Alex Rodriguez is 7 home runs away from tying Willie Mays

[Hack Wilson - real]

How many stolen bases until he passes Willie Mays Hayes?

16 to tie, 17 to pass

[MistaNova]

no, that's Babe Ruth.

Good point. 2nd place all-time then .

[Remedy360]

You make good points. But at the same time he brings a lot of it on himself. Contrast him with a guy like Jeter whose done the whole NY thing- being out in the party scene, dating models, etc, people rarely bash him because he never shoots himself in the foot like A-Rod continues to do.

The ying-yang phenomenon that is the Jeter-A-Rod thing is basically the modern version of the Maris-Mantle thing. You've got the outsider that the media and fanbase considers the "villain" and the homegrown guy who's treated like he's Jesus Christ.
If you've already got an A-Rod or Maris there who's been forced to accept this "villain" persona you just go after him and treat Jeter or Mantle like they're the superhero sent down from the heavens to even out the good and bad in the clubhouse. The media has always fed this narrative (or these narratives depending on how you look at it) onto the people and they just suck it in like it's air. And unless Jeter does something to destroy his legacy/reputation to smithereens (even I have to admit that A-Rod's legacy is all but tarnished) that's the way it's going to be until they're both dead. And only after A-Rod dies will he finally be accepted by the public (look at Maris's legacy today).

Obviously the NY media is difficult, but again, A-Rod wouldn't be scrutinized to the extent he is today if he hadn't/didn't continue to shoot himself in the foot.