On Deck For The Big Knock

TEN P.M.—THE LAST STALK

Media Type: "Do you think Ty Cobb is up there looking down at you as you chase his record?"

Rose: "From what I know about the guy, he may not be up there. He may be down there."

In Rose's office, it's a return engagement of the same questions, answers and subject as the night before. And the night before that.

What do you say to people who think you're playing just to break the record? ...Do you think it's fair that you'll do it with 2,000 more at bats than Cobb? ...How do you think he'd do today? ...Do you think you'd like each other?

Often, Rose pretends to know less about Cobb than he does. Yet he used to pick the brain of the late Hall of Fame pitcher and longtime Reds broadcaster, Waite Hoyt, about Cobb. "Sometimes I feel like I know Ruth and Cobb," Rose once told a writer. Of course, until four years ago, Rose told writers that Cobb's record was out of reach. Maybe the closer you get to a legend, the more human he looks.

The highlight reel: "I never said I was going to be the greatest hitter of all time, I just said I was going to have the most hits.... Cobb's .367 average, that's untouchable. That's great. But if he was playing today, he'd hit .315, no doubt in my mind. Think about it. They never had any relief pitching back then. We get a fresh arm throwing against us every two innings sometimes. How tough could the pitching have been? You tell me how a guy is going to win 511 games. And did you ever see those gloves they used? They were about the size of a guy's hand. They had no padding at all. How many diving catches you think they made? ...I'm not saying Cobb wasn't a great player, I just think you're better off when you don't compare eras, O.K.?"

Finally, the office is clear and Rose can leave. As he starts walking out, he notices Knicely's wife sitting glumly in the corner of the lounge and Brad in his wheelchair. Rose's eyes meet hers for an instant, then he turns away and sees a friendlier face.

"Smooooooooogie!" he says.

Ty Rose, answering to Dad's pet name for him, comes a-waddling.