Tonight could be the night Ken Griffey Jr. returns to the Reds' lineup. Team medical director Dr.Tim Kremchek said it's now up to the baseball people.

        “He's not 100 percent,” Kremchek said. “He's not going to be 100 percent this year. Pretty soon, we have to make a baseball decision. (Reds manager Bob Boone) is going to watch him, and he'll make the decision.”

        Boone watched Griffey take batting practice and run Sunday.

        “He looks pretty good,” Boone said.

        So will he play today?

        “I don't know,” Boone said.

        If not today, when?

        “Soon,” Boone said.

        Griffey has been on the disabled list since June25 with a strained right hamstring. The outfielder is to the point where Kremchek would sign off on him playing.

        “Our role is put them on the field as healthy as possible,” Kremchek said. “When he returns, it will be a combination medical and baseball decision.”

        Griffey's absence hurts the Reds more now that Juan Encarnacion is no longer on the team. Reggie Taylor and Raul Gonzalez have been sharing time in center field, although Brady Clark played there Sunday.

        The offensive drop is obvious, but it has hurt the Reds defensively, too. Balls that Griffey would easily catch have dropped lately.

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