Parallel Ladders

Derek Jeter has 2,747 hits, most in Yankee history. Alex Rodriguez starts the season with 583 home runs, tied with McGwire for 8th all-time , three behind Frank Robinson and only 179 behind Bonds. If each stays healthy, Jeter and Rodriguez will be climbing parallel ladders toward immortality. How high will they go? That was one of the subjects discussed on this morning's edition of "Ed Randall's Talking Baseball' by Kevin Goldstein, the managing partner of baseballprospectus.com and Sean Smith of baseballprojection.com. Each of these players are historically unique, this productive at rather advanced ages. Jeter turns 36 in June, Rodriguez, 35 in July. There have never been a pair of teammates like this in baseball history. The unknown variable, of course, is their health. But if they stay on the field and produce at previous rates, the projection is for Jeter to finish his career more than 3,400 hits. Only eight players have reached that plateau, only five, 3,500. As for Rodriguez, whose current contract has him playing at age 42, the projection is 815 homers, far beyond Bonds.