Saturday, March 04, 2000

Griffey's debut: whiff, single, whiff

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The Associated Press

Ken Griffey Jr. snatches a pop-up and avoids a collison with Alex Ochoa. (Michael E. Keating photo) | ZOOM |

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        SARASOTA, Fla. — Halfway out of the clubhouse, Barry Larkin briefly paused to needle his newest teammate.

        “Hey, I'm getting tired of them pitching around me so they can face you,” he kidded Ken Griffey Jr. “That's got to stop.”

        Griffey smiled and was speechless. Kind of like his debut Friday for the Cincinnati Reds — mostly quiet, on the field and in the stands.

        A crowd of 3,439, less than half the capacity at 7,500-seat Ed Smith Stadium, saw Griffey strike out twice and single in his first game in a Reds uniform.

        He left after five innings in a 5-3 loss to Minnesota in a split-squad exhibition. The other Reds, including his father, bench coach Ken Sr., took a four-hour bus trip to Fort Lauderdale to play Baltimore.

Griffey singles. (Michael E. Keating photo) | ZOOM |

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        “It was fine,” Griffey said. “Get my two or three at-bats like everyone else.”

        “It shouldn't be that big of a deal,” he said, his cap backward and arms folded across his chest. “I don't want to sit there under a microscope every day. I just want to play ball and be part of this team, that's it.”

        The only real excitement involving Junior came right off the bat. He caught Torii Hunter's easy fly to center field opening the game, then Cristian Guzman followed with a wind-blown ball to shallow left-center.

        Larkin broke back and Griffey called off the All-Star shortstop. Griffey made a nifty sidestep to avoid colliding with left fielder Alex Ochoa, reaching out at the last second to make a waist-high catch.

Griffey after striking out. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        Simply seeing Griffey in a bright red jersey and pinstriped pants was plenty for manager Jack McKeon. Even Griffey's diamond earring — the Reds decided to allow them this season, no surprise — seemed in fashion.

        “He fit right in,” McKeon said.

        Griffey, acquired Feb. 10 in a trade that sent four players to Seattle, is considered a threat to break Hank Aaron's career home run record of 755. At 30, Junior already has 398 and has a $116.5 million, nine-year contract with the Reds.

        In the first inning, Larkin drew a walk that brought up Griffey. He lofted a long-but-obviously foul fly to right that cleared the single-deck ballpark.

        Griffey struck out swinging on the next pitch, chasing a low-and-away slider from 20-year-old rookie Johan Santana.

        “It was good for me,” said Santana, who has never pitched above Class A. “I was excited to face him, but I focused on my spots.”

Griffey and Barry Larkin greet Alex Ochoa during pre-game introductions. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        Griffey singled in the third, hitting a soft line drive to right off Dan Perkins. In the fifth, he struck out swinging against rookie Mike Kusiewicz.

        “Just getting my work in,” Griffey said. “Trying not to be a distraction around here.”

        Griffey exited after that, jogging through an opening in the right-field wall and leaving without signing an autographs. Many fans wore No. 30 jerseys, including Dave and Julie Crace from suburban Cincinnati.

        “It's the first time we've come to spring training,” he said. “Just to see Junior.”

        “It'd be lying to say any different,” said his wife, holding their 5-month-old daughter, Taylor.

        In fact, the $20 Griffey shirts were the best-selling item at the concession stand. Business before the game was brisk.

Griffey laughs with umpires. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        “I'd say it's double what we had last year,” said Frank Pilarowski, 65. “About 50 percent of the people come up to the counter and want Griffey items. It's Griffey, Griffey, Griffey.”

        No telling, however, why the attendance was so small. The Reds averaged 4,034 at home last spring training, and this crowd was less than that.

        “It's still exciting to have him,” said 87-year-old Ed Smith, the community booster for whom the stadium is named.

        Griffey will be in town a bunch, too. He might make some of the spring trips to nearby Bradenton and Tampa, but won't spend much time on a bus. He is not playing Saturday against Texas in Port Charlotte, about 45 miles south.

        Of course, the real excitement will come April 3, when the Reds start the regular season at home against Milwaukee. Longtime Reds announcer Marty Brennaman, who broadcast this exhibition, is sure of that.

        “I think some people came today from a historical perspective, to be able to say they saw his first game,” Brennaman said. “You want to see something, you come to opening day.”

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