Sunday, July 23, 2006

Mindless Exercise

I like Scott Kazmir. I mentioned that before here. Unless something tragic happens to him, he should become the all-time Tampa Bay Devil Rays leader in strikeouts sometime next month (likely against Toronto). For the fun of it, I decided to put together a list, by game, not season, of who the all-time leader in strikeouts in franchise history has been for the Devil Rays. So, of course, the first pitcher in history to strike out a batter by the Devil Rays (which happens to be Wilson Alvarez) is technically then the all-time leader in K's. Clear? Here's the progression:

Mar 31, 1998 (first game in franchise history) Wilson Alvarez 2
Mar 31, 1998 Scott Carlson (in relief of Alvarez) 3
Apr 1, 1998 Rolando Arrojo 6
Apr 2, 1998 Tony Saunders 7
Apr 12, 1998 Wilson Alvarez 11
Apr 27, 1998 Tony Saunders 23
Apr 29, 1998 Wilson Alvarez 24
May 2, 1998 Tony Saunders 31
May 10, 1998 Wilson Alvarez 36 (Alvarez proceeds to get hurt and never is the leader again)
May 13, 1998 Tony Saunders 43
Jun 1, 1998 Rolando Arrojo 63
Jun 3, 1998 Tony Saunders 68
Jun 12, 1998 Rolando Arrojo 77
Jul 5, 1998 Tony Saunders 100
Jul 22 1998 Rolando Arrojo 108
Jul 24, 1998 Tony Saunders 113
Jul 25, 1999 (one year later) Rolando Arrojo 204
June 13, 2001 Bryan Rekar 260
Sep 3, 2001 Esteban Yan (reliever) 288
Sep 7, 2001 Bryan Rekar 289
Sep 9, 2001 Esteban Yan 292
Apr 30, 2002 Ryan Rupe 305
Sep 12, 2002 Esteban Yan 349
Jun 28, 2004 Victor Zambrano 350

373 is the total Kazmir needs to pass Zambrano now. Kazmir struck out ten Baltimore Orioles earlier today to bring his total to 354. Today he passed Rupe and Yan and is now second in franchise history in strikeouts. His 10 K's now puts him on pace to become the leader in Seattle on August 7th. Once Kazmir breaks it, the total should be safe for some time. Travis Harper is next among active Rays players with 268 strikeouts.