Like it or not, the home run hitting exploits of Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa are becoming harder and harder to separate.

Especially in the 1999 season, because both the Cardinals and the Cubs are nowhere near the top of the NL Central.

The two sluggers, who were honored at last October's Players Choice Awards held at Disney's Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, are continuing to re-make the home run section of baseball's record book in their own image.

Their assault will, in the opinion of many, define late '90's major league baseball in the minds of sports fans around the world.

Sure, Mac hit 70 last year...but Sammy got to 60 first this year.

It almost seems like McGwire is glad to share some of the glory...and the spotlight that accompanies that glory...with Sosa. And Sosa seems to soak it all up...and reflect some of it back to the public.

As this is written, Sosa leads McGwire 61 to 59 in the remake of last season's home run derby.

What will the tote board show at the conclusion of the '99 season?

At the very least, you can expect 3-5 more bombs from both men, if for no other reason that the two teams are scheduled to face each other five more times in the last two weeks of the season. So, in addition to the head-to-head magic that is likely to result from such a matchup...

the Cubs-Cards pitching staffs are not exactly teeming with Cy Young candidates.

Enjoy...