The All Star break has come and gone, along with the unusually comfortable temperatures that delayed, at least temporarily, the oncoming onslaught of summertime heat and humidity that is uniquely St. Louis.

Also getting hot is Cardinals 1B Mark McGwire, whose stroke seems more constant, more even, more balanced these days.

The HR race is on again...with Chicago's Sammy Sosa out front.

But don't bet against McGwire, who very much desires to reach 50 HRs in '99, which would make it four seasons in a row that the single season HR king has reached that mark.

To say nothing of 500 career home runs.

That Mac is getting warmed up at the same time that Ray Lankford gets healthy again, with Ray providing protection for McGwire while batting clean-up...is no surprise.

And, of course, GM Walt Jocketty's master plan included a heavy dose of Eric Davis in the #5 spot in the order, behind Lankford.

But Davis' injured shoulder has put that plan on hold.