755*

As if you didn't know what that headline meant!

Yes Barry "Juiced" Bonds hit career home run number 755, tying Hank Aaron's record that has stood since 1976. It's only fitting that he did it against the San Diego Padres whom he has hit more home runs against than any other team (84).

There's been a huge cloud of doubt that has hung over his head for the last several years and I for one never wanted to see this record broken, tied or ever attacked by Bonds. Its one thing to know it was earned and done the right way with Hank Aaron who carried himself with much more class than to have it hit by Bonds. I want so hard to be able to embrace this triumphant achievement, to be able to watch with excitement but I can't. There's too much disdain and too much doubt as to how he came to 755 and how he will no doubt pass it.

Remember back in 2001 when Barry hit 73, it was again an empty feeling. Unexciting and joyless. Maybe it was because just 3 years earlier Big Mac had just passed Roger Maris's 61, a number that had stood for 37 years. Or maybe it was just the unpersonable Bonds that made it joyless. At any rate, Bonds is no doubt enemy number 1 when it comes to breaking home run records and baseball fans. Now, I have a lot of respect for his career pre 2001 when he was with the Pirates and his early Giants days. He was the first in the NL to have 40 HRs and 40 SBs in one season, he was an immensely talented baseball player, he didn't need steroids, he was already one of the game's best players. Coming into that 2001 season he already had 494 Home runs to his credit.

So there's no doubting the talent he has just the way he came to 755.

How long will it stand?

Now there is no telling what Barry's final home run count will be, he is currently 88 hits away from 3,000 so there is speculation that he'll be around for at least one more year. But if you're wondering if his record will stand for the 31 years that Hanks did, it's not likely to last 10. Alex Rodriguez is the more likely candidate to break whatever number Bonds puts up. And the reason for that is if you compare the two at the same time in their respectful careers you'll find that A-Rod is ahead of Bond's home run pace.

Alex in his first 13 years and 1855 games has 500 home runs, Bonds in the same 13 years and 1,898 games had 411 home runs. So if Alex plays till he is 43 like Bonds and averages 27 home runs a season, he will find himself with 800 home runs. His last 9 years he's averaged 44 home runs and at that pace he will break 800 by the age of 38, a very real possibility.

So don't fret all you Bonds haters, A-Rod is quick to the rescue.