Sunday, July 14, 2002
And now, it's 2002, Part II
By Mike Lopresti
Gannett News Service
The baseball season has officially resumed. We know this because all the games actually have winners and losers.
So while the All-Star Game recedes to its special place in history, right between Disco Night and Roseanne's national anthem, we have here the lineup card for the second half of the season. Nine questions that need answering by autumn.
Batting first ... Can the Boston Red Sox keep pace with the New York Yankees and their open checkbook? They've been dealing with deep pinstripe pockets for decades.
“Why should we focus on them?” shortstop Nomar Garciaparra said. “We've got to focus on ourselves. We've got a job to do. We don't play them every day. If we're playing good baseball, we're able to play anybody.”
Including the Yankees. The Red Sox are 7-4 against New York.
Batting second ... When do the Minnesota Twins fade?
Maybe never, even with a payroll nearly $100 million less than the Yankees. Even though they'd already be in the contraction junkyard if Bud Selig had his way. They are the ultimate Cinderella.
Their lead was 7 games at the break, Cleveland was struggling, and the Chicago White Sox were fighting with Frank Thomas. The door seems open to the playoffs.
“It'd be a good book to write,” said Torii Hunter.
Batting third ... Have the Cardinals recovered from Darryl Kile's death?
Going into Thursday, the Cardinals were 7-7 since Kile died and led their division, despite having no one play in the All-Star Game.
“We're trying to take baseball as it is. There's a different meaning of what's important now,” said pitcher Matt Morris. “I have trouble focusing the whole game whether I'm pitching or not, which is hard because we're trying to win ballgames. More and more as the games come, just because they are a constant, we're going to be able to focus better.”
Batting fourth ... Whatever happened to Ken Griffey Jr.?
His absence from the All-Star Game was a reminder of his stunning plummet after a series of injuries.
He's due back soon and it would be ridiculous to say he can't still play. But one of the most intriguing trends this season is how Cincinnati has played better without him. There may come a day to wonder if the Reds and Griffey are just a bad marriage.
Batting fifth ... Are the Montreal Expos serious?
The fans still stay away. The future in Montreal seems doomed. The 29th-rated payroll can't be expanded, because Major League Baseball is running the club. But the Expos are considering trading for talent as if they play in the Bronx.
Batting sixth ... Can a failed reliever turn into a starter and win the Cy Young Award, and a failed starter turn into a reliever and set the season save record?
Depends on what Derek Lowe and Eric Gagne do from here.
Batting seventh ... What will it say about the Atlanta Braves if they win an 11th straight division title?
October will have a lot to do with answering that.
Batting eighth ... Will the Arizona Diamondbacks even get into the playoffs?
“You're the hunted,” said Luis Gonzalez of life as defending champion. “Every team gets up to play you. Crowds are bigger in every city we go to. We know now what the Yankees have gone through. We've learned to appreciate what they've done.”
Batting ninth ... Will any of the above matter, in a sport that is courting another labor disaster?
Maybe baseball can come up with a result where neither side loses. It's already been done once this week.
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• Return to Reds front page...
And now, it's 2002, Part II
