Comment on the comments week continues at Wrigleyville23. This time we focus on this comment left in the Sammy Sosa post by our very own Dusty, who disputes that Sosa "helped" - he conveniently leaves that word out - save baseball in 1998:

So young, so naive. I suppose you believe Bill Clinton saved America in the 20th century and Obama will it in this one, too.

Silliness saying Sammy saved anything. A valid point that critics can make is that he and others started a new bad chapter in the game. Corks. Roids. Don't talk about him saving anything.

Great ballplayer. Fun to watch. Favorite player of his era. Deserves a break. But, come on....saving the game.

Let's look at baseball attendance before and after the strike years:

1993 - 70.3 million

1994 - 50 million

1995 - 50.5 million

1996 - 60.1 million

1997 - 63.2 million

1998 - 70.6 million

1999 - 70.1 million

2000 - 71.4 million

So, after baseball cancelled the 1994 World Series due to the strike, 50.5 million fans bothered to go to a game in 1995 - a 29 percent decrease over the previous full season. By 1997, the number had climbed to 63.2 million - still a 10 percent decrease over pre-strike levels, which is not where you want to be in a strong economy.

Then, a few things happened in 1998, things that helped bring fans back to the ballpark in record numbers: The New York Yankees put together one of the greatest seasons in baseball history. And Mac and Sammy engaged in a prolific home run duel that stretched from June until the final days of the season.

Baseball was front page news. For a good reason. Fans cared again. And Slammin' Sammy - moreso than Morose Mark - was a big reason for the draw.

So, yes, Sammy Sosa helped save baseball.