Enquirer staff

Central issue

If the Reds fancy themselves as being in playoff contention, they better just go ahead and shoot for the division title.

Despite the fact there are three teams ahead of them in the NL Central, any prospects of winning a wild card would be much worse.

Unlike the wild-card race, you can control your divisional fate by beating teams head to head.

A look at the wild-card standings:

	W	L	GB
Philadelphia	47	37	-
Arizona	47	39	1
Montreal	47	40	1 1/2
Los Angeles	46	39	11/2
Colorado	46	43	3 1/2
Houston	44	42	4
Chicago	44	42	4
Florida	45	43	4
Reds	40	45	71/2

Halfway home

The Reds last week reached the halfway point of the season at 39-42. Here's a look at their recent halfway records and their eventual finishes.

Year	81 games	Finish
2002	44-37	78-84	3rd
2001	32-49	66-96	5th
2000	40-41	85-77	2nd
1999	46-35	96-67	2nd
1998	32-49	77-85	4th
1997	35-46	76-86	3rd
1996	39-42	81-81	3rd
1995	51-30	85-59	1st
1994	48-33	66-48	1st
1993	39-42	73-89	5th

All-Star talk

The All-Star teams will be revealed at 7 p.m. today on ESPN. Ken Griffey Jr. will not be named for the third straight year, following a run of 11 consecutive All-Star selections.

The Reds look as if they will have only the one mandatory selection for the third straight season. Who will go? Jose Guillen? Austin Kearns? Scott Williamson? Aaron Boone? Jason LaRue?

Here's a look at recent Reds All-Stars.

2002: Adam Dunn

2001: Sean Casey

2000: Ken Griffey Jr., Danny Graves, Barry Larkin

1999: Larkin, Casey, Scott Williamson

1998: Bret Boone, Jeff Shaw (who was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers after being named an All-Star before the All-Star Game).

Remember him?

Former Red Dmitri Young entered the season as a .293 career hitter. But like his fellow Tigers, he didn't hit a lick early.

He was at .190 as late as May 5 but hit .355 in May and .330 in June.

He's now hitting .294 with 17 homers and 47 RBI and very well might be the Tigers' All-Star representative.

By the numbers

(Entering Saturday)

.161: Dunn's batting average with runners in scoring position (10-for-62)

.132: Griffey's batting average with runners in scoring position (5-for-38).

.348: Larkin's batting average with runners in scoring position (8-for-23)

59: Reds' runs scored from the ninth inning on

29: Reds' opponents' runs scored from the ninth inning on

The week ahead

Monday at Houston, 8:05 p.m.

Tuesday at Houston, 8:05 p.m.

Wednesday at Houston, 8:05 p.m.

Thursday at Houston, 8:05 p.m.

Friday at Milwaukee, 8:05 p.m.

Saturday at Milwaukee, 7:05 p.m.

Sunday at Milwaukee, 2:05 p.m.

July 14-16: All-Star break