Every year here at Burning River Baseball, we like to keep the casual fans abreast of certain milestones, generally in the Post Game Recaps of the games they happen in. This year is no different and there are a few to look out for between personal bests, team records and MLB records.
To start things off, there is one team record the Indians will be looking to break the first week of the season. Looking back to last September, the Indians won 10 games in a row to end the year, a feat accomplished 20 other times in franchise history. Despite all those opportunities, however, the record for consecutive wins stands at 13 games, meaning an Opening Series sweep against the Athletics would tie that record and a 4-0 start would set a new high.
Defense
Michael Brantley is carrying a franchise record 245 game errorless streak into this season that spans from June 3rd, 2012. The Major League record of 392 games (Darren Lewis) is in reach this season for Brantley if he can he can maintain his perfection through the first 147 games. In addition, Brantley's .994 fielding percent is the greatest by any outfielder in Indians history.
Pitching
Justin Masterson has been staff ace long enough to accrue some impressive statistics and should easily hit 50 career wins this year (6 away). He should also move into the top 15 most strike outs in club history with at least 122. While it is a long shot, 34 starts would make him the 20th most used starter in team history.
Like Masterson, Vinnie Pestano is close to reaching some usage milestones. Assuming he makes the team out of Spring Training, he is set to become the 50th most used pitcher in Cleveland history (after six appearances) and to hit 200 games shortly after. More importantly, Pestano has a chance to become the all-time hold leader in franchise history with just 19 more. He is currently fifth all time and just two away from fourth all time (Paul Shuey).
Showing how new the hold stat is, both Bryan Shaw and Cody Allen are set to break into the Indians top ten in holds after coming into the season with just twelve. Whoever gets 17 first will break into the top ten first and they will both have a shot to get as high as seventh with at least 31 holds in 2014.
Hitting
With big seasons, both Carlos Santana and Michael Brantley could break into the top 50 Indians in career doubles. Santana is just 32 away, while Brantley has a much harder 46 to make up. Santana also has a chance to hit milestones of 500 hits, 100 home runs and 1,000 total bases (Brantley could also hit this milestone).
Michael Bourn is just one steal away from 300 in his career and 16 away from being ranked 150th in MLB history. Of course there are other active players above and behind him, so he will have to steal these bases in a timely manner or the number will increase. In addition, he is a fraction of a percent from being in the top 50 in MLB history in stolen base percentage at 79.73%. He was actually ranked higher prior to 2013, but dropped due to his 12 caught stealings compared to just 23 steals in 2013.
Because of his early start, Cody Allen will have a great chance for
many Indians records before his career is over.
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