Strike would knock out bids for milestones
If baseball players strike Aug. 30, it could block players and teams from achievements (statistics are through Sunday's games):
• The Minnesota Twins, a team baseball tried to fold in the offseason, hold a 16-game lead in the AL Central and are headed for their first postseason appearance since 1991.
• Barry Bonds reached 600 home runs this month. Because he's 38, any games lost would hinder his chances to reach Hank Aaron's career record of 755. With a .357 average, Bonds also has a chance at his first batting title.
• A strike could cut short Cubs slugger Sammy Sosa's bid to become the first hitter to reach 50 home runs for five seasons (he has 43). He's also trying to reach 500 home runs for his career (he has 493).
• In their first full seasons as closers, Atlanta's John Smoltz and Los Angeles' Eric Gagne are past 40 saves and on a pace to reach the major league record of 57, set by Bobby Thigpen with the Chicago White Sox in 1990. Smoltz leads the majors with 45 saves, Gagne has 43.
• Alfonso Soriano is trying to become the first second baseman to join the 40-homer, 40-stolen base club. He has 30 home runs and 34 stolen bases for the Yankees.
• With 189 home runs and 950 strikeouts, the New York Yankees were on pace to break club records of 240 homers (set in 1961) and 1,043 strikeouts (1967).
• Anaheim, bidding for its first postseason berth since 1986, is leading the AL wild-card race and is two games behind Oakland in the AL West.
• Randy Johnson is trying for a fifth straight 300-strikeout season. He has 279.
• Ichiro Suzuki is trying for a second straight 200-hit season. He has 179.
• The Arizona Diamondbacks would be unable to defend their World Series championship.
• The Atlanta Braves, leading the NL East by 17 1/2 games, would have to wait until next year to try to add to their record 10 consecutive division championships. The only time since 1990 that the Braves failed to win their division was 1994 -- when a strike ended the season early.