Is Ken Griffey back?(Counterpoints)

Yes--his brilliance made the Reds contenders.

As these words roll off my fingertips, Ken Griffey's hitless slump has persisted through 24 at-bats, and his batting average has plunged to .239. That's the longest drought of his career, unless you count all those games he didn't play in the past three years with the Reds.

This information is presented in the interest of full disclosure.

Because even with all that, if he is healthy, Griffey is still Junior. It's getting a bit precious to call a 34-year-old "Junior," but then, we still call George Herman Ruth "Babe," and he has been dead more than a half-century.

Griffey is on pace to hit 38 homers and drive in 111 runs. Each figure is better than his averages with Seattle. The one deficiency is his average (.299 in Seattle), but this star can be overemphasized with a run-producing power hitter.

Junior's brilliance is the most important reason the Reds are contenders in the N.L. Central. His presence has empowered bitters Adam Dunn and Sean Casey. His drive to reach 500 home runs drew spectators--many of whom promised to ignore the Reds after last year's salary dump--to Great American Ballpark.

It'd be nice to say he is 19 again, with all the exuberance and teenager's legs and stamina. But he's not. He is a man now, advancing toward middle age. There will be plenty of home runs before he gets there.--Mike DeCourcy