EVENTS
 Sportsman of the Year
 Heisman Trophy
 Swimsuit 2001

No. 6 Cincinnati Reds

Welcome home: Ken Griffey Jr. brings his hefty .569 slugging percentage to Cincinnati. AP

1999 Record: 96-67 (2nd in NL Central)

Ken Griffey Jr. has come home, so the Reds won't be sneaking up on people again this year. With Junior, Dante Bichette, Sean Casey and Barry Larkin in the middle of the lineup, the offense should be explosive. But the Reds will need some pitching help if they want to play deep into October.

Griffey brings excitement and star power to the Reds. If you think a move from the Kingdome will hurt Griffey, think again. He's one of the game's best at adapting to different parks, and since 1997, Cinergy Field has seen more home runs than any NL parks other than Wrigley and Coors.

Cincinnati has to hope for a repeat of 1999's remarkable season by a group of unheralded pitchers. The Reds were fourth in the NL in ERA, and their versatile bullpen led the league in saves.

After last season, this team knows it can contend. Add a little pitching to Griffey's big bat and you've got my sixth best team in baseball.

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