The questions are always about the estimated time of arrival at a statistical height. Nothing else.
A crucial hit to tie a game? George Brett isn`t asked to provide nuance and detail about conquering a particular pitch. The focus is on the big picture, his journey to 3,000 hits. Nothing else.
The Kansas City Royals have 40 games remaining. Brett needs 41 hits to reach 3,000. The story is the mathematics.
”I`m talking about it a lot more with the media before and after games,” Brett said, ”but once the game starts, I`m able to go out there and forget about it.”
Only 16 players in baseball history amassed 3,000 hits. Babe Ruth didn`t get there. Ted Williams fell short. So did Lou Gehrig, Mel Ott and Joe DiMaggio.
Robin Yount of the Milwaukee Brewers is at 2,979 but is slogging along in the .240s. Brett, hitting nearly .280, is striding toward his mark.
”You kind of get caught up in it after talking about it so much,” Brett said. ”But what I`ve been able to do, and just like I`ve been able to do in 1980 with that .400 thing, is once the game starts, just not think about it.” Twelve summers ago Brett was hitting .400 as late as Sept. 19. He settled to .390.
”I was under a timetable there,” Brett said. ”You couldn`t end the season at .390 and count the first week of next season and say, `OK, I hit .400.`
”There`s no timetable on this. This is not, `I have to do it by the end of the season.` I don`t have to do it by the end of the season. I would love to do it by the end of the season.”
If Brett doesn`t reach 3,000 hits this year, he`ll return in 1993. But what if he does achieve that milestone? If the Royals look like a middle-of-the-pack team next year, will Brett want another season out of contention?
Brett plans to talk with Royals owner Ewing Kauffman, General Manager Herk Robinson and manager Hal McRae.
Brett is the last active link to the mid-1970s, the start of the Royals`
glory years. The team is now searching for stability, and other than Brett, lacks a signature player.
Wally Joyner or Gregg Jefferies, in their first season with the team, could someday be that. But only after Brett leaves. He is 39, and the tributes coming with each hit are from fans preparing to say goodbye.
”Maybe the front office wants (Jeff) Conine to play a little left and a little first,” Brett said, ”and kind of have a roving DH rather than someone who just DHs pretty much all the time.”
Brett also will have discussions with his three brothers, his wife Leslie and friends.
”But the decision will be mine if I get to 3,000 this year,” Brett said. ”It will not be anybody`s decision but mine. If I get 3,000 this year and feel like I can play and I want to play, then I`ll come back. If I feel I can play, but I don`t want to play anymore, I won`t come back. And if I feel I can`t play, but I want to play, I won`t come back.
”The only way I`d play is if I want to play and think I still can. I don`t think you can cross that bridge and make that decision until it`s time to make it.”
