tale of the tape

OK, so it’s not really Bobby Abreu vs. Lance Berkman. But the former Jackson Generals stars, the most accomplished hitters produced by the Capital City’s old Texas League franchise, will be on the same field today, as opponents, when the Los Angeles Dodgers play the St. Louis Cardinals. Both are piling up impressive career numbers. Abreu, 38, who seemed revived when the Dodgers nabbed him after the Angels cut him loose, has played in 2,319 games, ringing up 2,432 hits, including 286 homers, plus 1,439 runs, 1,347 RBIs and 397 stolen bases. He passed through Jackson in 1994, batting .303 with 16 homers. Berkman, now 36, didn’t come along in Jackson until 1997, when he hit .306 with 24 bombs. Abreu was already an established big leaguer when Berkman reached the majors in 1999, but Berkman’s stats aren’t far behind. He has out-hit Abreu .296 to .292, and has a better slugging percentage, .545 to .477, despite battling injury problems in recent seasons. In 1,794 games, Berkman has 1,839 hits, 359 homers, 1,116 runs, 1,198 RBIs and 48 steals (18 in one season, as if to show that he could do that, too). Wonder which one will break down and retire first? Not that we’re counting the days. No, just the numbers.