Tuesday, July 16, 2002

Since Saturday,  the Reds beat the Astros 8-3 to avoid the sweep and keep the Astros from pulling to within a half game of their hold on 2nd place.   Since then ,  the Reds have won two in Milwaukee while the Stros lost two to the Pirates.   Bu tthe Cardinals are still winning,  so the Reds remain 3 and a half back.  But we all know this already.  That's what ESPN is for. Griffey is about a week away,  (see Cincinnati Reds News) and we get to see whether he can make it the rest of the way,  and somehow avoid and/or ignore the idiots in Cincinnati who have no respect for 461 homers (438 earlier than anybody in history....as well as earliest to 300 and 400).......and STILL,  after these past two years of injury hell......at 32,  with 8 years left on  the contract,  with 30 a year (not at all unrealistic unless you're like some of these idiots who say Griffey is washed up)....anyway,  with 30 a year,  that's 240 (add that to his 461,  and that's 701.   Throw a couple more 50 homer seasons in there.. that adds 40 to put him at 741,  and maybe a 45 and a couple of 35's,  that's 25 more ,  which is 766.)  Now Bonds and Sammy are not yet done,  and Sammyjust passed Griff,  so it should be interesting. But somewhere between 700 and 775?   Not too shabby.  Will he do it?  Who knows?  I 'm all for shutting it all down for this year,  and rehab it.  Get it going strong.  Keep working on it till next spring,  and then be the Griffey of 97-99 for another 3 years in 2003, 4, and 5  and be at  (461 + 158 = 619)  at the end of 2005 at the age of 35 (he'll be 36 in November 2005). No sweat.  The Reds gotta have it.  They bet a lot of future cash on it. I think he can do it.  Just lay off him, fans.  If he's as sensitive as he's shown,  do we wanna make it hard?  I don't think so. 10:43:33 PM