I'm the one guy (so far) whot voted 60-73 ... I see him getting into the low 60s, maybe 63-64, and setting the Yankee team record, a mark many New Yorkers hold in higher esteem than the McGwire-Bonds levels. It would also be the MLB 3B record, though asterisk-ridden nods of sympathy to Matt Williams '94 there.

And I just joined you.  I really think A-Rod is going to have a monster year.  He looks very good so far, and getting any sort of positive press seems to be exactly what his (admittedly weak) self-esteem needs.  I'm going with in the high 60's, just missing 70.  Let's say 68.

I really wonder if it would be in ARod's best interest to break the vaunted team record (not that he can necessarily just choose to do so if he wishes). I'm not sure what would piss Yankee fans off more, ARod with 28 HR and 80 RBI or ARod with 62 HR and 150 RBI? I think he'll wisely settle in for a nice 48/130 season.

Wouldn't A-Rod want to prove to Yankees fans that he is worthy of the uniform he wears and the contract he signed? It seems like the contempt for him came last year at the constant defensive errors and failure to produce in key situations. Yankee fans like good ballplayers, I think if he has a great year, he's going to be a lot more popular.

Considering his career high was 57, in Texas, and in New York is 48, I'll take the "under" in terms of him challenging records. A hot start is what it is...his numbers will look better for it, but I don't see him challenging more than the 50 hr mark. Yankee stadium is still a tough place for RH power hitters (I don't dispute he could hit 60+, after all, he's only 31, and  has never had a notable "career" year, at least in an overall sense; the 57 HR do stand out).

the 57 HR do stand out

Not really -- he had 52 the year before that, so Big Numbers are already part of his resume'.

And hey, before Barry hit 73, his career best was "only" 49. True, A-Rod doesn't have the rep of having the whole creatine boost Bonds got, but again, there is precedent. A jump from mid-50s to low-60s seems not unreasonable to project.

You're right about Yankee Stadium, though. Mantle was much more dangerous at home from the left, for instance. 

Of course if Rodriguez ends up with 65 HRs, then people will claim he was motivated for a new contract. If he ends up with 33 HRs, they'll say he choked under the pressure of playing for a new contract.

I still hope A-Rod opts out of his contract and the Jays sign him to play SS for us next year.

Lind, Rios, Wells, Thomas, Glaus, ARod, Overbay, Hill, Zaun/catcher seems like a pretty good team to me in 2008.

I'm clicking off the 50-59 box, but I think it's the 175 RBI that will win him another MVP Award. I also expect a monstrous year, and when you think of the people who hit ahead of him in that lineup (and how often they're on base)...