I came to a realization tonight…Ryan Howard might be the best power hitter going in the game today. I know, I know, I’m not really going out on a limb with that statement…but still, the kid is good.
On June 27, 2007, Howard became the fastest player to hit 100 home runs when he bested Ralph Kiner by 60 games.
Earlier this season (on July 16), Howard again surpassed Kiner when he became the quickest to 200 home runs.
Friday night, the Phillies first baseman again joined some pretty exclusive company in Philadelphia’s 9-4 victory against the Braves.
With a sixth inning bomb off Atlanta’s Tim Hudson, Howard joined Babe Ruth, Sammy Sosa and Ken Griffey, Jr. as the only four Major Leaguers with at least four consecutive 40 home run, 120 RBI seasons.
A year from now, we could be talking about Howard putting Griffey and Sosa in the rearview as they never reached a fifth consecutive season. Ruth, on the other hand, sent more than 40 deep and drove in 120 or more a record seven times!
And since we’re talking power hitters, Washington’s Adam Dunn is poised to achieve a Ruthian feat of his own. Going into the last few weeks of the season, Dunn is three homers shy of becoming only the second player to reach 40 or more home runs in six straight seasons.
Ruth, again (obviously), being the other.
One record that neither Howard or Dunn need to worry about this season (even though they both held the dubious honor in the past) is setting the record for most strikeouts in a season.
While Dunn set the record of 195 Ks in 2004, Howard topped it with 199 in both 2007 and 2008. With 200 strikeouts and the Rockies in town, Diamondbacks infielder Mark Reynolds in looking to shatter his current season record of 2004.
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