Ken Griffey Jr. was out of the lineup Thursday — nothing serious, just some soreness from a playing a lot the previous two days, banging into a wall and beating out an infield hit — but his clubhouse presence before Thursday's game could not be missed.

        He was dressed for laughs in a Superfly-style suit, gray with black felt trim, a dark fedora with red trim, and red-and-white spats and big, gold-rimmed shades. Around his neck was a gaudy, faux-gold chain with a dollar sign the size of a baseball at the end of it.

        The outfit was something one might expect to see on Sylvester “Sly” Stone, the 1970s rocker. Junior was sashaying through the Reds clubhouse, drawing guffaws, catcalls and grins all around.

        “Did (former Red) Deion (Sanders) give you that outfit?” Reds general manager Jim Bowden asked Junior.

        “No, but I had to get the accessories from my dad,” Junior said.

        Bowden wasn't buying that. He kidded Junior again.

        “This is from my 1970s party,” said Junior, again spoofing his dad, who was a Reds star during that decade.

        PROMOTED: Leland Maddox, the Reds director of player personnel and international scouting, was promoted Thursday to assistant general manager/director of scouting. Maddox joined the Reds in 1999, as senior director of player personnel and scouting.

        Also Thursday, Gary Hughes, special assistant to the GM/director of professional scouting, was named senior advisor/player development. He remains a special assistant to the GM. Reds major-league scout De Jon Watson was named major-league scout/national cross checker.

        INCOMING: Chris Gruler, the right-handed pitcher who was the Reds first-round draft choice (third overall) earlier this month, will visit Cinergy Field on Saturday. He will be presented a Reds jersey during batting practice. He is scheduled to make his first start today for Billings in the Reds rookie league.

        STAT GEEKS: Since Ken Griffey Jr. joined the club in 2000, injuries have relegated the Reds to being able to start their projected Opening Day lineup only 27 times (13-14 record).

        UP NEXT: Jimmy Haynes will make his first career appearance vs. his former team today, facing Oakland's Aaron Harang (2-2, 2.70). Haynes pitched for Oakland from 1997-99 (21-27, 5.40 ERA).

Mariners 3, Reds 2 Reds box, runs Griffey doesn't start, but suit starts a laugh riot Mariners turn reunion into their own party At 34 games, Castillo ties a DiMaggio Athletics-Reds series preview Owners make steroid-testing pitch in talks Sonics owner says baseball strike would hurt all sports St. Louis says goodbye to 'a winner' Interleague roundup Notes from Thursday's games

What's next for U.S.?
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Martin, Williams have surgery; Charlotte pursues franchise
NHL orders safety netting in wake of tragedy in Columbus
Theodore wins Vezina, Hart awards
Greene is healthy at track championships
Texas beats Stanford in CWS semi
Texas Tech reveals policy violations in Knight merchandise swap
Jaguars sign Marco Coleman
Quigley, Tanaka lead at Hartford
Coming up this week

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