Abreu ties ESPN's HR projection in 108th game, eyes Balboni's mark

After mashing three homers in two days, Bobby Abreu now has a total of 14 on the season with 54 games to play, a figure that the ESPN fantasy boys projected to be his take for the full-162.

More importantly, the power surge leaves Abreu just 4 short of Steve Balboni's hallowed mark of 41 homers as a Yankee.

"I know I haven't done anything yet," Abreu said. "But even to be mentioned in the same breath as Mr. Balboni is amazing."

The timing of what local papers are now calling The Quest is not lost on Abreu, who said "for this to be happening in The Stadium's final season -- and in a playoff race -- is almost too much..."

ESPN projects Abreu HR chase will go on into '09

The fantasy talking heads at ESPN project that Bobby Abreu's assault on Steve Balboni's mark of 41 homers as a Yankee will spill over into the 2009 season, assuming that the right fielder is retained by the club beyond this year.

ESPN projects Abreu to rake 14 dingers in 2008, a number that would leave him 4 short of the 18 needed to tie Balboni's record.

With 19 jacks in 2008, Abreu not only would surpass Balboni, he also would join Dan Pasqua in a tie for 80th place on the all-time Yankee home run list.

Pasqua, who was once picked by Sports Illustrated to lead the American League in home runs, could not be reached for comment.

We caught up with Balboni between bites of Kansas City barbecue.

"Will I be sad to see Abreu break my mark?", he asked.

"Maybe I will. But I will go to my grave knowing that I hit 3 more bombs in Pinstripes than David Justice, and 10 more than Rick Cerone, and that's got to count for something. Hey, you gonna eat those fries?"