Congratulations to Tim Wakefield for surpassing 2,000 strikeouts as a member of the Red Sox. Now let’s break ‘em down. These are based on his career totals, not just the 2,000 whiffs while wearing the Red Sox jersey, but you’ll get the drift:

* – Wakefield’s top strikeout seasons:

169 – 2003
151 – 1997
151 – 2005
148 – 2001

Note this: In 2001, he averaged 7.9 strikeouts per nine innings, the highest of his career, followed by 2003 (7.5) and 2002 (7.4).

And this: Only four other pitchers in history have more than 2,000 career strikeouts without ever having a season of 175+ whiffs: Dennis Martinez, David Wells, Tommy John and Jamie Moyer.

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* – Wakefield has had four starts with 10 or more strikeouts:

12 – vs. Yankees on Sept. 11, 2005
11 – vs. Twins on Aug. 7, 2005
10 – vs. Brewers on June 5, 1997
10 – vs. Brewers on Aug. 10, 1996

Note this: He’s had nine career starts with no strikeouts, including July 1 of this year against the Astros. Seven of those “zero strikeout” starts came as a member of the Red Sox, the most such starts by any Red Sox pitcher since 1990:

7 – Tim Wakefield
6 – Bret Saberhagen
5 – John Dopson

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* – As has been discussed for years, Wakefield has fanned 6.8 per 9 innings in domes and 6.0 outside.

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* – In his career, Wakefield has struck out 1,059 batters at home and 1,051 on the road, but he averages 6.2 K/9 on the road vs. 5.8 at home.

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* – Two long-time Yankees, Jason Giambi and Alex Rodriguez, have each struck out 21 times against Wakefield, tied for the most by any batter. They are followed by two more Yankees, Jorge Posada (18) and Derek Jeter (17).

Note this: There are some batters who have been exceptionally good at making contact against Wakefield’s knuckler. New Red Sox teammate Carl Crawford has fanned just six times in 96 plate appearances against Timmy. Ichiro Suzuki has just two K’s in 41 times up. Joey Cora (27) and Ron Coomer (24) have faced Wakefield more than anyone else without ever striking out.

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* – June has been Wakefield’s top strikeout month:

384 – June
380 – July
357 – August
357 – Sept/Oct
349 – May
283 – Mar/Apr

Note this: In July, Wake averages 6.5 K/9, his top monthly average (August, 6.2; June, 6.0).

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* – 1,852 of Wakefield’s career strikeouts have come as a starter and only 258 as a reliever.

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* – Cleanup batters have been Wakefield’s strikeout victims more often than any other spot in the order (but it’s close):

251 – 4th
249 – 6th
248 – 5th
246 – 1st

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* – Wake’s 332 first inning K’s are his most in any inning:

332 – 1st inning
329 – 2nd inning
293 – 3rd inning
275 – 4th inning

Note this: He has just seven extra-inning strikeouts in his career, but he is tied with Scott Williamson and Jonathan Papelbon for the all-time Red Sox lead in postseason extra-inning strikeouts with four.

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* – Wakefield has fanned 226 Blue Jays, the most against any team (Yankees, 163; Orioles, 161), but his top K/9 rates have come vs. the Brewers (min. 300 BF):

7.2 – Brewers
6.8 – Rangers
6.6 – Twins

Note this: The Angels (5.4 per 9IP) have struck out the least often against Wakefield, followed by the Orioles (5.6) and Royals (5.7).

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* – Wakefield strikeouts by catcher:

712 – Doug Mirabelli
346 – Jason Varitek
246 – Scott Hatteberg
153 – Kevin Cash

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* – Wakefield strikeouts by umpire:

65 – Chuck Meriwether
56 – Tim McClelland
49 – Dale Scott

Also, top strikeout rates per nine innings by umpire (min. 200 BF):

7.4 – Chuck Meriwether
7.3 – Dale Ford
7.2 – Derryl Cousins

And the lowest rates by umpire (same minimum):

4.1 – Fieldin Culbreth
5.4 – Tim Tschida
5.4 – Eric Cederstrom

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Well, there you have it. Thanks, Baseball-Reference!