while the brewers have trudged through a forgettable season braun has been remarkably consistent. an ops over .950 every month. smacking around righties and lefties. does more damage at home than on the road but still an ops of .924 away from milwaukee. stolen 16 bases and only 5 caught stealing. 5 errors charged but honestly he continues to look better and better out there.

braun has also played hurt as he tries to help the club stay relevant.

i know folks are wild about andrew and matt kemp gives folks here the giggles and joey votto is a monster at the plate but when you consider things over a few years i think its reasonable to suggest braun is the best player in the national league

I'm trying to work out whether getting to 1,000 hits faster than Pete Rose is a truly special accomplishment or not. Rose hit just .271 over his first two seasons, so he didn't really come into the league like gangbusters.

My PI skills are only middling, but I can definitely say that the following guys got to 1,000 hits faster than Rose (in terms of games played): Paul Waner, Kirby Puckett, Ichiro!, Earle Combs, George Sisler, Fred Clarke, Honus Wagner, Derek Jeter, Wally Moses, Joe Medwick, Vada Pinson, Ginger Beaumont, Al Simmons, Bob Meusel, Chuck Klein, Barney McCosky, Joe DiMaggio, Juan Pierre, Wade Boggs, Johnny Pesky, Babe Herman, Hank Aaron, Richie Ashburn, Nap Lajoie, Nomar Garciaparra, Kenny Lofton, Dale Mitchell, Joe Vosmik, George Case, Red Rolfe, Rip Radcliff, Don Mattingly, Goose Goslin, Frankie Frisch, Mike Piazza, Joe Mauer Doc Cramer, Ralph Garr, Jo-Jo Moore, Sam Rice, Charlie Gehringer, Kiki Cuyler, and I'm certain I've missed a bunch, and I'm only counting since 1893.

Which is not to say that Ryan Braun is an ordinary player, or that 1,000 hits in 830 games is some kind of ho-hum accomplishment; just trying to get some perspective.

I predict Ryan Braun has a career that ranks above Ralph Garr but below Pete Rose.

Pare that list down to players who also won an MVP Award* (or likely would have, had MVP Awards been given in their time) before reaching 1000 hits: Paul Waner, Ichiro!, Honus Wagner, Joe Medwick, Chuck Klein, Joe DiMaggio, Hank Aaron, Nap Lajoie, Don Mattingly Joe Mauer.

Braun, Ichiro! and Joe Mauer are still active; everyone else on the list except Don Mattingly is in the Hall of Fame. That's interesting. (Ichiro! certainly is going to go in.)

*Including players who won an MVP Award the same season they reached 1000 hits, which is Medwick and Klein in this case.

Guys that did it faster than Pete Rose: an imcomplete list:

1,000 hits: Chuck Klein: 683 games
1,000 hits: Lloyd Waner. 686 games
1,000 hits: Ichiro Suzuki. 696 games
1,000 hits: Al Simmons: 710 games
1,000 hits: Paul Waner. 711 games
1,000 hits: Joe Medwick. 717 games
1,000 hits: Earle Combs: 742 games
1,000 hits: Wade Boggs. 747 games
1,000 hits: George Sisler. 750 games
1,000 hits: Kirby Puckett. 750 games
1,000 hits: Billy Herman: 760 games
1,000 hits: Stan Musial. 765 games
1,000 hits: Frankie Frisch: 770 games
1,000 hits: Harvey Kuenn. 773 games
1,000 hits: Jim Bottomley. 774 games
1,000 hits: Don Mattingly. 775 games
1,000 hits: Earl Averill. 777 games
1,000 hits: Derek Jeter: 780 games
1,000 hits: Kenny Lofton: 781 games
1,000 hits: Hank Aaron. 782 games
1,000 hits: Tony Gwynn. 783 games
1,000 hits: Wally Moses. 783 games
1,000 hits: Arky Vaughan: 787 games
1,000 hits: Goose Goslin. 787 games
1,000 hits: Doc Cramer. 794 games
1,000 hits: Kiki Cuyler: 794 games
1,000 hits: Vada Pinson. 794 games
1,000 hits: Richie Ashburn.796 games
1,000 hits: Garry Templeton. 797 games
1,000 hits: Hank Greenberg. 803 games
1,000 hits: Albert Pujols: 806 games
1,000 hits: Rogers Hornsby. 806 games
1,000 hits: Ross Youngs. 806 games
1,000 hits: Sam Rice. 808 games
1,000 hits: Johnny Mize. 810 games
1,000 hits: Charlie Gehringer: 811 games
1,000 hits: Fred Lindstrom. 814 games.
1,000 hits: Mike Piazza. 814 games
1,000 hits: Ted Williams. 814 games
1,000 hits: Alex Rodriquez: 819 games
1,000 hits: Willie Mays. 825 games
1,000 hits: Heine Manush. 826 games.
1,000 hits: Lou Gehrig. 826 games
1,000 hits: George Brett: 827 games
1,000 hits: Jim Rice. 827 games
1,000 hits: Pie Traynor. 827 games
1,000 hits: Vladimir Guerreo: 827 games
1,000 hits: Joe Sewell. 828 games
1,000 hits: Pete Rose. 831 games

I don't know how to do games until 1000 hits but ... Braun's in his age 28 season. So, players with at least 1050 hits through their age 28 season ... since 1901 there have been 214 of those. Braun will probably end his age 28 season with about as many hits as Vernon Wells (1076), maybe as many as Garry Maddox (1092) and probably fewer than Hanley Ramirez (1102).

Mainly funning. There are lots of really good names nearby too like Frank Thomas, Molitor, Manny. I do find it entertaining that Hanley did this last year at about the same age as Rose although 852 games.

Not surprisingly Cobb is #1 in hits through age 28 with Ott and Vada Pinson both over 1700. Yount, ARod and Aaron are top 10. Carl Crawford was knocking on the door of 1500 hits after his age 28 season.

Rose picked up his 1200th hit in game 980, Braun will get his 1201st in his game 980 at his current pace. When Rose was the same age Braun is now, he had 1327 hits in 1064 games, at the end of his age 28 season. Braun is on a pace for something like 1078/881 at the end of his age 28 season.

For his next trick, Braun will reach 200 homers faster than Hank Aaron...but will not realize it until alerted by Brewer's media relations director Mike Vassalo.

[6] As noted, beating Pete Rose to 1,000 hits is not all that significant. It is in the 30-39 seasons and the 40+ seasons where Rose pulled away, almost like the age 30-39 seasons being key to a pitcher accumulating 300 wins.

Through Age 28 season:

                                                          
Rk              Player    H From   To   Age    G   PA   AB
1              Ty Cobb 1935 1905 1915 18-28 1397 5954 5253
2              Mel Ott 1775 1926 1937 17-28 1589 6646 5621
3          Vada Pinson 1746 1958 1967 19-28 1435 6309 5836
4          Robin Yount 1727 1974 1984 18-28 1549 6621 6049
5       Rogers Hornsby 1713 1915 1924 19-28 1262 5410 4767
6       Alex Rodriguez 1707 1994 2004 18-28 1430 6385 5590
7           Hank Aaron 1697 1954 1962 20-28 1350 5868 5309
8          Jimmie Foxx 1690 1925 1936 17-28 1411 5934 4982
9            Al Kaline 1683 1953 1963 18-28 1449 6138 5454
10         Joe Medwick 1667 1932 1940 20-28 1227 5323 5001
11   Freddie Lindstrom 1625 1924 1934 18-28 1323 5630 5163
12      Miguel Cabrera 1597 2003 2011 20-28 1351 5777 5041
13      Edgar Renteria 1595 1996 2005 19-28 1449 6193 5545
14        Arky Vaughan 1591 1932 1940 20-28 1305 5744 4894
15         Ken Griffey 1569 1989 1998 19-28 1375 5982 5226
16        Tris Speaker 1538 1907 1916 19-28 1216 5198 4481
17       Mickey Mantle 1537 1951 1960 19-28 1399 6051 5005
18       Albert Pujols 1531 2001 2008 21-28 1239 5382 4578
19      Roberto Alomar 1522 1988 1996 20-28 1304 5763 5048
20      Frankie Frisch 1511 1919 1927 20-28 1153 5141 4670
21      Frank Robinson 1501 1956 1964 20-28 1346 5734 4945
22         Lloyd Waner 1485 1927 1934 21-28 1070 4903 4567
23       Carl Crawford 1480 2002 2010 20-28 1235 5395 4992
24      Richie Ashburn 1476 1948 1955 21-28 1179 5391 4689
25        Sherry Magee 1476 1904 1913 19-28 1375 5698 4961
...
67         Jim Fregosi 1327 1961 1970 19-28 1322 5546 4897
67           Pete Rose 1327 1963 1969 22-28 1064 4785 4301

Age 29 to 34 seasons:

                                                          
Rk               Player    H From   To   Age   G   PA   AB
1         Ichiro Suzuki 1355 2003 2008 29-34 966 4463 4121
2            Bill Terry 1256 1928 1933 29-34 883 3893 3537
3     Charlie Gehringer 1239 1932 1937 29-34 909 4207 3662
4            Paul Waner 1236 1932 1937 29-34 895 4046 3600
5             Pete Rose 1220 1970 1975 29-34 958 4457 3920
6            Lou Gehrig 1197 1932 1937 29-34 923 4177 3451
7         Michael Young 1174 2006 2011 29-34 924 4148 3803
8          Earl Averill 1168 1931 1936 29-34 905 4096 3632
9             Lou Brock 1167 1968 1973 29-34 941 4275 3890
10             Sam Rice 1166 1919 1924 29-34 893 4006 3616
11          Stan Musial 1165 1950 1955 29-34 916 4059 3457
12           Doc Cramer 1154 1935 1940 29-34 871 4102 3755
13   Baby Doll Jacobson 1154 1920 1925 29-34 891 3858 3474
14       Harry Heilmann 1146 1924 1929 29-34 861 3689 3161
15          Derek Jeter 1145 2003 2008 29-34 892 4112 3637
16     Roberto Clemente 1137 1964 1969 29-34 878 3774 3443
17         Sam Crawford 1137 1909 1914 29-34 915 3949 3523
18           Al Simmons 1134 1931 1936 29-34 837 3723 3439
19            Rod Carew 1128 1975 1980 29-34 860 3754 3269
20        Miguel Tejada 1124 2003 2008 29-34 939 4076 3737
21       Billy Williams 1124 1967 1972 29-34 956 4160 3722
22           Wade Boggs 1120 1987 1992 29-34 900 4080 3435
23           Matty Alou 1120 1968 1973 29-34 886 3839 3575
24              Ty Cobb 1118 1916 1921 29-34 772 3404 2983
25          Bobby Veach 1109 1917 1922 29-34 879 3892 3450

Ages 35-39:

                                                        
Rk             Player    H From   To   Age   G   PA   AB
1            Sam Rice 1023 1925 1929 35-39 744 3435 3125
2           Pete Rose 1010 1976 1980 35-39 808 3693 3258
3        Paul Molitor  928 1992 1996 35-39 724 3269 2884
4        Tris Speaker  887 1923 1927 35-39 694 3045 2551
5          Tony Gwynn  863 1995 1999 35-39 638 2677 2450
6             Ty Cobb  847 1922 1926 35-39 637 2753 2355
7          Doc Cramer  846 1941 1945 35-39 729 3260 3015
8       Eddie Collins  846 1922 1926 35-39 674 3001 2459
9        Craig Biggio  826 2001 2005 35-39 764 3440 3045
10       Jake Daubert  825 1919 1923 35-39 699 3076 2716
11         Lave Cross  825 1901 1905 35-39 676 2891 2736
12       Honus Wagner  809 1909 1913 35-39 676 2877 2495
13       George Brett  786 1988 1992 35-39 706 3026 2687
14          Babe Ruth  784 1930 1934 35-39 685 2975 2333
15        Raul Ibanez  774 2007 2011 35-39 744 3119 2804
16         Nap Lajoie  771 1910 1914 35-39 624 2523 2238
17    Rafael Palmeiro  764 2000 2004 35-39 781 3360 2822
18     Edgar Martinez  763 1998 2002 35-39 678 2933 2412
19         Zack Wheat  763 1923 1927 35-39 588 2393 2189
20          Jose Cruz  760 1983 1987 35-39 728 2880 2582
21       Steve Finley  750 2000 2004 35-39 751 3036 2683
22        Bob Johnson  746 1941 1945 35-39 702 3010 2594
23        Dave Parker  742 1986 1990 35-39 717 3027 2766
24   Carl Yastrzemski  742 1975 1979 35-39 745 3114 2688
25          Jeff Kent  734 2003 2007 35-39 675 2830 2499
26      Mickey Vernon  730 1953 1957 35-39 674 2769 2416
27      Ichiro Suzuki  728 2009 2012 35-38 564 2554 2398

Age 40+ seasons:

Rk              Player   H From   To   Age   G   PA   AB
1            Pete Rose 699 1981 1986 40-45 732 2955 2574
2             Sam Rice 551 1930 1934 40-44 543 1906 1714
3         Luke Appling 488 1947 1950 40-43 470 1930 1620
4         Honus Wagner 479 1914 1917 40-43 503 1989 1780
5         Carlton Fisk 473 1988 1993 40-45 537 2011 1781
6        Dave Winfield 413 1992 1995 40-43 422 1722 1539
7     Carl Yastrzemski 410 1980 1983 40-43 446 1762 1541
8         Julio Franco 409 1999 2007 40-48 637 1619 1434
9         Omar Vizquel 386 2007 2012 40-45 500 1729 1547
10    Rickey Henderson 377 1999 2003 40-44 469 1816 1488
11         Stan Musial 336 1961 1963 40-42 382 1315 1142
12        Paul Molitor 305 1997 1998 40-41 261 1156 1040
13             Ty Cobb 289 1927 1928 40-41 228  967  843
14       Darrell Evans 276 1987 1989 40-42 401 1454 1212
15      Edgar Martinez 274 2003 2004 40-41 286 1152  983
16        Craig Biggio 265 2006 2007 40-41 286 1162 1065
17    Andres Galarraga 263 2001 2004 40-43 342 1083  973
18          Hank Aaron 262 1974 1976 40-42 334 1233 1076
19          Tony Perez 256 1982 1986 40-44 380 1084  969
20   Rabbit Maranville 248 1932 1935 40-43 315 1239 1116
21       Graig Nettles 245 1985 1988 40-43 455 1220 1064
22           Bob Boone 243 1988 1990 40-42 293  997  874
23          Nap Lajoie 242 1915 1916 40-41 242  975  916
24         Willie Mays 218 1971 1973 40-42 290 1085  870
25       Harold Baines 217 1999 2001 40-42 263  900  797

########. Rose got to 1,000 hits years ago.

If it wasn't for that tornado, Sam Rice could've easily been the all-time hit leader. Is there some hypothetical ZiPs for him somewhere?

So all Braun has to do, starting today, is have the same number of hits as Paul Molitor's entire career, and he'll surpass Pete Rose!