out on Monday, has the longest current losing streak at 6 games. 

 

Tuesday’s marquee match up will feature Mets pitcher Tom Glavine (5-2) going for career win number 281 in St. Louis against the Cardinals and Albert Pujols.  Pujols is 9 for 17 (.529) lifetime against Glavine, all singles.  Jeff Suppan (4-2) takes the hill for the Cards.