Nice article on Delgado

Few can top Delgado's home run consistency

PIRATES AT MARLINS, 7:05 P.M.

By Juan C. Rodriguez

Staff Writer

Posted July 26 2005

Carlos Delgado developed a newfound appreciation for Barry Bonds' home run prowess after surveying the dimensions at San Francisco's SBC Park. After proclaiming the facility a most hitter-unfriendly park, Delgado proceeded to deposit a pitch far into McCovey Cove on Saturday night.

Whether history regards Delgado along with Bonds among the era's most prolific power hitters remains speculative. If not by their home run frequency, the two may one day be linked by their consistency.

Thursday in Arizona, Delgado hit his 20th homer and became the 34th to total that many for 10 consecutive seasons. He's on pace for 35, which would make him one of nine to hit 30 or more in nine straight seasons.

Bonds owns the record with 13 consecutive 30-homer campaigns. Of the other seven on the list, all but one are in the Hall of Fame or surefire inductees. Sammy Sosa (10) and Jim Thome (9) have active streaks, both of which will most likely end this season.

Not only does Delgado have a good chance of reaching nine consecutive seasons but also of joining Bonds (13), Jimmie Foxx (12), and Sosa (10) as the only players with double-digit, consecutive 30-homer season totals.

"I always say you can't start thinking about numbers because they distract you from what you want to do," Delgado said. "Obviously you have certain guidelines or benchmarks you want to surpass. You don't want to sound arrogant, but you know you can hit 20 or 30 homers. I would never say hitting 20 or 30 homers isn't a problem, but as an athlete you have in your mind you'd like to hit so many homers and knock in so many runs."

Delgado missed 34 games last season, precluding him from extending his streak of 30-homer, 100-RBI seasons to seven. He came one RBI short. His home run consistency alone is daunting.

As good as they were for as long as they were, Hank Aaron, Willie Mays and Frank Robinson never reached 30 homers as regularly. Mike Schmidt, Eddie Mathews and Lou Gehrig topped out at nine straight seasons. Mickey Mantle and Babe Ruth never hit 30 in more than eight straight.

"I didn't realize it had been 10 years with 20 homers," Delgado said. "All my life is based on balance and consistency, nothing too crazy or too reckless. I want a life where I can balance all my things and be consistent. I try to do things as a routine. After this conversation, it's over. Twenty homers? I want to hit 35 or 40. That's the way I see it."

No reason he can't. Delgado already has disproved the ballyhooed notion that playing home games at a stadium with a cavernous right-center field would curtail his power numbers. Dolphins Stadium has probably claimed a handful of deep flies that might have left other ballparks. Delgado has made up for it sending a few over the more manageable left-field wall.

Hitting coach Bill Robinson termed Delgado's opposite-field power unparalleled. That has contributed to Delgado's healthy homer totals.

Delgado said he doesn't try to go the other way. His opposite-field blasts are the result of striking the ball farther back in the hitting zone.

"I think about hitting it hard up the middle," Delgado said. "If I'm early, it goes to right. If I'm late, it goes to left."

Added teammate Jeff Conine: "Not too many power hitters can go opposite field as well as he does. ... He doesn't pull many. ... When he gets the ball in the air it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter how big the ballpark is. It doesn't matter where he makes contact with it. If he hits it in the air, it's going to go out."

Another pivotal component of Delgado's streak is health. Last season marked the first time since his first 30-homer campaign, in 1997, that Delgado did not appear in at least 142 games.

"I like his durability," Robinson said. "In order to be a superstar, you have to get out there to be able to put those numbers on the board. You can put his name in the lineup every day. ... I like the idea of not so much 20 home runs for 10 years. I like 30 for nine years. It looks like that trend is going to continue, barring injuries."