Winston-Salem, NC – An interesting point that I found out this morning that has yet to be blown out of proportion by the media was A-Rod’s 500th homerun. A-Rod jacked his 499th career homerun two days ago against the Royals. Tonight, in Baltimore, the Yankees will continue a suspended game against the Orioles. The suspended game is in the 8th inning with the Yankees leading 8-6. A-Rod homered earlier in the game. Until the game is final, the statistics won’t count. Therefore, A-Rod’s 499th homerun will actually be his 500th homerun. I was told that officials in Kansas City have retrieved the homerun ball from Wednesday night.
At the age of 32, A-Rod has a very legitimate shot at breaking the all-time homerun record whatever the number becomes when Bonds retires. Not that I am a fan of A-Rod, but he’s a "fresh breath of air" compared to the clear and the cream, the needles, the pills linked to Bonds, McGwire, Sosa, etc. Let's hope he's not wearing pinstripes when he becomes the HR King. I remember in 1996 when Eddie Murray was chasing his 500th homerun and how big of a deal it was. A decade later, 500 homeruns doesn’t appear to be the historic milestone that it once was. Steroids and other PED’s have infiltrated the 500 Homerun Club. Last month, Frank Thomas hit his 500th homerun with little fanfare. Could we simply just be “milestoned” out?
3 comments:
I guess I'm one of few, but I am excited about Barry Bonds and his record. I know all the stories, and all of the circumstantial evidence, but nothing has been proven. Otherwise, he wouldn't be playing right now. Until he is proven guilty I support the run he is making.
I think its baseball's fault to let things get the way they did. Yeah, steroids were prohibited, but there was no testing for it. What?? Are you kidding me? How is it then that it was prohibited? Its so silly, and baseball and Selig have to live with that fact. I think Bud has done everything wrong. Its clear (no pun intended) how he feels about Bonds, and I think him showing up at games now is a waste. The homerun race is getting a lot of attention, but in a clearly bitter way. A-Rod's 500th homerun is barely a blip on the radar, but not because the all time home run record is being broken, but rather only becuase Bonds is the one doing it. I look forward to his breaking the record. Thats what baseball has that the other sports don't. Breaking records makes baseball. If (or when) they do catch Barry, then put the asterisk up there, and lets move on. Twenty years from now, the "Steriod Era" will be looked at like the doctoring of the balls back in the day. Its sorta smirked at now.
There are still a lot of great things to come out of this era of baseball. I can name two right off the bat, Cal and Tony. They had a record crowd over the weekend, and its refreshing to have that kind of attention on baseball.
I have only one more thing to add. Screw the Yankees. I am a Baltimore fan (yes, I'm still an Oriole's fan, I just love the Nats too, and I'm allowed to because I'm in the loophole of having to grow up with only the Orioles around for so long) but I would LOVE to see him split from New York and go straight to Boston. Those damn Yankee fans have hated on A-Rod up until this year when he has basically carried this team all the way from last place to making a run at Boston. It serves them right. Spoiled Yankee brats.
I concur with you on how Selig has treated the whole situation. He has completely botched the handling of the steroid controversy. And now, he's pouring millions into this Mitchell Investigation that isn't going to produce squat. My viewpoint is that Selig should say, "Look, we/I screwed this up. We cannot go back and test the cheaters who used steroids in the 90's and early 2000's. Instead of wasting money trying to find out (Mitchell Investigation), let's use that money on beefed up testing methods. The cheaters are always two steps ahead of the testers. Let's close that gap. Let's weed out all of the loopholes. Let's make this an 'era' rather than the 'norm.' If we can convict Bonds with the evidence we have, then fine. But let's not waste another dollar on the past."
I'm in the same predicament as you. Although, I have always followed the Braves. Growing up, the hometown team was the Orioles. I rooted for them in college. But, with the arrival of the Nats to my real hometown, what do you do now? Give up your childhood team and turn your back to your native city or vice versa? Out of all the diehard baseball fans, we may be in this 0.01% quagmire.
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