Quiet legend targets 3,000 at Safeco Field

DETROIT -- Left off the All-Star roster, lost in discussions of legend, Rafael Palmeiro appears destined to make profound baseball history at a dark, anonymous hour in the most distant outpost in the major leagues.

The Baltimore first baseman arrives at Safeco Field tonight with 2,998 career hits, two shy of becoming only the fourth player to reach 500 home runs and 3,000 hits. He will join Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, and Eddie Murray, a company so elite that Mariners pitching coach Bryan Price called it "the Hall of Fame's Hall of Fame."

One figures the landmark liner will come in the eighth or ninth inning, at midnight (or later) on the East Coast, when Orioles fans and baseball's landed gentry in Boston and New York are fast asleep. Really, could it happen any other way for a man who has been underrated and underappreciated through 20 brilliant big league seasons?

"I never thought about it that way, but yeah," said Orioles teammate Brian Roberts, assessing the appropriateness of the under-cover-of-night scenario. "It's unfortunate. That deserves some attention.

"But he's never been the guy looking for the limelight."

Once again, circumstances seem likely to kill his buzz. The All-Star Game took place two days ago. Pennant races and trade rumors command industry interest this morning, and the national media is unlikely to descend on Safeco this weekend.

Overshadowed again. This, of course, is nothing new for a player whose greatness has often been obscured by high-profile teammates Cal Ripken Jr., Alex Rodriguez, Ivan Rodriguez and now Sammy Sosa.

In 2001, when Palmeiro tied a career-high with 47 homers, A-Rod hit 52.

Single-season excellence aside, Palmeiro's next two hits will place him among the elite company of career achievers. Only 25 players have recorded 3,000 hits. None are still active. Already, Palmeiro is one of two active players with 450 home runs, 500 doubles, and 2,500 hits. Barry Bonds is the other.

"He's a helluva hitter, helluva player," Ivan Rodriguez said, "but nobody mentions him much."

Rest assured, though, his name will come up when Seattle pitchers and catchers hold their customary series-opening meeting this afternoon. Palmeiro has hit more of his home runs against the Mariners (51) than any other team. That figure is also the most homers allowed by Seattle to any single player; former teammate Juan Gonzalez is a distant second with 35.

"He always hits the ball over my head," Ichiro Suzuki said through interpreter Allen Turner. "I always think, man, he's great.

"I respect him a lot. There's no way I'm going to hit 500 home runs. Maybe in practice."

This weekend, the left-handed Palmeiro will face three right-handers against whom he has career averages of .300 or better: Joel Pineiro (.300), Aaron Sele (.314), and Gil Meche (.313). As one would expect, his average is lower against southpaw Jamie Moyer (.256), who starts Saturday.

His career numbers against Seattle (.288 average, 142 RBIs, 779 at-bats) smack of the consistency that has defined his career.

"I've never seen him in a slump," Price said. "He's unflappable."

And oh, that swing. His bat glides through the strike zone with a grace that is the envy of All-Stars in both leagues. Everyone has a different way of describing it. Teammate B.J. Ryan called it "effortless." Price admired the swing's ease, strength, and consistency.

"You may fool him once, but rarely twice," Price said. "He has an idea of what he's going to do in every at-bat. He's a real pro, and that's what protects him from slumps. You never see him take a bad swing.

"Everybody knows nothing comes easily. But he makes it look easy."

Palmeiro's bat acceleration is smooth but explosive -- think Olerud meets Griffey -- and he's capable of launching home runs and line drives alike.

"It's amazing," marveled Jim Edmonds, the Cardinals' All-Star center fielder. "I've often wanted to call and ask how he does it. With all respect, I'll work on it during the off-season."

As with all milestones of this kind, arithmetic lends greater appreciation. To achieve 3,000 hits, a player has to average 150 hits per season -- for 20 years. To reach 500 home runs, a player must hit 25 per year over the same amount of time.

"A lot of guys can have seven, eight, nine good years in a row," Ryan said. "He's done it every day over such a long period of time. That's what makes him great."

A three-time Gold Glove winner, Palmeiro remains productive at age 40, with a .269 batting average, 15 homers and 50 RBIs. He should easily reach 20 home runs for the 15th consecutive season, and has a strong chance to collect 100 RBIs for the 11th time in the past 13 seasons.

He played in his 2,778th game earlier this season, surpassing Hall of Famer Tony Perez for the most in major league history by a Cuban-born player.

And he has crept ever closer to the hallowed mark, Ryan observed, without the benefit of cheap hits.

"They've been big home runs, stuff that gets us ahead in games," said Ryan, who also witnessed Ripken's 3,000th hit. "It's been fun to watch. He'll probably get it in the first or second day in Seattle."

Despite the fact that Palmeiro did not make a fifth All-Star appearance this week, his name surfaced often in Detroit. A-Rod said Tuesday he was disappointed that Palmeiro, his former Rangers teammate, was not in the AL clubhouse with him.

"He's about to accomplish something three people have done in the history of the game," Rodriguez said. "That should not be overlooked."

Marlins left-hander Dontrelle Willis said Palmeiro was one of the few hitters he was "star struck" to face for the first time.

"I'm just fascinated at how consistent he is," Willis said. "He doesn't get talked about as much as other people in that class, but your peers know. We can appreciate what he's doing for the game of baseball.

"It's cool. I hope he keeps going. It seems like he's just getting better."

He reached the postseason three times, but has never played in the World Series. In the absence of October glory, his most enduring television images came on a Viagra commercial and an emotional denial of steroid use during this spring's Congressional hearings.

One wonders if the milestone, remarkable though it may be, is enough to draw national interest. For all his brilliance, Palmeiro lacks a signature moment, the kind of clip that is replayed on classic baseball reels for years afterward.

That may come this weekend at Safeco Field.

"It's a great accomplishment, well-deserved," Price said. "Of course, I'd rather not see him get it against us. We'll do our best to prevent it, but he's a great hitter."

MANGLING THE MARINERS

Rafael Palmeiro enters Baltimore's four-game series with the Mariners needing two hits to become the 26th player to reach the exalted total of 3,000. The damage Palmeiro has inflicted upon the Mariners en route to his current total of 2,998 hits:

HITS, RUNS & AVERAGE

Palmeiro has 224 hits, just four fewer than he has against the Angels (228). Palmeiro's leading victims:

Opponent Games Hits

Angels 208 228

Mariners 212 224

Tigers 171 221

Included in the 224 hits: 42 doubles, three triples, 51 home runs.

On May 17, 1996, Palmeiro had five hits against the Mariners, etablishing his career high.

Palmeiro has scored 136 runs, his most against any team.

Palmeiro is a career .288 hitter against Seattle (224-for-779).

HOME RUNS & RBIs

Palmeiro hit the first of his 51 home runs against the Mariners on Aug. 16, 1989. That blast came off Scott Bankhead in the Kingdome. Palmeiro's last home run against the Mariners occurred last May 26 at Camden Yards, victimizing Ryan Franklin. Palmeiro's leading victims:

Opponent Games HRs

Mariners 212 51

Angels 208 49

Yankees 193 47

Palmeiro has 34 two-homer games in his career, including four two-homer contests against the Mariners.

Ten of Palmeiro's 51 homers against the M's occurred in 2001, his single-season high against any opponent.

Palmeiro also had 25 RBIs vs. M's in 2001, another personal high.

On July 28, 2003, Palmerio drove in seven runs against the Mariners, his career high.

Palmeiro has 142 career RBIs against the Mariners.

GRAND SLAMS

Palmeiro has hit 11 grand slams, three of which have come at the Mariners' expense (three is the most he has hit against any team). His salamis vs. Seattle:

Date Inn. Pitcher

4/6/01 7 Norm Charlton

9/19/02 3 Jamie Moyer

7/28/03 7 Arthur Rhodes