Legends of the MLB Continue

Ñ Record, records = Greg Maddux (Atlanta Braves), a `magician for the control,` and slugger Sammy Sosa (Chicago Cubs) might become the heroes who will add new landmarks in 127th Major League Baseball history. Maddux recorded over 15 wins for the past 14 consecutive seasons since 1988. If he wins more than 15 games during this season, he will tie with Cy Young, a legendary pitcher who recorded 15 wins for15 consecutive seasons (1891-1905). Recording more than 50 homers for each season since 1998, Sammy Sosa challenges the record of five 50-homer seasons for the first time in big-league history. In the Major League Baseball history, there are only 3 players who hit more than 50 homers for 4 seasons. They are Sammy Sosa, Mark McGwire (St. Louis Cardinals), and Babe Ruth (New York Yankees).

Ñ Watchable players = People pay attention to Kim Byung-Hyun. The issue is that whether he will overcome the shock of allowing two 2-run homers at the 9th innings of the 5th and 6th games of the 2001 World Series. Actually, he has not allowed many homers as a `submarine` pitcher. Last year, he only allowed 10 homers throughout 98-innings of pitching. However, nobody knows when his anxiety will come out.

Last year, Ichiro Suzuki won the titles of MVP and rookie with 0.350 batting average and 56 stolen bases. It will be interesting how he will overcome a `second-year jinx.

It will be a pleasure to watch the pitching of Curt Schilling and Randy Johnson, the `golden duo` of Arizona, in every other day. Also, another interesting issues are whether Barry Bonds, who became 38, can swing his `magic bats` like last season, and whether New York Yankees, who recruited Jason Giambi, can regain the World Series title.

Ñ Returned heroes = There were too many disabled players in 2001 season. Ken Griffey Jr. (Cincinnati Reds), who is expected as the only player who can break Hank Aaron`s home run record (755), missed 51 games due to a thigh injury. Pedro Martinez and Nomar Garciaparra, the heart of the Boston Red Sox`s pitching and hitting, disappeared form the ground in the middle of the season because of shoulder and wrist injuries. Slugger Frank Thomas of the Chicago White Sox and Kevin Brown of the L.A. Dodgers also disappointed fans due to their injuries. With the returning of those players, this year will be a nice baseball season.

Sang-Soo Kim ssoo@donga.com