Random stat of the week
The Atlanta Braves could accomplish something as a team this year that hasn't happened in the National League since 1989 or in the American League since the strike-shortened 1981 season.
With a 2-1 win Sunday, the Braves lowered their team ERA to an astounding 2.99. No team has had an ERA below 3.00 since the 1989 L.A. Dodgers. Incredibly, the Dodgers finished only 77-83, fourth in the NL West. That team scored the fewest and let up the fewest runs in the NL that year.
But back to the 2002 Braves. The bullpen has a ridiculous 2.26 ERA, led by 7-0 Mike Remlinger with a 1.32 ERA. Kerry Ligtenberg has a 2.08 ERA in 32 games and Chris Hammond has a 1.38 ERA in 42 appearances. Closer John Smoltz has the worst ERA of any regular in the bullpen at 4.02, but he has 36 saves — on a pace for 60.
The resurgence of Kevin Millwood (wins in each of his last seven decisions) as a starter has helped the Braves lower its ERA and wipe out the rest of the NL East in the standings. Through Sunday they have the best record in baseball at 64-35 and lead the second place Mets by 13.5 games.
On the rise
With a 4-2 win over Detroit Sunday, the Minnesota Twins stretched their lead over the White Sox to 13 games in the AL Central with a 59-41 record. That makes the Twinkies 9-2 since the All-Star Break.
The second half of the season was not too nice to the Twins last year. After going 55-32 in the first half, they were 30-45 after the break and watched the Indians climb ahead of them and win the division. It looks like no such second-half collapse is in the cards for the Twins this year.
They may not be a team filled with superstars, but they've yet to suffer a losing streak longer than four games, and they're playing some of their best baseball of the season to put the rest of the AL Central out to pasture.
Look out below
It's kind of like kicking a guy when he's down, but when you spend more than $105 million and you're still down, I can't resist. The Texas Rangers, who entered the season with baseball's third highest payroll, are 41-57 and have lost eight out of nine.
This is going to turn into another random stat, but bear with me. The Rangers are on pace to go 68-94. If the Rangers win 68 games with an opening day payroll of $105,302,124, that's $1,548,560.65 per win.
Lets compare that to a "small market" team. The Twins are on pace to win 96 games with an opening day payroll of $40,225,000. That translates to $419,010.42 per win. In other words, it costs the Rangers more than three times as much to win a game.
As far as the teams who spend more money winning more games, it's generally true. But the assumption is holding up less and less as this year goes on. The star-filled, but disappointing Rangers are the best (or worst) example.
Extra innings
It looks like the Barry Bonds' single season home run record will hold up for at least one year. Texas shortstop Alex Rodriguez is leading the majors with 32 homers, but that puts him on pace for "only" 53. Bonds has cooled after a hot start, and Cubs slugger Sammy Sosa is mired in a bad slump.
The big record that may fall this year is saves. Smoltz, the Dodgers' Eric Gagne and the Twins' Eddie Guardado all have a shot at topping Bobby Thigpens's mark or 57 in 1990.
Reach the reporter at jtreered@aol.com.
