Missing Magic Moments?

*--* If baseball players strike Aug. 30, it could block players and teams from achievements (statistics are through Saturday’s games): * The Minnesota Twins, a team baseball tried to fold in the off-season, hold the largest division lead in the American League (13 1/2 games in the 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 .358 average, two points ahead of Larry Walker, Bonds also has a chance at his first National League batting championship * A strike could cut short Cub 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) * Atlanta’s John Smoltz and the Dodgers’ Eric Gagne are past 40 saves and could threaten the major league record of 57, set by Bobby Thigpen with the Chicago White Sox in 1990. Smoltz leads the majors with 43 saves, Gagne has 42 * 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 185 home runs through Saturday’s game at Seattle, the Yankees are on pace to break the club record of 240 homers (set in 1961) * The Angels, bidding for their first postseason berth since 1986, are leading the AL wild-card race and are a half-game behind Seattle in the AL West * Randy Johnson is trying for a fifth consecutive 300-strikeout season. He has 251 * Ichiro Suzuki is trying for a second consecutive 200-hit season. He has 169 * The Arizona Diamondbacks would be unable to defend their World Series championship * The Atlanta Braves, leading the NL East by 19 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

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