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Not since Boston`s Impossible Dream season in 1967 has a hitter corralled baseball`s elusive Triple Crown. That year, Sox left fielder Carl Yastrzemski led the AL in the major hitting categories with a .326 average, 44 HR and 121 RBI in becoming just the 12th player to win the honor. This season could see the thirteenth.
At the midway point both Manny Ramirez and the Angel`s Vladimir Guerrero have put themselves in position to make a serious run at the Crown. Manny (.344, 26 HR, 77 RBI) is relaxed at the plate and having fun. Unlike Nomar, who missed much of the first half and seems to be playing his last days in the Fens (he may even be traded before the deadline), Manny has put aside the fact that the Sox placed him on irrevocable waivers in the off-season and then tried to trade him. But Manny`s a new man and a U.S. citizen. He`s finally talking to the media, mashing the baseball onto Lansdowne with regularity, and doing some sort of new celebratory headshake - the Fro-Rub with Pedro in the dugout.
As for Vlad, well, he`s just happy to be out of baseball`s hell hole - Montreal - and playing for a contender in a warm climate where the ball travels a bit better. Fans now actually notice what Vlad (.345, 20 HR, 77 RBI) has been doing for years north of the border. He`s third in average (the Tigers` Ivan Rodriguez is hitting .369), just one behind Boston`s David Ortiz the RBI leader and stands sixth in homers, trying to catch Manny who leads the league.
Typically the most difficult aspect of hitting for the Triple Crown is to lead the league in average, but both these guys can do it. Manny is a .318 career hitter, won a battle title in 2002 (.349) and finished second in the AL last year hitting .325. Vlad hit .336 in 2002 and is a .325 career hitter.
Over the past few years a handful of players have flirted with the hitter`s Triple, only to see it disintegrate faster than a J-Lo marriage. Since 1995, three players Dante Bichette, Larry Walker and Albert Belle, have threatened to enter the club but all fell short, that`s not the case, however, with the pitcher`s Triple Crown.
Since 1997, three pitchers - Roger Clemens (twice with Toronto), Pedro Martinez and Randy Johnson - have led the league in wins, strikeouts and ERA. All three are in contention to do it again this season, but it`s the Red Sox Curt Schilling (11-4, 3.16, 118 K`s) and the Giants Jason Schmidt (11-2, 2.51, 134 K`s) that are the two moundsmen most likely to complete the trifecta.
In the AL, Schilling is second in each category and his track record speaks for itself. He`ll make a run. Over in the National, Schmidt has just been outstanding. He hasn`t lost since April 26 - a span of 15 starts. He leads the league in wins, is second behind Ben Sheets 2.26 ERA and trails the Big Unit`s 145 punch outs, but Johnson K`s may be soon switching leagues for Yankee pinstripes or to reunite with Schilling in Beantown.
Keep an eye on these guys the rest of the way, we may be witnessing something special.
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