The 600th homerun in 600 words.
Shawn Marcum, you didn’t hear this name before today and you’ll probably not hear his name for the rest of his career, but last night Marcum made it in to the history books. He served up Alex Rodriguez’s 600th homerun, which made A-Rod the youngest player to join the 600 homerun club (he’s 7th in homeruns all-time).
Now there are a lot of angles to go with this blog, but since A-Rod made history I’m going to focus on where he fits the history of baseball. Based on talent and accomplishment he should simply be considered one of the greatest if not the greatest, but in A-Rod’s world nothing is simple. A-Rod teams seem to get better after he leaves and his teams seem to get worse when he joins them.
The Seattle Mariners broke the record for most regular season wins in one season the year after their superstar bolted for Texas. The Rangers, who were bottom cellar dwellers with Rodriguez, began competing for division titles the year after A-Rod was traded to the Yanks for Alfonso Soriano in 2004.
The Yankees, by the time 2004 came around who won 6 pennants of the last 8 years, did not make it back to the World Series with Rodriguez until 2009. A-Rod was even dissed by the generally calm and politician like Joe Torre in his tell all book about the Yankees.
Alex is obviously known for his previous inability to perform in the clutch, a fascinating turn of events, considering he had the physical tools to perform but mentally shutdown during important games, when the game was on the line. In 2006, Alex hit a low point when he was asked by Joe Torre to bat 8th in game 4 of their first round series against the Tigers.
Unlike his counterpart (Derek Jeter) A-Rod is known for doing un-classy things. Most recently he missed the Yankees team photo (a custom which was constantly done by Barry Bonds), in 2007 he yelled Ha as he was rounding 3rd base in a game against the Blue Jays (which is against one of baseball’s “un-written” rules) and he most famously slapped the ball out of Bronson Arroyo in game 6 of the A.L.C.S. against the Red Sox.
There was also the whole gambling scandal and marital affair scandal to boot. His foil at shortstop is a subject which would make Greek tragedy writers swoon. One is jealous of the other’s talent and power numbers while the other is jealous of the championships and the admiration, yet they play on the same team. Jeter didn’t give up his spot at short for A-Rod, didn’t support him when he was consistently being booed by the fans and being harassed by the press.
Jeter also chastised A-Rod during steriodgate. Oh yeah, after all of this there was the whole steroid scandal in which A-Rod admitted he took steroids from his cousin, but said he only took it for the 2001,2002 and 2003 seasons, even though though he recently met with Anthony Galea. Galea, is under investigation by the Canadian police for giving athletes steroids.
Rodriguez also gives a funny interview; politician like and implores Phil Jacksonesk jeti-mind tricks. Before the 2005 season many of the Boston Red Sox called out A-Rod for his poor performance in the clutch and stated he was not a real Yankee. One of his toughest critics was Bronson Arroyo (the man who got slapped by A-Rod).
Arroyo played high school ball in Miami with A-Rod but nevertheless A-Rod said the following. “BRANDON has the right to say what he wants to say.” The point of my blog is there is no point. I don’t know where the 3 time A.L. M.V.P., 10 time silver slugger ranks in baseball history.
Although where he ranks on the baseball field is in doubt, what’s not in doubt is his ranking in baseball money. He signed the biggest sports contract in history, 252 million over 10 years and then broke his record (after he opted out) by signing for 275 million over 10 years.
Guys who set records for money made in baseball and have the above baggage aren’t going to be liked, one area where Rodriguez’s status is not in doubt.
