1998 HEADLINE: Alex Rodriguez Joins The ’40/40 Club’

1998 HEADLINE: Alex Rodriguez Joins The ’40/40 Club’

On this day in 1998, Alex Rodriguez stole his 40th base of the baseball season giving him entrance into the elite ’40/40 Club’.

Just the 3rd of 4 members of this group, Rodriguez is the only infielder in the club.

A-Rod finished the season with 42 homers and 46 steals.  And while he never eclipsed more than 28 steals in any year after, he did hit more than 42 home runs in a season six more times.

Congratulations on this elite achievement, and Happy Anniversary A-Rod!!!

Did You Know…

Alex Rodriguez hit 435 home runs during the first decade of the 21st century (2000- to 2009), the most by any major league player during that time frame.

Million Dollar Question – Will Alex Rodriguez Play Another Major League Game, And If So, Will It Be For The Yankees??

Million Dollar Question – Will Alex Rodriguez Play Another Major League Game, And If So, Will It Be For The Yankees??

The major league baseball career of Alex Rodriguez appears to be in limbo.

What we do know is that as for now, A-Rod will not be playing during the 2014 regular season or postseason.  He is allowed to return to major league game action in 2015.  And he is under contract with the Yankees.

He has said that he will take the time off to rehab old injuries, get in game shape, and hone his skills.

He has said multiple times that he wants to return.  And that he wants to play for the Yankees.

But, will he???

The relationship between Rodriguez and the team has surely soured as both sides have pointed fingers at one another over ‘he said / she said’ stuff as well as private medical issues being disclosed and made public.

To say that this whole things has been a horrible soap opera is an understatement.

My questions tonight are simple – Will Alex Rodriguez play in the majors again?  And if so, will he play for the Yankees?

My thoughts, for now, are as such – I do believe that he will play again.  I feel that he is owed way too much money to simply walk away from the game.  And he also has some major milestones to bypass that I think he wants to go after – 660 home runs and 3,000 hits.

Now, the team he plays for is another thing completely.  It is very likely that he never wears Yankees colors again, and if I was a betting man, I would say ‘No, not as a Yankee’.  They are sour on him, and he has no problem calling them out.

I think someone will pick him up, and I think that the Yankees would be happy to take on a large part of the money left on his contract to ensure that he never wears pinstripes again.

What are your thoughts?  Does he play again?  And does he call New York home any longer?

Let me hear it!

1998 HEADLINE: Alex Rodriguez Joins The ’40/40 Club’

1998 HEADLINE: Alex Rodriguez Joins The ’40/40 Club’

On this day in 1998, Alex Rodriguez stole his 40th base of the baseball season giving him entrance into the elite ’40/40 Club’.

Just the 3rd of 4 members of this group, Rodriguez is the only infielder in the club.

A-Rod finished the season with 42 homers and 46 steals.  And while he never eclipsed more than 28 steals in any year after, he did hit more than 42 home runs in a season six more times.

Congratulations on this elite achievement, and Happy Anniversary A-Rod!!!

2012 Topps ‘Prime 9′ Home Run Legends Redemption Set – Alex Rodriguez

2012 Topps ‘Prime 9′ Home Run Legends Redemption Set – Alex Rodriguez

Normally, I would go into a long diatribe about my excitement of bringing this baseball card home and into my collection.  I am building this set of cards, and I would normally hype up the addition of Alex Rodriguez into the set.

But, I am just not feeling it.

Yes, I am happy to be one step closer to completing this set.  I just wish that the card featured a different player – one worth celebrating…  I wish it was of Ken Griffey Jr. or Harmon Killebrew or Mike Schmidt.

But this one has me just ready to move on to the next…

Happy Birthday Jorge Posada!!!

Happy Birthday Jorge Posada!!!

Jorge Posada turns 42 years old today.

I have always had a lot of respect for catchers.  I feel that their role is the most critical one on the team due to their handling of the entire pitching staff.  A good, strong catcher is able to communicate well, be a team leader, and must be trusted by each and every member of the pitching staff.  Jorge Posada is the perfect example of this.

Posada led the New York Yankees to 5 championship titles during his reign as their #1 catcher.  What is most impressive about this run of excellence is that the Yankees change players, and specifically pitchers, quite often.  Posada had the skills as a leader to be able to handle new pitchers added to the team while still keeping them as competitive and dominant as they need to be without skipping a beat.

Jorge Posada had a fantastic career and will go down as one of the best catchers from his generation.

Happy Birthday Mr. Posada!!!

Happy Birthday Alex Rodriguez!!!

Happy Birthday Alex Rodriguez!!!

I cannot believe it, but Alex Rodriguez is turning just 38 years old today.

At the age of 38, A-Rod has already amassed 647 home runs, 2,901 hits, and 1,950+ RBI. He should have no problem reaching baseball immortality by eclipsing the 6600 home run mark, 3,000 hits plateau, and the 2,000 RBI milestones.

Happy Birthday A-Rod. I wish you years more of baseball excellence and perfect health!! Go Get ‘Em!!!

Just please, stay classy as you top some of these historical and elite baseball milestones.

FINAL – Milestones To Look Forward To During The 2012 Major League Baseball Season

FINAL – Milestones To Look Forward To During The 2012 Major League Baseball Season

Well friends, the 2012 MLB season is in the books so it is time for a peek at the milestones that I was hoping would occur during the season.

Let’s take a look and see how we did, shall we??

Can Ichiro re-capture his ability to collect 200 hits in a season? If so, it will be the 11th time in his 12-year career that he reaches the mark.

Ichiro collected 177 hits in 2012, the lowest tally of his MLB career.  Still, not too bad for a 38-year old role player.

Can Dan Uggla hit 30 or more home runs for the 6th straight season extending the record for a second baseman?

Uggla hit just 19 home runs in 2012, his lowest output in his career.  Also the worst offensive season of his career, too.

Can Alex Rodriguez eclipse Willie Mays’ 660 career home runs?  He currently rests at 629.

A-Rod hit just 18 home runs in 2012, leaving him with 647 for his career.  The 18 is slightly higher than his 16 in 2011, but he played in 22 more games in 2012.  660 should be reached in 2013.

Can Albert Pujols reach the 500-HR plateau?  He needs 55 home runs to reach the mark, and while he has never had a 50-HR season, he has a new ballpark to play in, the ability to play DH, and an entire new league of pitchers to feast on.

After the worst start in his majo league career, Pujols revereted back to his usual self in the second half of the season.  He ended the year with 30 home runs and 475 for his career.  500 will come in 2013.

How long until Miguel Cabrera eclipses the 300-HR mark?  He sits at 277 right now, but with Prince Fielder batting behind him, he may be close to this number by the All-Star break.

#300 has come and gone.  Cabrera now has 321 and climbing!!

Roy Halladay needs just 12 wins to reach 200 for his career.

will have to play a big part to get it done.

The 2012 baseball season has not been kind to Roy Halladay or the Phillies.  Halladay ends the 2012 season with 199 career wins.  200 will certainly be reached in April, 2013.

Tim Hudson needs 19 wins to reach 200 for his career, can he repeat some of the magic that he has had in years past?

Hudson had a very solid season in 2012.  He went 16-7 and ended the year with 197 career victories.  200 should be surpassed by Hudson in May of 2013.

Ryan Braun has had five straight 100+ RBI seasons.  Can he repeat this feat without Prince Fielder behind him in the Brewers line-up??

Bruan collected 112 RBI in 2012 making his 100+ RBI streak reach five straight seasons!!  Can you say, MVP??

Tim Lincecum continues to mow down batters.  He has five straight seasons of at least 200 or more strikeouts recorded.  Will 2012 be year number six??

Lincecum fell 10 strikeouts short of 200, ending the 2012 season with 190 K’s.  Far from bad, but far from what we had seen in the past from ‘The Freak’.

Alex Rodriguez needs just 107 RBI to move him into 4th place on the All-Time list with 2,000 for his career.  A solid campaign could get him there.

A-Rod collected just 57 RBI in 2012.  He currently rests with 1,950 career RBI.  He should eclipse the 2,000-mark in 2013.

The 2012 MLB regular season was fantastic.  We saw a lot of history made, and I am already looking forward to seeing what lies ahead for us in 2013.

Thanks for reading!!!

 

1998 HEADLINE: Alex Rodriguez Joins The ’40/40 Club’

1998 HEADLINE: Alex Rodriguez Joins The ’40/40 Club’

On this day in 1998, Alex Rodriguez stole his 40th base of the baseball season giving him entrance into the elite ’40/40 Club’.

Just the 3rd of 4 members of this group, Rodriguez is the only infielder in the club.

A-Rod finished the season with 42 homers and 46 steals.  And while he never eclipsed more than 28 steals in any year after, he did hit more than 42 home runs in a season six more times.

Congratulations on this elite achievement, and Happy Anniversary A-Rod!!!

2009 O-Pee-Chee Moments Featuring Alex Rodriguez & Derek Jeter – April 6, 2008

2009 O-Pee-Chee Moments Featuring Alex Rodriguez & Derek Jeter – April 6, 2008

I really like multi-player baseball cards.  My preference is for the Topps rookie cards of the 60s, 70s, and 80s, league leader cards, and the Fleer ‘Superstar Special’ subsets.

It does seem that every brand at one time or another has tried to cash in on these kinds of cards, but in my opinion, many of they do not work nearly as well.

This card of Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez is just one of those examples:

See what I mean.  Not too thrilling, huh??  There is just not enough going on for me.  There is nothing to celebrate or commemorate.  The card is just blah, blah, blah.