NEW YORK -- As Alex Rodriguez peels away the calendar months, he has spoken often about pursuing the big prize at the end of 2007, securing the World Series title that has eluded his Yankees tenure.
But Rodriguez's torrid offensive season figures to set him up for prime candidacy in a number of postseason awards and honors, including the Hank Aaron Award, of which A-Rod is already a three-time recipient.
Fans will be able to again vote for Rodriguez -- the Major League leader in home runs, RBIs, runs scored and slugging percentage -- for the Aaron Award, symbolizing the best offensive player in each league, as the season draws to a close.
"I have a tremendous passion to play winning baseball and play baseball the right way," Rodriguez said recently. "To put on this uniform and to do it, you just take it one step at a time. The good Lord will lead my path, and hopefully that's somewhere special."
Since 1999, Major League Baseball has recognized the best offensive performer from each league with the Aaron Award, presented by Sharp. Past recipients include Barry Bonds (three times), Rodriguez (three times), Manny Ramirez (twice), David Ortiz, Andruw Jones, Albert Pujols, Todd Helton, Sammy Sosa and Carlos Delgado.
Last year's winners, selected during balloting in the regular season's final month on MLB.com, were the Yankees' Derek Jeter and Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard.
From the beginning, Rodriguez's season has been special to watch. Coming off a 2006 campaign that he called one of the most difficult experiences of his career, Rodriguez arrived at Spring Training a little leaner and with a rejuvenated outlook, blocking outside distractions and focusing on his own output.
"He just seems to be calm and relaxed," said Yankees outfielder Hideki Matsui. "During the games, he's very focused. It just seems like he's more comfortable overall. I'm not surprised. Knowing him and knowing what kind of talent he has, he is certainly capable of doing the things that he's doing."
Those aspects of Rodriguez's game wound up carrying the Yankees through a troubled portion of their first-half schedule, littering the club's home schedule with an outpouring of affectionate curtain calls and highlight-reel moments.
"It takes a while in New York," Rodriguez said. "I've said that all along in Spring Training. For some people, it takes six months, a day, a year. I think it's truly taken me three, four years to kind of understand New York a little bit."
Rodriguez's campaign experienced perhaps its memorable milestone to date on Aug. 4 against the Kansas City Royals, when he reached right-hander Kyle Davies for his 500th career home run.
In a season when Barry Bonds has overtaken Aaron for the all-time home run lead, many point to Rodriguez's age (32) and rapid ascension as a prime reason why he, one day, may surpass both Aaron and Bonds.
"You knock on wood that he stays healthy -- that's the key," Yankees manager Joe Torre said. "That's the luck part of this game. The thing, when you're with him on an everyday basis, you understand that this stuff isn't just happening.
"He works hard. People don't see it. Right up until game time, he's getting ready to play the game. This is the most important thing in his life, family aside. This is his life."
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