A-Rod’s reaction to this moment? He glanced into the Yankees dugout and shrugged sheepishly, a fitting reaction for a player who has garnered so much criticism, especially over the last half-decade of his career in Pinstripes.

As he took the field in the second inning, the fans who had paid good money to see history gave him a rousing ovation. Reluctantly, Rodriguez waved at the crowd and looked down. As the applause reached a crescendo, Rodriguez removed his hat and waved it dismissively at the crowd that wanted so much to celebrate a moment, a moment that is — and will continue to be — shrouded in controversy.

For someone who will indelibly become the face of the Steroid Era, Rodriguez’s indifferent response was both appropriate and revealing. Only six other men in history (and .05 percent of people ever to put on a Major League Baseball uniform) had ever attained the milestone he had just reached. And yet, Rodriguez seemed merely relieved and aloof, much like most of the baseball world was now that he had (finally) gotten there.

Flash back three years to the day of his 600th homer when A-Rod reached the 500 home run club, and we’ll see odd symmetry between the two days. Back on August 4, 2007, Phil Hughes was starting for the Yanks in a day game in the Bronx, just like Wednesday. Alex Rodriguez had similarly struggled through several at-bats since home run No. 499, and appeared to be pressing as he approached the hallowed 500th home run. Then, in the first inning, he connected for a home run that sent the fans into frenzy. Only this time, A-Rod, seemed like a jubilant schoolboy who had just homered to give his team a win at the local Little League field. He smiled and soaked the moment in, absorbing the crowd’s cheers like they were blasts or freezing cold water sprayed from a Super Soaker in the dog days of the New York summer.

He acted, in his words, ‘like a goofball rounding the bases.’

Now, back to this Wednesday once again. Alex Rodriguez seemed to forget about his home run just about as quickly as the ball left his bat and was deposited over the center field fence. One can’t help but ask: Why the subdued celebration, Alex? You only hit your 600th home run once, right?

There are several reasons for his behavior, but most fans would point to the moment in 2009 when Rodriguez admitted steroid use over a three-year portion of his career. Now his home run milestones don’t have the same meaning. The Rodriguez that hit home run No. 500 had not yet admitted using performance enhancers nor won a World Series yet. Now, his hunger to win another title outweighed his tendencies towards vanity and self-absorption (apparently, winning a World Series with the Yankees is all it takes to change one’s perspective on life, team and individual accomplishments).

Rodriguez, both before and after home run No. 600, referenced being in a “different place now” than he was three years ago.

Of course none of us can truly dissect and analyze Rodriguez’s motives without actually reading his mind. All we can do is sit back, watch and decide for ourselves whether or not this matters in the grand scheme of baseball history.

Thankfully, we have Rodriguez’s shoulder shrug to help us navigate our way to a verdict.

Alex Rodriguez has, as we stand today, 598 career home runs. That is two shy of the magic number, but you wouldn’t necessarily know that unless you are the hardest of hardcore baseball fans.

That is because seemingly nobody is talking about it. The “countdown” has been nonexistent, which is really quite strange since one need look no further than the single-season chase of Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa in 1998, and again in 2007 with Barry Bonds, to see how obsessive baseball culture can be when it comes to counting down home run milestones.

Even Rodriguez’s 2007 season, which saw him closing in on the 500 homer milestone, resulted in New York tabloids using entire pages, or even sections, to chronicle the chase. A glance at the Daily News’ Web site on Monday had two mentions of A-Rod’s current chase: A small graphic on the bottom-left corner of the site and a headline in the news stack buried lower than, among other things, a story about the New Jersey Devils as well as retired hoops stars Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley.

What gives?

The revelation of rampant steroid use is surely one reason. Modern feats don’t seem nearly as impressive when they are artificially enhanced; it’s the reason so many fans around the world were outraged when a cartoonishly beefed-up Bonds broke the career home run mark. And unlike Bonds, Rodriguez has openly admitted steroid use during his career, leaving no doubt that some of his career totals are inflated.

Of course Rodriguez’s reputation — both on and off the field — precedes him. However, the real reason that Rodriguez is approaching this milestone with such little acclaim is thanks to the team he plays for.

The Yankees have always been about winning, first and foremost. That’s what sells tickets at home. Upon entering Yankee Stadium, the first thing that comes into sight is the No. 27 alongside the Yankees insignia. If you didn’t know how many championships the Bombers have before coming, well you certainly will by the time you leave.

The culture has always been about winning with the Yankees, but now, as they try to win the second of back-to-back titles that the team hopes will propel it to yet another dynasty, everyone on the team seems to be putting aside all personal goals. Derek Jeter is closing in on 3,000 hits (although it is highly unlikely he will get there before sometime early next year), and Andy Pettitte is approaching 250 career wins as well. Ask either of them, and it would be the furthest thing from their mind.

A-Rod has gone through a plethora of personal issues since that day almost three years ago when he blasted long ball No. 500.

• He went through a highly publicized and messy divorce.
• He divulged his steroid use to a national audience.
• Then, he became a postseason hero, and eventual World Series champion.

I believe that the order in which those things happened, followed by the anonymity of his milestone chase, is no small coincidence. Before he had a World Series ring to his name, Alex Rodriguez was the ultimate “me” player. That has changed with a championship; it was seemingly the height Rodriguez needed to attain for him to shed his ego.

Since then, the scandalous tabloid headlines have dwindled, and generally speaking, the only news you hear about A-Rod is positive news. Except of course for the chase for 600. And for that he has his maturity, and the Yankees, to thank.

Ding Dong! The Wicked Witch is dead.

This seemed to be the anthem of Yankee-hating baseball fans across the country on Tuesday after the death of longtime Bombers owner George M. Steinbrenner III.

The man had his enemies as well as people worldwide cursing his name and the franchise he owned for more than three decades. Some of these people were even residents of the Big Apple. (There’s no place like home?)

But, as much as Yankees fans hated the constant managerial flip-flopping of his early days of ownership, and his short fuse and tendency to aggressively call out players in his later years, the one thing they respected most of all was his desire to win World Series titles.

Yankees fans are harassed on a daily basis by others who take offense to the Yanks’ penchant for spending money and winning. Literally, the only defense for the Yankees fan was to turn these perceived points of contention into the very reasons why the Yankees are loved.

You know you wish your team had 27 titles. And a payroll of over $200 million each year. Bigger, better, badder. It’s the New York way. How can a stunned Yankee hater possibly rebuff?

And there is no person who embodied this more than Steinbrenner himself.

When he began his tenure in the Bronx after purchasing the Bombers from CBS in 1973, the Yankees were a laughing stock. Last-place finishes were routine. Steinbrenner’s unorthodox and abrasive style served to distance some fans early on. However, within four years — largely through the brand-new practice of free agents signings — the Yankees were a championship-caliber team once again. Back-to-back titles followed, and fans in New York were warming up to Steinbrenner.

Another Series drought followed in the 1980s, as Steinbrenner went through players and managers like they were strike on box matches. Piniella, Winfield, Henderson, Barfield all came and went as Yankees during the decade. Steinbrenner changed managers 12 times. The combative Martin alone was hired and fired four times over a 14-year period. Frustrated fans once again began complaining and clamoring for a more stable leader, only to suffer through a decade-plus of horrible baseball.

But in the 1990s a funny thing happened: Steinbrenner’s crazy tactics changed a little. He let his “baseball people” do most of the cosmetic work to the team, which included home-grown player development in addition to free agency, while he sat back and watched his investment pay off.

You know the rest. The Yankees won four out of five World Series to close out the ‘90s and had yet another set of glory days. It was really thanks to this most recent Yankees dynasty that the Yankees and their fans get most of their flak; prior to that (and those two championships in the late ‘70s), free agency was non-existent. Free agency allowed Yankees fans to be brasher, more obnoxious and to feel even more entitled to titles.

Once The Boss learned to use his money to his advantage, the winning followed. From every arrogant, diehard, and truly content Yankees fan across the world, I have five words:

Thank God for George Steinbrenner.

Bias alert: I hate the Yankees more than any team in any sport. Watching maybe the best Phillies team ever still lose to New York in the World Series was excruciating. One of my dad’s favorite Jack Nicholson quotes, “I’d rather stick needles in my eyes!” oddly applies in the situation. So my feelings for “Mr.” Steinbrenner are not the warmest. Between you and me, I didn’t really like the man.

But I did respect him.

George Steinbrenner was a one of a kind winner as owner of the New York Yankees (SI)

Since Steinbrenner purchased the team in 1973, the Yankees have won seven championships. That’s one out of every five World Series for a period of 36 years! Add 11 American League titles, 16 division titles, and three wildcard berths, and New York was in the American League playoffs for more than half of the years that he was the owner. Now that’s a leader I can get behind.

Of course you can’t make an omelet without breaking any eggs. Forget breaking eggs, Steinbrenner would crack some skulls  if his Yankees were not the alpha-franchise of baseball, and his managers always seemed to get the worst of it. He tortured Joe Torre, whose only sin was not winning every World Series — just four of them; he yo-yoed Billy Martin, who was actually a five-time manager of the Yankees (imagine Larry Bowa as a five-time manager of the Phillies); and fired Buck Showalter after he guided New York to the playoffs for the first time in 14 years. Tough guy to please, no question about it.

World Series or bust. That was Steinbrenner’s creed, and it was the Yankee Way for better or worse. Just know that most of the time, it was for better because of George Michael Steinbrenner III.

(Haha, his name is George Michael.)

World Series Trivia Question: Without Googling this, try to name the team with the second-most World Series Championships since Steinbrenner took control of the Yankees in 1973. (Answer after All-Star Game recap.)

All-Star Game Recap

Last year, I did a running diary of the 2009 All-Star Game and was planning on making it an annual tradition. However, since Jack of All Sports is at the game, I figured I’d just do a quick recap this year instead.

At the start of Fox’s coverage of the All-Star Game, Fox Sports played an interesting quick self-promotion. After listing several sports channels under the Fox brand, the announcer called Fox “the greatest collection of sports networks in the world”. Fox followed that little humble opening with an incredibly heavy-handed opening with a father and son looking into a multi-million dollar telescope with the announcer waxing poetic about how we marvel at stars. There’s more I could say, but it would only bore you to read something so corny.

I’m guessing that ESPN — the other worldwide leader — wouldn’t have done that…

So on to the game. Funny how pitching and defense rule the day in the MLB All-Star Game when nearly every other sport is violently skewed in favor of offenses.

Speaking of pitching, I bow down to David Price. I’m not worthy! In a thrilling opening to the All-Star Game, Price was dialing it up, Pedro-style circa ‘99 in Fenway. With a fastball that was consistently in the high 90s and hit 100 miles-per-hour twice, Price had Hanley Ramirez trying to hit the ball the other way. In fact, Hanley looked more like I did playing little league ball than the 30-home run, .300 batting average star that he supposedly is. I was really excited to see the Albert Pujols-Price matchup, though not as excited as Joe Buck was talking about how the greatness of Pujols — he practically wet himself. As for the outcome: Price decisioned Prince Albert, getting him to fly out to Ichiro, who made a nice play to snag down it down in the right-centerfield gap.

Price made that inning an event.

I don’t know what made Ryan Howard look younger: his baby face, that huge helmet, or Price’s 98 mph heater. As I said before, I’m liking this Price guy.

After watching Pettitte shut down the National League in order in the third, a theory came to me on why pitching dominates the All-Star Game. Starting pitchers know they’ll only be in for one inning or two at max, so they come out and dial it up Rick “Wild Thing” Vaughn style. No one is pacing themselves for quality start, and the radar gun was flaming around the high 90s way more than usual. Is there someway to find out which, if any, starting pitchers are consistently in the high 90s for an entire start? I’ll come back to this subject another time. (Thanks to FOX for telling us that Price hit 100 mph, and that Verlander and Josh Johnson each hit 99 mph. Broxton later hit 99.)

P.S. Finally the National League won an All-Star Game! Big thanks to Brian McCann and former Phillie Marlon Byrd!

World Series Trivia Answer: It’s a tie between the Oakland A’s and the Cincinnati Reds with three World Series titles apiece since 1973. Combined they possess one fewer World Series title than Steinbrenner’s Bronx Bombers.

Each week, Take Back columnists Kevin O’Connor (Dr. Sports Fan), Adio Royster (The Phoenix), and newcomer Brittany Page (Black Lung) debate a sports topic to keep from losing their minds at work.

After our first 5-Minute Break column, 33 percent of our comments (OK, so one of our three comments) blasted us for debating who the best team was in the National League.

Snowball:

How about we debate a real league here? not AAAA baseball.

Your wish is my command, Snowball!

This week’s 5-Minute Break topic: Who Is the Best Team in the American League?

Adio:

First of all, I rebut (Snowball’s comment) by saying that the NL has won two of the last three World Series Championships.

*silence* … moving on.

I find myself wondering why we’re even discussing this. The best team in the AL is so obvious… The New York Yankees.

A few months ago, I would’ve said Boston because NY was 0-8 against the Red Sox. Then NY swept a four-game series in the Bronx followed by taking two of three at Fenway.

While watching the last series, I felt bad for Boston. Kinda in the same way I felt bad for Andy Dufresne after the Sisters got a hold of him in his first years at Shawshank.

The Yankees are finally getting what they paid for with CC Sabathia’s strong second half and A.J. Burnett’s dominance since June. Mark Teixeira started slow, but he has been well worth his contract. He might just be my pick for the AL Most Valuable Player Award.

Unfortunately for the AL, the Yankees are back. Reverse money-ball has done it again. Hank Steinbrenner should take a cue from the warden in Shawshank and say the following:

“Trust in the Lord, but the AL belongs to me.”

Kevin:

Yeah, this topic is pretty boring.  With Phil Hughes shining in the 8th inning setup role, the Yanks have a lot going right for them as we enter September.

My simple answer to this question: the Yankees are the top team in the AL.

My complex answer: someone else will represent the Junior Circuit in the Fall Classic.

What happens in October, where Alex Rodriguez and CC (the team’s best position player and starting pitcher) have struggled in the past? Since they have baseball’s best record, the playoffs are all but guaranteed in the Bronx. Now it’s a question of just how far this team can go. If we go by recent history, it’s not very far.

Since 2002, the Yankees are 3-6 overall in postseason series. Since A-Rod joined the Evil Empire (or Yankeeland to my North Jersey/New York/Connecticut readers), the Yankees are an embarrassing 1-4.

Last year in the NL Division Series, CC got lit up like a Christmas tree in the second inning of his only start for the Brewers. He walked Brett Myers (who was a terrible hitter) with a runner on after a lengthy battle and followed that up with a quick walk to Jimmy Rollins. Then Shane Victorino smoked an 0-2 pitch just inside the left field foul pole for a back-breaking grand slam. Even worse, Sabathia lost pretty big to the Red Sox in the ‘07 AL Championship Series.

Right now, there is no one better than New York in the AL. But that hasn’t meant a World Series trip is necessarily in the cards.

Brittany:

I hate to admit it, but those assholes in New York are the best team in the AL. All the money in the world may not buy you happiness, but it can buy you a good baseball team and a new stadium.

I hope A-Rod chokes like he has before. No team he has ever been on has won a World Series, and teams have actually gotten better without him.

My prediction is that Kate Hudson will wear an A-Rod jersey and he will choke.  After that, Bronx Bomber fans will call for her head much a la Jessica Simpson/Tony Romo.

Adio, your AL MVP is Mark Teixeira? I remember stating that about a week ago — when we talked about why the Phils won’t win the World Series — and you laughed at the mention of it. Change of heart?

A:

K, I can easily see your point about the Yankees’ postseason futility. It definitely has een as feeble as Obi-Wan in the lightsaber duel against Darth Vadar in A New Hope.

Here’s my counter:

1. The 2009 Yankees lineup is nothing like the 2008 Brewers lineup. Jeter, Damon, Teixeira, and A-Rod area far more potent than Braun, Fielder, Hart, and Hall. CC shouldn’t have a problem getting offense behind him, and he’s much better when he pitchers with a lead.
2. Technically it doesn’t matter if A-Rod chokes because he isn’t even their best hitter anymore — Teixeira is. If A-Rod does enough to back up Teixeira’s bat, the Yanks’ll make the Fall Classic. However, if Teixeira swings a cold bat in the postseason, the Yanks don’t have a shot.

K:

I still can’t think of anyone better than the Yankees in the AL, but I will wait patiently for another team to knock them off in the AL playoffs.

Final word:

My money is on the field to take the AL title.

B:

A. I never said A-Rod was carrying the Yankees.

B. I hate the Yankees.

C. Lets move on to a new topic.

D. All of the above.

(Editors note: We wanted to do another topic, but I’m pretty sure I got called into a 90-minute meeting with the boss afterward. Oh well, see you next week for a new topic!)

There seems to be a growing trend in New York sports as the teams have been shooting themselves in the leg  both literally and figuratively.

It was just recently announced that the new Yankees Stadium will be slashing their ludicrously high ticket prices to moderately ridiculously high ticket prices. The reasoning? The common New Yorker isn’t dumb enough to pay them and therefore isn’t filling the seats.

First off, I still don’t understand why new Yankees Stadium was built. When I think of classic ballparks with legendary status, I think of Wrigley, Fenway, and of course Yankees Stadium. Apparently there just wasn’t enough box seats to rape people’s wallets with in the old one and that incoming cash flow is vital to keeping the game’s most storied franchise operating. I mean, come on, A-Rod’s diamond-stud, gold-plated steroid syringe isn’t going to pay for itself.

I buy why Citi Field had to be built for the Mets. Shea Stadium was a dump. At least their stadium was built with a sponsorship, as opposed to public funds like Yankees Stadium, right?

Wait, you mean the Citi Group received millions of our tax dollars in federal bailout yet still kept their $400+ million contract with the Mets? Oh well then nevermind.

Anyway, the Yankees haven’t exactly been off to a hot start this season. How many games have we seen with crooked numbers, giving up double-digit runs? How well has the ridiculously high payroll been panning out for the club? You think the fans are going to file into that stadium with a team playing so poorly? Think again.

The Yankees set these high prices on their $1+ billion stadium with a right-field porch that belongs on a little league field. It isn’t uncommon to find seats for the moderate price of $1,500 or even $2,500.

Sounds reasonable, right?

The Yankees set these prices because they think they’re God’s gift to baseball. They think because they’re the Yankees, people will pay those prices.

The Mets are facing a similar situation, but not to such an extent. The Mets’ reasonably priced seats (some less than $25, some more) sell out quickly and there’s far less of them than the expensive ones.

The Yanks just announced that ticket prices will now be slashed by upwards of 50 percent. Yet those who have already bought seats at such high prices won’t get a refund. Instead they’d be compensated with more seats.

So let me get this straight: The plan is to give more seats to people who probably won’t fill them, therefore leaving them empty?

Brilliant. Watch me as I clap sarcastically. I can only imagine how those who have bought tickets are feeling as they flip through the phone books, looking for a good lawyer to file a lawsuit.

This Yankees are learning a valuable lesson the hard way: You don’t screw with New Yorkers and try to rip them off.