First, that headline sounds like a video game title.  It actually touches me somewhat that the Seattle fans welcomed back and celebrated the successes of Junior Griffey so enthusiastically.  It says a lot about the fans of Seattle and it says a lot about Griffey.  This feels similar to when an ex-girlfriend says something nice about you to your new girlfriend (this is after the drinks have been thrown in each other’s faces, the cat fight has worn down and cooler heads have prevailed.)  Your new girlfriend notices and appreciates you a little bit more.  I wish I could have been in the stands to appreciate how the fans cheered for their opponent.  Those kinds of moments give me goosebumps.

Junior is a freight train right now barrelling down toward 600 homeruns.  He’s passing ‘roid freaks along the way on the list.  It would be quite impressive if he could pass Sosa (Griff = 584; Sammy = 601), who’s still playing this year.  While we’re at it, it would also be impressive if the Reds won a series and got above .500 (um, right, that’s going to happen too).  Griffey seems like he’s playing five years younger now that he’s healthy.  I really wonder what his career as a Reds player would have been like had he not been injured so much.  You’d probably be witnessing him zeroing in on 700 home runs right about now.  Griffey would be an even bigger hero and not just in Seattle but across all of baseball – the anti-Barry Bonds.  (Speaking of which, right field Reds tickets for the July 4th series against the Giants are being scalped at astronomical prices.  I guess economics [getting a home run lottery ball] wins out over taste]  In other news,

• Freel is in rehab.  Scratch that; Freel is on a rehab ASSIGNMENT in Louisville – home of the Kentucky Bourbon, the Kentucky Horses and the beautiful Kentucky Women.  Freel is coming back from that violent collision in center and you know he won’t change his all-out playing style.  Norris Hopper will likely be a casualty of Freel’s return
• Josh Hamilton has 81,375 write-in votes for the all-star game – yet another nice tribute from the hometown Reds faithful. 
• Griffey is still second in NL Outfielder voting and is a lock to be a deserving starter this year. 

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