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 April 28, 2006 Hello Fans, Let me start by saying thanks for all the e-mails of encouragement that I have been receiving these past few weeks. The media has been making a big deal about how long I was going without a home run. Things are different now, we have a team that is working together and we're putting up wins. My job is to hit, get on base and score runs, and if I do all this without home runs, so be it. When I hit 709, I said earlier that day that I had to make the best of my first at-bat ... and I did, even though the ball was so far off the plate. I've been making slight adjustments to my swing and I'm getting closer to getting it back. As for home run No. 709, MLB brought me the ball after the game. I just approved my electronic 709, 710 and 711 cards by TOPPS, so it should be online now. I've been asked about topic of the 715 record quite a bit lately. As everyone knows, Hank Aaron holds the all-time home run record at 755. I am getting close to Babe Ruth's milestone, but right now my focus is on winning a World Series with my team. If I reach Hank's record, it would be an honor, but again, my focus is on winning games with my team. I wasn't in the lineup for the last game against the Rockies on Sunday, but I still did my workout at the ballpark with Sweets and Harvey. I must continue to keep my body in good condition. The pain in my knee is under control and my elbow is sore, but I have played with conditions like this before. There are around 140 more games to play and I'm pacing myself. Baseball is like a marathon, not a sprint, and I intend to be there in the end with my team. While in Colorado during the Rockies series, I had the chance to visit with my Minor League buddy, Chip Cunningham, and his entire family. Chip and I were in the Minors together in Prince William, Virginia. He just returned from his third mission in Iraq flying Apache helicopters. Servicemen like Chip, in the Armed Forces around the world are, without a doubt, the real heroes for putting their lives on the line each day fighting for our freedom.
Later,
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