A-Rod’s Chase of History Yields Cricket Sounds
Last October, Alex Rodriguez finally overcame his choker label as he found his game in the postseason and led the Yankees to their 27th World Series title. He was seen as a hero and he finally got it done when it mattered.
Now, nine months later, he is chasing history, as he is set to join the 600 home run club and no one seems interested, not even the people of New York. Where did all that talk of A-Rod finally earning his pinstripes in last year’s playoffs go?
Why has this not been getting more attention? Is this ambivalence directed at A-Rod? Is this chase for history overshadowed by the death of Yankees icons? (Owner George Steinbrenner and PA announcer Bob Sheppard) Or is it the pitching struggles surrounding the team? Worse, can it be that the long ball has lost its allure to baseball fans?
The steroid scandals, in which A-Rod was included, may have turned off fans towards the superhuman ability to hit home-runs.
The list of players who have hit 600 home runs is very short. Only six other big leaguers are on that list: Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, Willie Mays, Ken Griffey Jr. and Sammy Sosa. As baseball records go, joining the 600 Club is a very big deal -- much more difficult to achieve than 3,000 hits or 300 wins. A-Rod will join some very elite company and it is something to be applauded. He will also be the youngest to pull off the feat. Who knows, A-Rod may even one day pass Barry Bonds for the all-time lead.
Rodriguez turns 35 soon and many are thinking that his ordinary season this year is a result of his aging or his hip problems. Many are also starting to question whether the Yankees will regret the remaining seven years on A-Rod's lucrative 10-year, $275 million contract. They are also wondering if he will indeed break Bonds’ record of 762 home runs given the declining numbers.
Some experts have stated that A-Rod’s chances of passing Bonds is at about 30%. Others say that A-Rod is in a slow descent (from 54 homers in '07 to 35, then 30, plus a projected 30-homer pace this year) but that he will ultimately stick around long enough to become baseball’s new home run king.
No one questions A-Rod’s talent but it appears that everyone is just oblivious to the fact that he’s one of the best hitters in the history of baseball and is potentially the future home run king.
One reason of this may be that A-Rod’s dramas off the field may have damaged his reputation. There is no buzz about A-Rod making history and many fans don’t seem like they’re about to go in a frenzy when A-Rod joins the elite 600 club.
Many thought that A-Rod would finally win over more fans when he would perform to his potential in the playoffs. Well, that happened last year. He went .365 with six homers and helped the Yankees to their first World Series in nine years. He was one of the clutch hitters and was a hero. Still, many have not really been attracted to his chase at history.
One thing is for sure; A-Rod will finish his career well over 600 home runs and will go down as one of the all-time greats. He will likely be a first ballot hall-of-famer and may one day break Bonds’ record.
However A-Rod may still be a long way off from being completely absolved by fans of baseball. It may be that he will be overpaid in the last few years of his contract or that fans have just lost their awe for the long ball. Whatever it is, let’s not forget to acknowledge this historic feat.
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