BY SCOTT MacGREGOR
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Pete Rose laughs with reporters at the Reds complex Wednesday. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

SARASOTA, Fla. - Major League Baseball might not think much of Pete Rose's Wednesday visit to the Reds spring camp, but Rose's impromptu talk with the Reds minor leaguers was a big hit with the players.

''I'm not here to cause any trouble,'' Rose said after receiving a loud ovation from the players, including his son, Pete Jr., and Craig Griffey, the son of former teammate Ken Griffey.

Rose told the players stories and urged them to stick with it through tough times like his son has. Among the highlights:

Mindful of the problems that got him banned from baseball for life, Rose told the young players to ''pay your ... taxes, by the way, and don't bet on Monday Night Football.''

Rose told players that baseball ''beats working for a living'' and that ''the girls like the .300 hitters, the 20-game winners.''

He also offered this advice to humor Reds owner Marge Schott and her ever-present Saint Bernard: ''If you get a chance to pet the dog, pet the dog!''

Earlier in the day, Rose held court with the media for nearly an hour, talking about everything from his banishment to his radio career to the Reds' financial problems.

Rose's glasses are decorated with alligators. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

Rose ripped the Reds for not inviting Pete Jr. to major-league spring training. The Reds originally offered the invitation, but Pete Jr. turned it down to ask for more money.

''He wanted to double his contract, and they should have,'' Rose Sr. said.

Rose said Pete Jr., had ''the best year in the organization last year. He's the only guy who was called up at the end of last year who's not in major-league camp. I thought getting invited to major-league camp was supposed to be the reward.''

Rose praised the Reds for making strides toward recognizing their history, including ceremonies to retire the jerseys of Ted Kluszewski, Joe Morgan and Frank Robinson and naming the batting cages at their new spring training complex for him.

''I bet that had to go through a lot of red tape to get that,'' he said. ''Yeah, it's special when they put your name up on something. It's appropriate for me (to have a hitting cage).''

Rose blamed the Reds for their dwindling attendance.

''It puts a dagger in my heart to see all the empty seats,'' he said. ''They're trying . . . but there's got to be a reason attendance is down. I don't know if it's the players, the coaches, the managers, but somebody in this organization isn't doing their job.'' Rose's pep talk violates ban
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