Delgado's consistency creating a historical path

Baseball Digest, Oct, 2005 by Juan C. Rodriguez

Carlos Delgado developed a newfound appreciation for Barry Bonds' home run prowess after surveying the dimensions at San Francisco's SBC Park for the first time last July. After proclaiming it a most hitter-unfriendly park, Delgado deposited a pitch far into McCovey Cove.

If not by their home run frequency, Bonds and Delgado may one day be linked by their consistency.

Delgado, this year was on a pace to hit 35 homers, which would make him one of only nine players to hit 30 or more in nine consecutive 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, but both will likely end this season.

Delgado has a chance to join Bonds (13), Jimmie Foxx (12), and Sosa (10) as the only players with 10 or more 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.

As good as they were for as long as they were, Hank Aaron, Willie Mays and Frank Robinson never hit 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.

"All my life is based on balance and consistency, nothing too crazy or too reckless," Delgado said. "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 says Delgado's opposite-field power is unparalleled.

Delgado said he doesn't try to go the other way.

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

A 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," said the Marlins' Robinson. "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."

--Juan C. Rodriguez, South Florida Sun-Sentinel