New York Yankees

Alex Rodriguez hit a home run yesterday.

It is no secret that Alex Rodriguez admitted to using performance enhancing drugs while with the Texas Rangers.

After he was outed by Sports Illustrated's Selena Roberts, he confessed.

I am one of the few people that believe that steroids do not help you center a baseball and hit home runs, but what it does do is help your recovery time and give you more energy throughout the season.

So, are the home runs tainted?  Yes, some of them are.

With #600 now in the past, the New York Yankees are ready to take on their rivals, the Boston Red Sox.

Boston has been hit hard with the unfortunate injury bug. Making the six and a half games the Red Sox need to catch the first place Yankees, who are tied with Tampa Bay Rays, not completely out of reach.

After A.J. Burnett signed a five year 82.5 million dollar contract, the Yankees expected front of the rotation performance from the former strikeout king and at times, Burnett has been just that; A consistent, above average strike-thrower.

But often he has been erratic and inconsistent. It could be merely inning to inning—and that has been his biggest problem, his susceptibility to the big inning.

The effect of the steroid era and the constant investigations that ensued were certainly evident after today's Yankees-Blue Jays game.

Alex Rodriguez reached a precious milestone today against the Toronto Blue Jays in the first inning, but the home run is hardly receiving the same amount of attention that sluggers such as Barry Bonds received. 

Rodriguez became only the seventh player of all time to reach that mark, and also became the youngest player to do so.

The Yankees have been searching the trade market all season long for a veteran backup who can play third base, so they could occasionally rest Alex Rodriguez. They even went as far as nearly making a deal with the Boston Red Sox for Mike Lowell.

However, it seems possible, though a long shot, that they already have a capable backup in their minor league system: Brandon Laird.

Laird, 22, is a minor league third base prospect who was recently promoted to Triple-A Scranton after spending most of 2010 with Double-A Trenton.

Alex Rodriguez has had a down year for himself this season, but his numbers during his most recent slump, since he’s hit home run No. 599, have been dragged down even further.

Here’s how A-Rod has done since hitting homer no. 599: