By John Fay
The Cincinnati Enquirer

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. - Ken Griffey Jr. will take it.

Griffey went 2-for-3 with a couple of well-placed hits in the Reds' 11-4 loss to the Cleveland Indians Monday.

"It's not how hard you hit it," he said. "It's where you place it."

The two hits were Griffey's fourth and fifth of the spring, lifting his average to .185. He has a home run and three RBI.

"I'm peaking," he said. "You want to bring it up gradually."

Griffey had a huge spring last year. He hit .367 with six home runs, 18 RBI and seven doubles. But Griffey feels good and is ready to get the season started, despite this spring's numbers.

"I think everyone is," he said. "After two weeks, it's 'let's go.' "

Someone asked Griffey Monday if he thought he would be with the Reds the entire season.

"That's out of my hands," he said. "If they want me off the books (financially), they'll get me off the books. My biggest thing is not to let the guys in this locker room down, whether I'm here one day or 162 days."

The only thing Griffey would say on the trade front is the majority of teams would be unwise to trade for him.

"We let it be known that there are only a few teams I'd go to," he said. "No disrespect to any teams. But when you're under a multi-year deal, you can say at the end of the year, I don't want to be here."

Is Seattle one of teams he's willing to go to? "I can't say."