FORT MYERS, Fla. — Danny Graves got three more tattoos Tuesday. Luckily, none says: “Reds Closer.”

        That's because Bob Boone won't declare that preparing Graves as a starter is merely a spring training exercise to make Graves a better closer.

        When asked if there was any chance Graves would end up in the rotation, Boone said: “Maybe. I don't know. ... We don't have any preconceptions or elaborate plans.”

        That's news to Graves. He says he still thinks of this as a spring experiment, that he is preparing as a starter so he can stretch out his arm and be a better reliever. That's what Reds general manager Jim Bowden and Boone told him the last time they spoke.

        Graves, the Reds' closer for the last three seasons, entered Wednesday's 13-0 loss to the Minnesota Twins in the exhibition opener on the starter plan. That meant following starter Elmer Dessens. Graves was about about the Reds' only bright spot. Boone's slight wavering on the starter-closer issue was news to Graves.

        “Maybe the skipper and I should have a conversation,” he said.

        Not that something sinister is going on here. Graves, the 28-year-old right-hander, still is open to the idea of starting. But he says that, right now, his best role is as closer.

        “I was all for it if we signed someone like Jeff (Shaw),” he said. “But I think it's better for the team for me to be in the role than go with closer by committee.”

        That said, Graves is pleased to be preparing like a starter. He went two innings, allowing two hits and striking out two.

        “It was nice to throw to some of the starters on the other team,” he said. “In the past, I was always throwing the last inning or two against the Double-A guys they bring along, guys who aren't going to be in the big leagues.

        “That's why this is going to work out better. My concentration level is better. You work on your pitches more throwing to the major-league guys. The minor-league guys swing at everything you throw up there.”

        Graves' first appearance on the starter program was a lot like what he faced as a closer.

        “I said to (Scott Sullivan) and Gabe (White), "Wanna bet I go in with bases loaded and no outs?'” Graves said. “One hitter later, that's what it was.”

        He almost escaped the jam. He got Jacque Jones to pop out to center. Then Cristian Guzman grounded back to him.

        “It was hit so hard, it went off my glove or we would have had a double play,” Graves said.

        The Reds retired Guzman, and a run scored. Graves then gave up a two-run single.

        All in all, it was a good outing. He threw 28 pitches and felt strong.

        “I probably could have thrown more pitches,” Graves said. “But it's too early to do that. In another week or two, I could easily throw 75, 80 pitches. But I don't know if we'll go that far.”

        If they do, Graves may be headed for the rotation.

        Graves is OK with that. He's still thinking closer, but he's open-minded.

        Graves says one advantage to starting would be getting more at-bats. He has only 16, but both his hits are home runs. He uses that information to get on third-base coach Tim Foli.

        “I'm only 23 (homers) behind Foli,” Graves said. “And he played 27 years and had 6,500 at-bats.”

        Actually, it's 16 years and 6,047 at-bats.

        “But I'm all over him on it,” Graves said. “He loves it.”

Closer Graves starting for now Stretching is now a serious business

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