[新聞] A-Rod closing in on homer kings

看板A-Rod作者PerryRod (Partridge)時間18年前 (2007/04/15 13:44)推噓1(1推 0噓 0→)

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From: http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_5667997 CAM INMAN: TIMES COLUMNIST A-Rod closing in on homer kings Contra Costa Times Article Launched: 04/14/2007 03:09:12 AM PDT OAKLAND--SURE IS NICE to stop by the local yard and see baseball's eventual home-run king. Barry Bonds? Oh, I suppose you could go see him, too, at least when the Giants get back in town. But I'm talking about Alex Rodriguez, the New York Yankees' high-priced, high-powered hitter whose spring tour arrived Friday night at McAfee Coliseum. Dare we rank him immediately behind Barry Bonds in the Royal Line of Succession to Hank Aaron's home-run throne? "Not right now," Jason Giambi said of his fellow New York Yankees' slugger. "Wait until he gets to 500." Sorry, let's jump the gun. Rodriguez -- or A-Rod, if you must -- has 470 career home runs. Check back next week to see if he's hit that 500 mark, or had you not noticed his torrid season-opening pace of six home runs in seven games? He's 285 shy of Aaron's all-time mark, a record Bonds got back to work at surpassing Friday night with two home runs in Pittsburgh. Take the blinders off on Bonds (737 home runs) trying to lap Aaron (755). Peak further into the future. Consider how short Bonds' reign might last as the home-run king. Bonds won't be the record holder for 33 years like Aaron. Rodriguez might not either. But look for him to climb that mountaintop, and beyond, apparently. "If you see his ability, sky's the limit," Yankees skipper Joe Torre said. So, you're sayin' it's so, Joe, that Rodriguez could one day be baseball's best bopper? "I don't think it's any question," Torre replied. "It comes down to staying healthy. Look at Griffey Jr. Everyone had high aspirations for him then he got hurt." A decade ago, by the way, Griffey hit six home runs in the season's first seven games. Since then, his body has been in the repair shop more than the batters' box. Griffey is now 37, and his 563 home runs have him well out of the record race. Bonds is 42, and it's not like he'll keep going and going until he puts the record terribly out of reach. Rodriguez turns 32 in July. He's averaged close to 42 home runs per season since 1996, his first full season with the Seattle Mariners, who nabbed him with the first pick of the 1993 draft. Estimated time of arrival for his record chase: 2013. He'd be in his 21st season, and in his 21st year of answering questions about rich paychecks and hearing relentless taunts by fans (especially if his postseason woes continue). "It'll be how long he wants to play," Giambi said. "If he stays healthy, who knows? He's a great talent. He's dedicated to staying in shape. "It'll be up to him if he wants to put in the time to do that." Added Torre: "You have to be lucky and stay healthy. Alex has the ability to hit any ball out of any park at any time." And he's hitting it anywhere. He's not trying to pull the ball like he did during what Torre called last year's "struggles," when Rodriguez posted a .290 batting average with 35 home runs and 121 RBI. Rodriguez has said he's simply seeing the ball well, that he's comfortable and "at peace." He never looked happier than after hitting a walk-off grand slam a week ago, atoning for a bases-loaded pop out two days earlier. What if he didn't seize that day? "It would have ruined his year," Giambi said. "If he made an out there, they (Yankees fans) would have let him have it." It comes with the territory. But so, too, does the luxury of batting cleanup with something to clean up -- a rarity for Bonds. "With our lineup," Torre said, "they have to pitch to him." Chart that as an early sales pitch to Rodriguez. He can opt out of his record $252 million deal and shop for an even bigger payday after this season. Getting to his first World Series would polish a resume that got blemished with last year's 1-for-14 debacle in a playoff-opening trouncing to the Detroit Tigers. Too bad the Giants already smashed their piggy bank for Barry Zito. Rodriguez, a two-time MVP, would have made a nifty replacement to Bonds (and Pedro Feliz at third). But Rodriguez should stare long at the Yanks' lineup card. Sluggers abound, giving him many pitches to punish. "Barry's found that out over this," Torre duly noted. We'll find out over the next few years if Rodriguez can stay hot on Bonds' and Aaron's trail. Or maybe it'll be Andruw Jones (age: 30; home runs: 344), Vladimir Guerrero (31; 341), Albert Pujols (27; 251) or perhaps Ryan Howard (27; 83, including a league-high 58 last year in his first full season). None are as hot as Rodriguez. "At the plate, he doesn't look like he's anxious," Torre said. "That's the biggest change I can see in his body language. He's not concerned about getting behind in the count." He's behind Aaron and Bonds for now, but perhaps not for too long. -- ※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc) ◆ From: 218.160.125.213