Is the 2008 MLB season already one for the record books?

By Tate - Posted on April 4th, 2008

Tagged: mlb

Could it be that not even a week into the 2008 MLB season there have been 2 records broken? Well that is half true, despite rumors of the Toronto Blue Jays Outfielder Alex Rios breaking a record against the Yankees, he still has some work to do. It may have been my imagination but I heard Alex Rios' 23 consecutive game hit streak against the New York Yankees as being a record. The streak is the longest since 1956, impressive yes, but not one for the record books. Rios still has 8 games left to tie the record of 31 consecutive games with a hit against the Yankees. The 31 game record was set between the 1935 and 1936 seasons by Detroit Tiger Hall of Fame second baseman Charlie " the Mechanical Man" Gehringer. This record is specifically against the New York Yankees organization. Rios has a chance still, but 8 more games will be tough with the Yankees talented young arms.

One record that was certainly broken this year is consecutive games played at first base without committing an error. Kevin Youkilis of the Boston Red Sox passed Steve Garvey's record of 193 games. Garvey set the record from 1983 - 1985 while playing for the San Diego Padres. Youkilis is good enough to push the record well beyond 200 games, the only question is, who cares?

These two records are at least accompishments (or would be in Rios' case), but still they are not memorable. They will be forgotten in a month and probably broken within a decade. However, these accomplishments got me thinking of records, impressive and embarassing, untouchable and attainable. Over the course of the season I will cover MLB records. Any that may be broken this year or within a current players career.

I will not focus on embarassing records like team with the most balks in a season (Oakland A's 1988; 76 balks) or the record for most men left on base by a team in one season (St. Louis Browns 1941; 1,334 LOB). I will focus on incredible stats like most career wins by a pitcher (Cy Young; 511 wins) and most wins in a season by a pitcher (Old Hoss Radbourn 1884; 59 wins)

The Game has changed throughout the many decades since Radbourn' s unattainble 59 wins in one season. So i will discuss all the factors; image, drugs, and money that have brought about this record setting change.