Barry Bonds hit home run number 740 over the weekend. He now only needs 16 more home runs to become the all-time home run leader. If you are like me and you abhor someone like Bonds holding the record, I am here to offer hope.
Bond's reign as home run king will come to an end on June 1st, 2015!
Why am I so sure? Let me explain.
Currently Bonds is on pace for 57 home runs this season. A total I do not think he will reach once he starts playing slightly less and experiences his typical injury or two. However, I have him down for 41 home runs this year. For what it is worth he could break the record at home against the Yankees June 22-24. That would be ironic and sad! Remember you heard it here first.
Bonds hitting 41 home runs this year will give him a total of 775 for his career at the close of the season. Now I anticipate him playing for one more year and hitting 35 more dingers before calling it quits. Of course a bit more "flax seed" and who knows... Anyway, his career total when he retires will be 810. That will be the new standard.
Enter A-Rod. You may like him or dislike him (c'mon, better HR King than Bonds), but he is only 31 and he has already hit 476 home runs! That is an extraordinary total and if he stays healthy he will become the HR KING. It is only a matter of time. The last 9 seasons Rodriguez has averaged 44 home runs a year. I have done some math and taken into consideration age, etc... To provide hope I give you the following chart. (note: "# of home runs behind Bonds" is based on Bonds anticipated career total of 810, not his current total)
There is hope. It is only a 7-8 year wait. If A-Rod retires at age 42, he will leave baseball with 924 home runs. Bring on Pujols!
Once Bonds breaks the record I am officially starting the Alex Rodriguez countdown. The new king will be crowned on June 1st, 2015!
This is another possibility to ponder oh ye of yankee pride. If a-rod keeps up the pace that he is doing this year,not only will he dethrone Bonds as all time (until Pujols takes it) he also will get the single season record as well. Both Pujols and a-rod will have more than Bonds when all is said and done. I think Bonds is done at the end of the year just because he broke the record and will call it quits.. RANDY
Posted by: Randy Shaw | April 24, 2007 at 12:12 AM
AMEN, BROTHER!!!!! I'm rooting for A-Rod all the way (and possibly a tiny injury to Bonds that keeps him from playing ((is that bad??)) Don't even get me started on the "juice" thing!! I love your perspective and I'm buying it 100%. Love you, man!
Posted by: Chris | April 24, 2007 at 04:56 AM
I can hardly contain my excitement! :-)
Posted by: cakboliv | April 24, 2007 at 10:23 AM
where is the call for the astricks?
in either case.. a-rod is doing well.. but he prob will not be part of the yanks to do it.. stupid fans... never givin him the love he deserves
Posted by: optionalg | April 24, 2007 at 11:16 AM
Randy - At the arte A-Rod is going I may be year off! Not sure Pujols will stay healthy enough to get there.
Chris - I'll keep preachin it. Yoe keep "amenin" it!
Wife - contain yourself!
Chang - Astricks? Hmmm... maybe. The NY fans may miss him come next year.
Posted by: Rob | April 26, 2007 at 06:00 PM