600 is the new 500

Don't forget to share your opinion on my "What Would You Do?" question concerning the reporting of the A-Rod steroids controversy.

I‘m not re-inventing the wheel here, but the recent A-Rod talk has got me thinking: is there a new standard for a power hitter to get into the Baseball Hall of Fame?

We're entering a new era where several 500-home run hitters probably won't be getting into the Hall. It doesn't look good for Mark McGwire. Rafael Palmeiro doesn't have a chance. I don't think Jim Thome is a hall of famer. Same goes for Gary Sheffield, who currently has 499 career longballs, and Carlos Delgado, who has 469, believe it or not. I'm not sure about guys like Manny Ramirez and Frank Thomas, who have over 500.

Maybe the new standard is 600. A-Rod is gonna get to 600 easily. Manny is gonna get there (if he ever accepts a contract offer). Ken Griffey, Jr., is there already. Barry Bonds, of course, has 762.

But even with the standard at 600, there's a gray area. Sammy Sosa has 609 career home runs. Is he a hall of famer? I don’t know. Probably not.

The point is, 500 home runs alone doesn't make you a lock for the Hall anymore. Hell, 600 might not either.

--Matt Kelsey