HE is now the No. 2 hitter on a legitimate track to be the No. 1 home run hitter of all-time.

In a season of transitions – from Texas to New York, from non-contention to Red Sox-Yankees, and from shortstop to third base – Alex Rodriguez has gracefully accepted a shift to batting second as a blessing rather than a broadside. He has celebrated the benefits of hitting between Derek Jeter’s speed and Gary Sheffield’s might, and extolled the comfort of knowing a first-inning at-bat awaits daily.

Even last night against Toronto, with Sheffield sidelined following two cortisone shots to his left shoulder, Joe Torre decided he liked the 1-2 of Jeter-Rodriguez so much he left it alone, and moved Bernie Williams into the third slot. And Torre said he could not imagine altering the top of his order through October.

So Rodriguez now finds himself locked into a batting position more associated with peskiness than power. Yet even in this season when he has played smaller than his reputation, Rodriguez has stayed on course to one day threaten the home run record of Hank Aaron or, more probably, of Barry Bonds. “I look at 500, for me, as within striking distance,” said Rodriguez, who had 380 homers. “But for 700 it is going to come down to how long I want to play, and I can’t concern myself with that right now. What motivates me now is pursuing championships rather than personal goals that I can’t even reach until my late 30s or early 40s.”

The 700-plus homers of Bonds, Babe Ruth and Aaron flicker in the distance. But in his age-28 season (a season is usually assigned to the age you were on July 1), A-Rod’s 380 homers were considerably more than the old record at that age: 350 by Ken Griffey Jr. Rodriguez turned 29 on July 27, so even if you adjust for age-29 seasons, Rodriguez’s homer Sunday moved him alone into second place for that age, jumping Jimmie Foxx (379) and settling in behind Griffey (394).

Now Griffey should be a cautionary tale because Rodriguez’s one-time Seattle teammate once appeared certain to track Aaron. But, at 501 homers, the injury-devastated Griffey might never see 600. Sammy Sosa has 572 homers, but at 35 has begun an age/injury descent. Manny Ramirez has 388 homers, but is four years older than A-Rod.

“Barry is the greatest ever to live, period,” A-Rod said. “He’s the role model for all of us as far as consistency and longevity. Guys like Bonds and Roger Clemens show the work ethic and desire that is needed to achieve special things.”

Rodriguez, to date, has had no difficulties with work ethic and desire. He must show he can handle Yankee Stadium, which is a menace to righty hitters, and New York, which is just a menace. Joe DiMaggio (46 in 1937) is the only Yankee righty hitter to top 40 homers. Both Rodriguez and Sheffield had 35. But not all homers are created equal. Sheffield is an MVP candidate, in part, because 13 of his homers have put the Yanks ahead. A-Rod had just six go-ahead homers.

His two homers over the weekend against the Red Sox came with the Yanks leading by 10 runs and eight runs. His six homers when the Yanks have led or trailed by at least five runs lead the team.

“There is a double standard,” Rodriguez said. “If you don’t hit homers, it is held against you, and if you do it, it is called garbage time.”

For Rodriguez, the standards are always going to be staggering. Such is life when you can be mentioned as a legitimate threat to Bonds, Ruth and Aaron. He may find sanctuary at No. 2 in the lineup, but to find peace in New York he will have to be No. 1 in prime time, not garbage time.