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Is it me or has Rodriguez been alternating between great and good years?

~~~Is it me or has Rodriguez been alternating between great and good years?~~~

Only in NY. He was great from 2000 to 2003 without a dip.

Here's the poll I'd like to see, Steve:

If Alex Rodriguez hits 62 homers, he will outdo Roger Maris and become the record holder for homers in a single season by a Yankee. But would you also consider him the all-time, single-season record holder over the tainted Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa?

From a Joel Sherman blog. I'll sign up first with a YES.

From a Joel Sherman blog. I'll sign up first with a YES.
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I'll sign up second with a no...

Officially, he won't have the record. Unofficially? In the minds of baseball fans? Yes -- without a doubt.

Let's be honest. What Barry Bonds did in 2001 is completely and totally tainted. He admitted to using steroids and it was obvious that the BALCO drugs made him superhuman. That he did it at age 36 makes it even more laughable. No one in the media had the balls to outright say it, but everyone thought he was on steroids, and it was later confirmed.

Those 73 home runs mean nothing to me.

Mark McGwire was asked, flat-out, if he ever used steroids, and he wouldn't answer. That's an implicit admission. If he didn't use them, he would have said no. McGwire's 70 home runs mean nothing to me.

We don't know for sure that Sammy used 'roids, but his body got a lot bigger and he got a lot better at the height of steroid use. He also pretended to not know how to speak English to Congress. I can't say for sure that Sammy used 'roids, but we do know he corked his bat. He's not above cheating.

So if A-Rod was able to hit 62 home runs this year, it will stand -- in the minds of fans and radio hosts and talking heads on ESPN and broadcasters -- as the true single-season home run record.

I'll certainly think of it that way. I'd feel the same way if Ryan Howard or Prince Fielder hit 62.

In the minds of baseball fans? Yes -- without a doubt.
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The same baseball fans that were flocking to the games in 1998 & 2001?

Everyone knew, the steroid issue doesn't get to be this big without people looking the other way, no one wanted to say anything. Chicks were too busy digging the longball. Owners were too busy counting their $$.

McGwire had a bottle of andro in his locker in '98. A reporter questioned him about it. Instead of getting a straight answer, he got dressed down by LaRussa.

To me, the moral outrage you see now, and the past few years rings a bit hollow. Selig & co (sportswriters and fans included) need to get over themselves.

Tainted or not, the fact of the matter is that there is much gnashing of teeth and rendering of garments, when the person in question is Bonds, McGwire, Palmiero, but when the offender is a player of lesser light like Matt Lawton, Alex Sanchez, Damian Moss, etc, people start making excuses.

As for Sosa's corked bat incident, it has been shown that corking a bat hurts has little to no affect on power hitters.

Renowned "cheater" Gaylord Perry is in the Hall of Fame. That should say it all right there.

Raf, I didn't say fans weren't hypocrites. They are. But what can you do? They loved the longball and they knew those guys were 'roiding out, but now it's popular to bash them and they will.

From my own personal point of view, I look at it this way: Roger Maris, to the best of my knowledge, did not do steroids. Alex Rodriguez, to the best of my knowledge, did not use steroids. Barry definitely did, and so did McGwire. I can't say that about Sammy (the assumption about him is based almost entirely on his size and performance), but I suspect he did.

So to me if A-Rod is able to do this, he'll he the first person to best Maris without the use of drugs. I think that's meaningful. Like I said, officially, it will mean nothing. But in my mind I'll think of him as the single-season leader.

And while corked bats probably don't help, it's still cheating, and clearly Sosa thought it would help, because otherwise he wouldn't have done it.

I also don't think Gaylord Perry should be in the HoF after admitting to cheating.

Bailey,

As much as I love Steve and his commentary (still waiting for that analysis of how the Yanks would have fared the last few seasons had Cashman signed Papi in the 2002-03 offseason), I find myself looking forward to your comments on Steve's posts just as much, if not more so. Ever give any consideration to starting your own blog?

holden021 - FYI, I had to bag that one. Sorry. I couldn't come up with a way that it would make sense...at least to me.

If Rodriguez hits 62 HR, of course he will not hold the record.

He would hold the record, if you define record as "most HR by someone, except for those that I choose not to recognize" and then make Bonds, McGwire and Sosa those that you chose not to recognize.

How do we know Arod's not using drugs?

Wow, thanks, Holden. That's kind of you. Never really considered my own blog.

It's good to know there's at least one person who reads this blog that doesn't find me annoying. (Not that I'm trying to be -- but when you're opinionated, it tends to happen.)

I'm with Holden, baileywalk. But myabe I don't find you annoying cause I typically agree with your opinionated comments...

No problem, Bailey.

I read Bronx Banter, RLYW, Pete Abe and Steve everyday, but for what it's worth, I feel the commenters on this blog are a cut above the rest.

Lohud has way too many trolls, and while the Banter and RLYW both have their share of bright fans, some of the debate on those sites can be tiring.

And even though I agree with just about everything you write, I enjoy reading Raf and Garcia's counterpoints as well. Well thought-out, typo-free comments are pretty hard to come by in this "lol, "lmao" "omg" day and age.

Anyway, keep up the insightful commentary and if you do ever decide to start a Yankee blog, I'll be first in line.

One record that wouldn't be controversial at all would be the American League record. Sure, it's not THE record, but that mark has been held by only four men in 107 years: Nap Lajoie (1901), Socks Seybold (1902-1918), Babe Ruth (1919-1960), and Maris (1961-current).

A-Rod hitting 62 would be quite historic, if only in the context of the junior league.

~~~I feel the commenters on this blog are a cut above the rest.~~~

Ditto that - and, thanks to all for making that happen!