Columnist Steve Carp: Baseball's healing not yet complete

THE BASEBALL SEASON didn't end Tuesday night when Mark McGwire swung his way into the record books. It just seems that way.

There has been so much focus on Big Mac's chase of Roger Maris that all the other wonderful things that have taken place this season were resigned to the bench. But now that McGwire has passed Maris, it's time to turn our attention to some of the other great stories.

At the same time, let's remember that while this has indeed been a baseball season for the ages, the game has not completely healed from the 1994 strike that caused the World Series to be canceled.

The Chicago Cubs, who played victim to McGwire's historic moment Tuesday, are battling for a spot in the playoffs. And let's not forget the amazing year Sammy Sosa is having. He may pass Maris as well before it's all said and done.

And what about the fabulous year Texas' Juan Gonzalez is enjoying? He has 149 RBIs and had he not been hurt earlier this summer, maybe he had a shot at breaking Hack Wilson's RBI record of 190.

The Rangers are trying to keep pace with the Anaheim Angels in the American League West. The Angels may be the best-kept secret of 1998. Few gave them a shot at being competitive, fewer thought they could stay in the race when the team didn't make a move at the July 31 trading deadline. Today, the Disney Darlings have a two-game lead on the Rangers.

Of course, the phenomenal year being enjoyed by the New York Yankees, who got to 100 wins quicker than anyone, has been well documented. Not as well publicized have been the great seasons enjoyed by the San Diego Padres and Houston Astros, both of whom are headed to the postseason.

All of it has contributed to the healing process of the national pastime. Actually, baseball's healing began in '95 when another good guy, Cal Ripken, eclipsed another mark no one thought would fall, that being Lou Gehrig's record for consecutive games played. It continued in '96 when the Yankees beat the Atlanta Braves in the World Series and rolled on in last year's thrilling triumph by the Florida Marlins over the Cleveland Indians.

But the healing isn't complete. Baseball still has issues to deal with.

There's still a revenue problem for the small-market teams. Montreal, Kansas City and Oakland simply can't compete in today's baseball economy. And little is being done to rectify the situation.

The shameless dismantling of the Marlins didn't so much as raise an eyebrow in the commissioner's office. The decision to charge scalpers' prices for face-value World Series tickets is obscene. And while we root for the McGwires and Sosas, there are still enough jerks such as Albert Belle and Tony Phillips that make you want to turn your head while holding your nose.

But part of baseball's charm is its resiliency. The game doesn't always thrive as it has this year, but it always manages to survive.

And with its comeback virtually complete, the game has a new challenge. Baseball needs to build on the success of 1998. It can't allow itself to be satisfied. For the game's not over. The final out has yet to be recorded. Baseball can always come back to the rest of the sports pack, much like the Red Sox are doing in the AL wild-card chase.

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