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Around SBN: 2012 Budweiser Shootout Entry List Released

The career HR record: A-Rod's chase

by achiappanza on Nov 20, 2007 1:27 AM PST

We've all read about how A-Rod's now the favorite to get Barry's career HR record. But in addition to the fact that he'll have to age as "well" as Barry did, I just looked up this interesting fact:

Over the last three seasons, A-Rod got 27 intentional walks. From 2002-2004 Barry got 249. I still think A-Rod can't get the career HR title without some serious longevity, durability, and more cooperation from the opposing pitchers than Barry got.

This FanPost is reader-generated, and it does not necessarily reflect the views of McCovey Chronicles. If the author uses filler to achieve the minimum word requirement, a moderator may edit the FanPost for his or her own amusement.

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Re: The career HR record: A-Rod's chase

If Barry never plays again (seems likely with his indictment) then A-Rod has to hit just 245 Homeruns to pass Barry. A-Rod is about to sign a 10 year contract so this just means he has to average just 24.5 homeruns per season for his new contract. This does not at all require that A-Rod have as much second half of his career sucess as Barry did. A-Rod has averaged 40+ Homeruns per season in his 12+ full major league seasons so averaging just 24.5 for the last 10 years of his career would be a significant falloff. Both Henry Aaron and Willie Mays had no problems hitting 245+ homeruns in their final 10 seasons and I see only one reason A-Rod would have a problem. It will take a career ending injury to stop A-Rod.

by giantsrainman on Nov 20, 2007 2:38 AM PST reply actions

Exactly. It's not automatic, but close.

With the season over, I release my adoptee Brian Sabean. Good luck in the world, little buddy.

by Mayor of 311 on Nov 20, 2007 8:05 AM PST up reply actions

Re: The career HR record: A-Rod's chase

Health is Alex's only potential enemy when it come to the chase. The man has great conditioning. That record is his.

I actually would like the record to be broken. Then it won't have question marks all over it. It can become pure again if moved out of the Steriod era, but why does it have to be this jerkoff A-Rod. He is such a sissy. I hate his face and the way he always looks into the Yankee dugout to see if Jeter is looking whenever he connects.

I asked this before, but the question got a little harder I think. Does the franchise keep the Barry HR counter up. How about the banners and whatever still stands. Could be a strange situation if convicted. On the same note you can't just forget he played by trying to hide anything.

Guess we will have to see how everything plays out before making decisions on how much "The Record" is advertised.

by Armz Dealer on Nov 20, 2007 4:15 AM PST reply actions

Re: The career HR record: A-Rod's chase

I think you have to take all -- or at least most -- of that crap down because he's not a Giant anymore. AT&T should cease to be a shrine to Barry's greatness.

I will mostly miss the rubber chickens.

Vizquel leads by a higher level of example. --BS (Brian Sabean)

by Woody Wins on Nov 20, 2007 7:40 AM PST up reply actions

Re: Rubber Chickens

but they'll always be with us as long as NeifiChicken posts here...

Fairley odd parent to Wendell...

by Mark carry on on Nov 20, 2007 8:06 AM PST up reply actions

Re: The career HR record: A-Rod's chase

I'd like to think they'll still have the rubber chickens, there just won't be as many of them. However, no one currently on this team is patient enough to get an intentional walk.

Bonds stands alone.

by nostocksjustbonds on Nov 20, 2007 11:10 AM PST up reply actions

Re: The career HR record: A-Rod's chase

The only time I see this team drawing an IBB is if the other team feels like walking whoever is hitting in front of Bengie just so they have a chance to turn a double play...you know, for fun.

Vizquel leads by a higher level of example. --BS (Brian Sabean)

by Woody Wins on Nov 20, 2007 2:56 PM PST up reply actions

Re: The career HR record: A-Rod's chase

We leave up one #756 sign and we retire his number ASAP before he gets thrown in prison. Everything else they should dump in the Cove.

you will suffer humiliation when the sports team from my area defeats the sports team from your area

by nick @ McCovey Chronicles on Nov 20, 2007 11:10 AM PST up reply actions

Re: The career HR record: A-Rod's chase

Ken Griffey Jr. 460 career HRs through age 31. Need I say more?

by Scottsdale on Nov 20, 2007 8:04 AM PST reply actions

Re: The career HR record: A-Rod's chase

27 to 249. That still gets my goat.

You are right, of course, about how close A-Rod is given his age and trend.

by achiappanza on Nov 20, 2007 8:47 AM PST reply actions

Re: The career HR record: A-Rod's chase

It's a good counterintuitive point. The fact that ARod just isn't as good a hitter as Barry is actually going to make it easier to for him to get the record, because pitchers won't be as afraid to throw him strikes. Also, of course, his teammates are a lot scarier than Bonds's.

It's still bumming me out that Bonds's career is being artificially curtailed. By rights, he should be hanging out in Oakland or Anaheim as a DH for a few years and pushing the record up to 900 or so.

by Evan on Nov 20, 2007 8:57 AM PST up reply actions

Re: The career HR record: A-Rod's chase

"artificially curtailed"

I would go there but its just too easy.

Thank God that's over.

by southcitysteve on Nov 20, 2007 10:47 AM PST up reply actions

Re: The career HR record: A-Rod's chase

I don't think 900 was reachable, even if he played for a few more seasons.

Bonds stands alone.

by nostocksjustbonds on Nov 20, 2007 11:11 AM PST up reply actions

Re: The career HR record: A-Rod's chase

Maybe not, but I sure wouldn't put it past him. He's so far beyond the point at which normal projections make sense. 30 homers a year till his 48th birthday would get him there. If Julio Franco can do it ...

by Evan on Nov 20, 2007 11:39 AM PST up reply actions

"A-Rod isn't as good a hitter"

That's like saying John Lennon wasn't as good a songwriter as Bob Dylan. True, but... c'mon.

you will suffer humiliation when the sports team from my area defeats the sports team from your area

by nick @ McCovey Chronicles on Nov 20, 2007 11:12 AM PST up reply actions

Re: "A-Rod isn't as good a hitter"

No slight at ARod intended. There's no shame in not being as good as the best hitter ever.

Song for song, I think I'd take Lennon. The presence of McCartney in the lineup complicates things, however.

Dylan wins on career value, of course.

by Evan on Nov 20, 2007 11:41 AM PST up reply actions

Re: The career HR record: A-Rod's chase

As long as he's on the Yankees, A-Rod will probably have good hitters behind him and thus receive less intentional walks. After 2002, Bonds never had much of anyone hitting behind him. Plus, A-Rod is a much easier guy to strike out than Bonds ever was, so there's more reward in going after him.

Don't forget, too, that Bonds has so many walks that weren't technically "intentional" but he was being pitched around and were thus, "unintentional intentional walks." That 249 number is a bit low considering what actually happened.

Bonds stands alone.

by nostocksjustbonds on Nov 20, 2007 11:17 AM PST up reply actions

Re: The career HR record: A-Rod's chase

I actually don't think he'll break it. Remember how nervous he got when he was at 499? Imagine him when he's stuck at 600, 700,715, 755, or 762 (or whatever Bonds finishes with). It took him almost 3 weeks to knock off 500, and that's not even that huge of an achievement anymore. I think A-rod's his own worst enemy, not his health. Of course, I'm all for either one to stop him so Barry can keep the record and all the fans for all the other teams will still have to cringe and get annoyed when someone mentions "the Homerun King."

by boonitez on Nov 20, 2007 10:20 AM PST reply actions

Re: The career HR record: A-Rod's chase

"...whatever Bonds finishes with"

Hmmm , Kool - Aid has a new flavor.

I'll drink to that!

Rockies juggernaut rolls o...ver , dead. NL West TempestTeapot CASE IN POINT!

by victor frankenstein on Nov 20, 2007 9:16 PM PST up reply actions

Re: The career HR record: A-Rod's chase

"Hmmm , Kool - Aid has a new flavor."

Yeah, brown.

Initial sales haven't been very good.

Dave Righetti: You Know You Want It. / Also, my blog. For writers.

by howtheyscored on Nov 20, 2007 10:25 PM PST up reply actions

If healthy, done deal

ARod re-signed with NYY for a multitude of reasons one being a familiarity with his team, stadium and the league. His new deal is for 10 seasons and he is "less" than 250 behind Aaron and Bonds. A few more 50+ HR seasons and we is almost there.

by wilriv21 on Nov 20, 2007 10:34 AM PST reply actions

Re: The career HR record: A-Rod's chase

We'll see. I still don't know the name of the guy whose record pace to 500 A-Rod beat.

Nobody knows how his body is going to react to aging. Even if he keeps himself in teh best shape he's capable of, his body might completely fall apart by the time he's 36. He's likely exiting his peak physical years right now. I'm not saying his chances aren't catostrophically high. I'm just saying there's a reason that even in the modern age these records have hardly been touched.

On the other hand, he'll always be able to DH. Which, if I was a jerk, would prompt me to make an asterisk comment. But I'm not a jerk. Just saying.

Dave Righetti: You Know You Want It. / Also, my blog. For writers.

by howtheyscored on Nov 20, 2007 11:18 AM PST reply actions

Re: The career HR record: A-Rod's chase

If A Rod gets injured, you could see a rapid decline in his health, like what happened to Griffey, and thus he wouldn't approach the record. Griffey was an OF, though, so there probably was a much greater likelihood of him pulling a hammy or twisting a knee than a 3b would have.

Also, last year was basically a "contract year" for A-Rod and thus he put up monster numbers (for those that believe in that kind of thing.) He won't ever have another "contract year" (probably) so he'll have less motivation (for those that believe in that kind of thing.)

Bonds stands alone.

by nostocksjustbonds on Nov 20, 2007 11:22 AM PST reply actions

Unless he's hit by a bus...

Sure, it's his and that's fine with me. I'd be happy to see A-Rod break the record, so we wouldn't have to hear to bleating about how it was tainted, how Barry ruined the sport and cost us all our collective innocence, and we can just remember the fifteen years we were able to watch perhaps the greatest player to ever step into a batter's box.

Proud member of the Adopt-a-Marlin program (Todd Linden)

by antinous on Nov 20, 2007 11:36 AM PST reply actions

Re: The career HR record: A-Rod's chase

I think AROD will eventually pass Bonds in to second place on the all-time HR list. The harder target will be passing Oh.

vr, Xei

Sadaharu Oh - 868 HRs

by Xeifrank on Nov 20, 2007 11:41 AM PST reply actions

Re: The career HR record: A-Rod's chase

"Wrong" starts with a W, not an R.

Proud member of the Adopt-a-Marlin program (Todd Linden)

by antinous on Nov 20, 2007 11:47 AM PST up reply actions

Re: The career HR record: A-Rod's chase

What's the HR record for beer league softball?

by zenbitz on Nov 20, 2007 12:21 PM PST up reply actions

Re: The career HR record: A-Rod's chase

with or without a fence?

by wilriv21 on Nov 20, 2007 12:22 PM PST up reply actions

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