Bench coach Ken Griffey Sr. clarified his stance regarding the prospect of managing the Reds, which has been the subject of frequent rumor and speculation.

        Griffey said he would be willing to manage the club someday, contrary to what General Manager Jim Bowden announced last month. But not at manager Jack McKeon's expense and not just because he's center fielder Ken Griffey Jr.'s father.

        “I didn't want to be hired through all the wrong scenarios that people have been assuming ... I'd like to be hired on my merits. Not because (Griffey Jr.'s) here or anything like that,” Griffey Sr. said. “I spent 19 years in the big leagues and five years in the minor leagues. I've coached for the last eight, nine years. Hopefully I'll get an opportunity to manage — if not here, somewhere else.”

        Griffey Sr. said that because his son is signed to play for Cincinnati through the 2008 season, he'd like to stay here as long as is feasible.

        “If I don't get an opportunity to manage somewhere else, I'd rather be here,” Griffey Sr. said. “Jim and I are hopefully going to sit down at the end of the year and talk about being here for a long time as a coach. But a lot of things can happen.”

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