| Re: What's bigger: 500 HR's or 3,000 hits?
Put another way, there are 20 active players in the top 100 home-run list, and only 9 active players in the top 100 for hits.
11 of the top 50 home-run hitters are still active. Only 2 of the top 50 "hits-men" are still active (Bonds and Biggio).
Biggio is the only active player with 3000 hits. There are more active players with 600 home runs than 3000 hits. There are 4 active players with 500 home runs, and 3 more with a good chance to get there this year. Sheffield will probably get there next year if he plays again.
The only active player within 400 hits of 3000 is Bonds (2902). If Bonds retires after this year, he won't make it to 3000. Next after him is Julio Franco, at 2597.
After that, it's two guys who won't make it (Steve Finley and Omar Vizquel, at 2548 and 2539). Then, Griffey has a decent shot (2494 at age 37...would need three more good, healthy seasons). Sheffield (2483 at age 38) could get there if he sticks around.
After that it's Luis Gonzalez (2459 at age 39...I say no), Pudge Rodriguez (2439 at age 35...might get there), Sammy Sosa (needs 626 more...he might come close, but I say no), Kenny Lofton (needs 636, and he's 40 years old. I say no), Frank Thomas (age 39, needs 668...I say no), and Jeff Kent (age 39, needs 728 more hits. I say no way)
Then Jeter will probably get. He's 33 and needs 733 (4 seasons) to get there. Those are all the guys who have more than 2200 hits. Of that list, the only slam dunk is Jeter. I'd say one or two of the "maybes" (Bonds, Pudge, Griffey, Sheff) gets there, and that's it |