Ball one! Ball two! Ball three! Ball 8252! No, this is not Harry Doyle (Bob Uecker's character in Major League) announcing Rick Ankiel's nephew pitching in a Little League game. Ricky Henderson, in his 23rd season, has walked 2,063 times. This number ranks him one walk higher than former career walk leader Babe Ruth. Ruth now only holds one career Major League record, an all-time slugging percentage of .690. Henderson watched as a 3-1 fastball from Jose Mesa sailed outside in the ninth inning of Wednesday's game between the Philadelphia Phillies and San Diego Padres. Henderson is arguably the game's greatest leadoff hitter. His career on-base percentage of .404 places him 11th all time. Henderson holds another significant MLB record, career stolen bases, with 1,371. His record-setting walk led off the ninth inning, but he could not steal his 1,372nd base, as Mike Lieberthal threw him out, helping the Phillies win 5-3.
The Philadelphia Phillies' victory improved their record to 14-6 this season, a reversal of last year's 6-14 start. The Phillies have the best record in the NL, and are third in the Majors behind the Seattle Mariners (17-4) and the Minnesota Twins (15-4). Much of their success can be attributed to their National League-leading 3.25 team ERA. The Boston Red Sox lead baseball with an ERA of 2.45. Unlike the Red Sox, many of the successful Phillies pitchers are in the bullpen. Ricky Bottalico, Jose Mesa, and Rheal Cormier, all 2001 acquisitions, effectively contribute to the relief staff with respective ERAs of 1.42, 3.86, and 4.50.
Relievers from last year include Wayne Gomes (0.63 ERA in 13 appearances) and Chris Brock (2.38 ERA in six appearances). Bottalico has been a consistent middle man, pitching in 12 games to set up Mesa, who leads the team with six saves in ten appearances. Manager Larry Bowa has a World Series ring from his playing days with the Phillies in 1980. He hopes to add to his jewelry collection as he has his team five games ahead of the Bobby Cox's Atlanta Braves, who have won the divisional crown nine out of the past ten seasons.
On Thursday, the New York Mets placed ace pitcher Al Leiter on the disabled list, one day after activating outfielder Benny Agbayani. Leiter has a strained elbow that has affected his pitching since the start of the season's. The Mets brought up left handed reliever Tom Martin from AAA Norfolk to fill Leiter's roster spot.
Meanwhile, out west, Larry Walker homered twice in the Colorado Rockies' 14-1 routing of the Chicago Cubs. Walker's two dingers gave him 11 so far this year, putting him in a tie for the Major League lead with Luis Gonzalez. They also propelled him two RBI ahead of Manny Ramirez for the Major League lead, with 25. Teammate Todd Hollandsworth leads the NL with a .388 batting average. The usually high-powered Rockies find themselves first in the NL West with a 12-8 record. The Cubs are making a run at a possible playoff appearance with an identical record and divisional standing.
