nygreporter Sports Special: Alex Rodriguez 600th HR

August 8, 2010

Hello Sports Fans,

In our second segment of the “NYG Reporter Sports Special” (major global sports news), we take a look at a truly rare feat in sports history. Four days ago in the Bronx, New York Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez, hit his 600th home run out of the park, in the first inning against Shawn Marcum and the Toronto Blue Jays. He finally did it after the longest drought between HR’s for the No.600 group members with 46 at-bats between HR’s (his 17th of the season). As if written for a made for TV movie, he hit home run No.600 exactly 3 years to the day from when he hit No.500. Spooky stuff huh? He will need to keep that 100 HR per 3 year pace going to become the king, something he could realistically achieve in 6 or 7 seasons.

I am a Yankee fan and I was happy that Alex hit that home run in Yankee stadium (monument park to be exact). The ballpark needed something to cheer for as 2010 has been particularly hard on the Yankee family. Because both owner George Steinbrenner and announcer Bob Sheppard, passed away within days of each other during the summer of 2010.

Alex became just the seventh player in baseball history to reach the No.600 plateau. He was also the youngest player ever to achieve this benchmark at 35 years old, which he had just turned a week earlier. It is hard to believe that A-Rod has played 17 seasons in the major leagues.

I wanted to wait a few days before I covered this historical accomplishment because of the backlash I expect. Everyone here at the nygreporter would like to say Congrats to Alex! I think it is a shame that the steroid era has tarnished this accomplishment in some writers minds. Most fans of the game will be rooting for Alex to do well but almost all of them still shake their head when the topic of steroids comes up. Alex was a man about the situation and admitted it but it is still something that will follow him where ever he goes. I say it is in the past and everyone should leave the man alone and let him do his job.

If you take a look at the all-time home run list below, you will see that Rodriguez is only nine home runs away from taking sole possession of sixth place by surpassing Sammy Sosa. This is something I think A-Rod is more then capable of doing this year. However, he will have to wait until next year to take over Ken Griffey Jr and the fifth spot at 630 home runs. Again, something that A-Rod is very capable of doing. For a guy who is clearly aging well, A-Rod might be able to play another decade.

Rodriguez was originally drafted by the Seattle Mariners in 1993 and he was born in New York.

Most Home Runs All-time as of 8/8/10:

1. Barry Bonds – 762 HR’s

2. Hank Aaron – 755 HR’s

3. Babe Ruth – 715 HR’s

4. Willie Mays – 660 HR’s

5. Ken Griffey Jr. – 630 HR’s

6. Sammy Sosa – 609 HR’s

7. Alex Rodriguez – 600 HR’s

8. Frank Robinson – 586 HR’s

9. Mark McGwire – 583 HR’s

10. Jim Thome – 577 HR’s

Do you think 3B Alex Rodriguez will end up as the all-time home run king by the end of his career? Will he hit 763 home runs?

Alex Rodriguez awards received:

1996 – AL Batting Champion

2001 – AL Home Run Champion

2002 – AL Home Run Champion, AL RBI Leader, AL Gold Glove-SS, AL Hank Aaron Award

2003 – AL MVP, AL Home Run Champion, AL Gold Glove-SS, AL Hank Aaron Award

2005 – AL MVP, AL Home Run Champion

2007 – AL MVP, AL Home Run Champion, AL RBI Leader, AL Hank Aaron Award

2009 – World Series Champion

1996-2009 – 10-time Silver Slugger award winner

1996-2010 – 13-time All-Star roster member

RD – nygreporter.com

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NYG Reporter Sports Special: Edition 0002


2010 New York Giants: NYG Notes 08/04/10

August 4, 2010

Hello Giants Fans,

There have been some extremely interesting items in the news this past week or so regarding the Giants. The most recent being the news of Plaxico Burress’ release date of 2-3 weeks from prison on a work release program. The possibility of bringing Burress back to the Giants is very unlikely, unless he wants to play for the league minimum with zero guarantees. Would you take Plaxico Burress back if he could get in shape by the game, following the bye week? At the league minimum for eight games? What would you do?

Giants fans everywhere have been waiting all day for the Hakeem Nicks news. Nicks was sent to a Manhattan hospital to be checked out for a possible hyperextended leg. The team is expected to discuss this more when they know more about it. Losing Hakeem Nicks for any length of time would be a huge loss for the team. He is a favorite sleeper among fantasy football owners for 2010 and had a very good rookie year last season. So far, it looks like the MRI says he is fine.

I must also add that Mike Francesa did an absolutely wonderful show yesterday LIVE from the New York Giants training camp. What a treat is was for Giants fans to see all of those interviews with the players and coaches and owners. Mike always does it right and that is one show that every Giants fan looks forward to. The nygreporter was on his Giants training camp show last year as a call in. Mike and I talked about the Giants time of possession game and how it could effect their overall record. If you recall, the Giants defense on paper in 2009 was off the charts before all of the injuries started happening. Some like him and some don’t but I think he is a good guy.

– In other sports news today, New York Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez, hit his 600th home run today off of Shawn Marcum in the 1st inning of a day game against the Blue Jays, at Yankee Stadium. He is only the seventh player in MLB history to reach the No.600 HR plateau and he is also the youngest to ever do it at 35 (his birthday was last week). Congrats Alex!

RD – nygreporter.com

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Let’s take a look at some of the recent news about the New York Giants.

– WR Hakeem Nicks is sent to a Manhatten hospital from training camp. The MRI comes back fine.

– WR Plaxico Burress to be released from prison in 2-3 weeks on a work release program. He will seek to play in the NFL once again.

– QB Eli Manning looks as calm and cool as ever. He is having a good camp and I expect him to improve on his 2009 numbers.

– LB Phillip Dillard continues to impress his peers and coaches with his natural leadership abilities. Dillard is very animated and vocal when talking to the defense.

– DC Perry Fewell is an extremely good coach. He was very thorough when I saw him at camp on Monday. He confirms that he will be experimenting until the regular season begins.

– S Kenny Phillips begins the season of the PUP list. He dresses for practice but does not participate. He looks to return soon.

– LB Keith Bulluck is bringing some of the nasty back to Big Blue. If he remains healthy in 2010, the Giants got a steal. Plus, Bulluck really wants to play in New York.

– Rookie S Chad Jones was put on waivers, then cleared waivers and is now on the Giants non-football related injured reserve list.

– The Giants signed veteran S John Busing to bolster their safety corps.

– The Giants are awarded DE Alex Hall off waivers from the Eagles.

– OL Rich Seubert has not had a beer in five days.

– RB Andre Brown looked fast and fluid during the morning practice. He will be fighting for the third strong job for now.

– CB Aaron Ross has been back on the field and playing well so far. it was good to see him running around out there during practice.

– Rookie DE Jason Pierre-Paul continues to get rave reviews from the coaches and players.

– DE Osi Umenyiora has matured to a level where he can’t be touched. I expect a terrific year for the new and improved humble Osi.

– Rookie punter Matt Dodge continues to get some coaching from the legend Jeff Feagles. I hope the Giants hire him full time.

– Backup QB Jim Sorgi was a bit shaky when I saw him during the morning practice on Monday. The backup QB spot still concerns me.

– The YES network’s Mike Francesa Show, did a LIVE broadcast yesterday from the New York Giants training camp in Albany.

– Head Coach Tom Coughlin is impressed with how many players arrived at camp in shape. He also said the team has a lot of work to do in a very short period of time.

– The Giants did not practice on the field today. They remained indoors at meetings and the weight rooms.

– The Giants will have their first “full pad” practice tomorrow on 8/5/10 at the University of Albany.