Big Red Scare in Homer Chase?

The Mark McGwire Traveling Circus reopens tonight at Busch Stadium, with the possibility that the race to break Roger Maris’ single-season home run record of 61 could be over before Sammy Sosa arrives Monday.

At his current pace--four homers in the last two games, 12 in his last 16 and a 1998 average of one every 7.37 at-bats--McGwire could surpass Maris during a weekend series with the Cincinnati Reds, providing the Reds pitch to him, which they have been reluctant to do.

The St. Louis Cardinal first baseman has 59 homers, but none in six games against the Reds. He has been to the plate 25 times in the six games but has only 13 official at-bats, with two hits. He has been walked 11 times--five times intentionally--and been hit by a pitch once.

By comparison, Sosa has only one walk in six games with the Reds. He is eight for 24 and hit four of his 56 homers in the six games, two in the three-game series that ended Wednesday.

“Sammy had 12 at-bats in those three games,” St. Louis Manager Tony La Russa said before the Cardinals left Florida Wednesday night. “My guess is that the Reds will challenge Mark as much as they did Sammy.”

That might have been La Russa’s way to challenge the Reds and Manager Jack McKeon to do just that.

McKeon, however, didn’t bite.

He said Thursday that he doesn’t care if he’s enemy No. 1, that he won’t deviate from his earlier game plan. The Reds may be 23 games behind the Houston Astros and last in the National League Central, but they won’t pitch to McGwire in game-deciding situations.

“I know it’s not going to be popular, but we’re going to be doing the same thing as last time,” McKeon said. “We’ll pitch to him, but we’re not going to let him beat us. It’s the same thing as Sosa. We’re not going to let McGwire beat us either. Of course, if there’s no place to put him, we’re going to have to pitch to him.”

As the Reds rested here Thursday, preparing for the three-game series and a possible date with history, McKeon was all ready getting voice-mail messages from Cardinal fans urging him to challenge McGwire.

Said Pete Harnisch, who faces McGwire tonight, “I’d like to go right after him, but it’s going to depend on the situation. The whole world is hoping we give up home runs to the guy, but we’ve got our game to pitch. We’re trying to win these games, remember.”

All of this does not figure to sit well in the sea of red that will be Busch Stadium.

The mounting anticipation can be measured by the 700 applications for media credentials, comparable to a World Series.

It will be bedlam personified when Sosa and the Cubs check in for a two-game set on Monday.

“Man, when Sosa comes to town, it’s going to be amazing,” the Cardinals’ Brian Jordan said. “The media may be playing the outfield. Just amazing. If [McGwire] gets to 61, I may have my family sit in the outfield to try and catch the ball.”

Amazing? Maybe that doesn’t do it justice, Cardinal catcher Tom Lampkin said in the aftermath of McGwire’s Miami mash.

“He’s got 59 homers, and it’s the first couple of days in September, and that’s a joke,” Lampkin said. “This can’t be happening. It’s daily, nonstop, continuous disbelief. We just shake our heads and laugh. There’s nothing to say. We have hundreds of years of experience in this clubhouse, and there’s nobody who has even come close to seeing something like this.”

For those who saw McGwire on his day off Thursday, it was in another role, focused on another, maybe even larger priority. He filmed what is believed to be the first national public service announcement about sexual child abuse. McGwire has pledged $1 million a year from his salary to fund a foundation aimed at spreading awareness of child abuse and ultimately to assist victims.

He was not concerned that the day off would ruin his momentum.

“I always like an off day during the long season,” he said. “All I can do is take it a day at a time, a pitch at a time. I’m not going to change my life because of what’s going on.”

Will anything be going on this weekend? Will the Reds pitch to McGwire? It is interesting to note that McKeon arrived Thursday with six expensive cigars that Sosa gave him in Chicago, all with “Sammy Sosa Special Reserve” embossed in gold on the wrappers.

McKeon had made a friend of Sosa earlier this season when he called the Cub slugger aside and said, “I love the way you go about things. Don’t change. Keep it up. Winning is more important to you than the home runs and you are willing to do all things to win games.”

The Cincinnati manager may be unwrapping a cigar, but he seems determined not to let Sosa’s home run rival light it up.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

MARIS WATCH: 61

Tracking the pursuit of baseball’s songle-season home run record of 61 set by Roger Maris in 1961.

ROGER MARIS

Season: 54

Game 140: 1

MARK McGWIRE

Season: 59

Thursday: OFF

SAMMY SOSA

Sseason: 56

Thursday: OFF