Noted steroid guy passes other steroid guy on all-time home run list
Apr 18, 2010, 11:00 AM EDT
Hey, look! It’s a PED party and everyone’s invited!
Why? Because Alex Rodriguez hit his first home run of the season Saturday in the Yankees’ 7-3 victory over the Rangers, giving him his 584th dong of his career. More significantly, A-Rod passed fellow performance-enhancing drug connoisseur Mark McGwire on the all-time home run list, giving Rodriguez sole possession of eighth place on the esteemed list. Yay!
Rodriguez has been stuck on 583 homers for some time now – six and a half months to be exact. A-Rod’s first round-tripper of the season came in his 41st at-bat, the longest drought to start the season for the Yankee since 1995 when he was with the Seattle Mariners, when he went homerless until his 48th appearance at the plate.
A-Rod apparently has been the subject of some good-natured ribbing from his teammates due to his lack of power early in the season. Via The New York Times:
“It seemed like everyone had one,” Rodriguez said, referring to home runs. “And they were all ragging on me that I hadn’t checked in yet.”
Obviously, it was only a matter of time until A-Rod went yard. Not one to rest on his laurels or make a big deal and draw attention to himself due to individual accomplishments, the slugger reluctantly admitted it felt good to move one rung up on the career home run ladder.
“Obviously, I acknowledge that it feels good to keep moving up the line,” Rodriguez said. “But I think there will be a time and a place for reflection, and that will be many years after I’m done playing. But for now, the goal is to win games and help the team win.”
Indeed. Here’s to A-Rod for his continued success and padding of his Hall of Fame numbers. Even better, we got to use the A-Rod centaur photoshop, which, if you ask me, makes any story involving Rodriguez that much more entertaining.
And to top it off, here’s your “A-Rod Quote Taken Entirely Out Of Context” for the day:
“Speed makes people do funny things,” Rodriguez said.
You ain’t kidding, man.
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A-Rod passes McGwire for 8th place on HR list [NBC Sports]
A-Rod passes Mark McGwire on all-time home run list [Hardball Talk]
Rodriguez Hits First Homer of Year as Yankees Mix Power and Speed [The New York Times]
A-Rod News From The ‘You Can’t Make This Stuff Up’ Department… [Deadspin]
