By Chris Haft
The Cincinnati Enquirer

SARASOTA, Fla. — Ken Griffey was totally at ease Saturday morning, as he has been since reporting to training camp.

The Reds center fielder sat atop his equipment trunk, alternately answering questions from reporters and joking with teammates. He seemed at home, which he indeed was.

“I'm happy where I am,” Griffey said. “I can drive home (to Orlando) on weekdays (during spring training). My family can fly in on weekends when we get to Cincinnati. These are things that you need.”

Griffey, 31, needed some peace of mind after a distressing 2000 season. Reviled in Seattle for requesting a trade to be closer to his family, he encountered criticism in Cincinnati for a slow start at the plate. Nobody knew he was struggling to cope with death threats to him and his family. (Feb. 17 story)

Now, Griffey is more relaxed. He has accepted that he'll forever remain a focus of attention. He knows he won't be subject to intense curiosity for switching teams; that distinction will go to Alex Rodriguez, his former Seattle teammate who became Texas' $252 million man. And Griffey's completely comfortable with being a Red.

Here are excerpts from Griffey's wide-ranging interview:

Q: Your hamstring's better, isn't it?

A: My head's better. It always starts with the head.

Q: What are you free to say about the threats you received last year?

A: I'm just glad that all the stuff is behind me, so I can go on. The first half was tough, because of all the issues with myself and my family and not being able to concentrate somewhat on baseball, with the off-the-field things that were going on. I'm really looking forward to this year, going out and playing and having somewhat of a clear head.

Q: What are your goals for this season?

A: I don't set goals. I've never been a goal-oriented person. I just like to collect things ... RBIs, home runs, hits.

Q: Your power numbers were close to normal last year (40 homers, 118 RBI). Do you want to pull up your batting average (.271, which dropped his career average to .296)?

A: Yeah. I like to be on base. I don't like making right-hand turns (to the dugout). Right-hand turns are bad for you.

Q: Do you believe you'll get less attention from fans and the media?

A: It still won't change. It just doesn't. ... You just get used to it. Well, you never get used to it. You just try to grunt and bear it.

Q: What do you think about the changes at Cinergy Field, such as the 30-foot wall in center field?

A: I'll just have to get some altitude, that's all. ... Do I have to play the ball off the wall? It might be tough if there's glare from the sun (shining through the open left field) for hitting.

Q: Does it bother you that Reds management didn't use the deferred portion of your salary to boost the payroll?

A: Since I wasn't there this offseason and didn't talk to all the people, I really don't know. I know that (agent) Brian (Goldberg) had some conversations with ownership. He just said, “Hang in there. Just because the guys they got are younger, it doesn't mean they can't pitch.” Everybody knows the key to us winning is staying healthy, No.1, and our bullpen. Our bullpen is the strongest thing we've got ...

In the stretch run, they can go out and get somebody when we need a little shot in the arm.

Q: Would you be at peace if you don't win a championship ring?

A: If it happens, it happens. There have been great ballplayers who've never won a ring. There have been bad ballplayers who've won, like, three (laughter). It's a game of numbers and luck. If I win one, that's fine. But the one thing I can't stop doing is try. I depend on these guys; they depend on me. I'm going to throw and run and hit no matter what. If that's going to help this team, I'm going to do it. No matter what it does to my body.

Q: Do you know whether Seattle Mariners management has anything special planned for you at this year's All-Star Game? (Rumors have surfaced that Griffey's jersey No.24 will be retired.)

A: They haven't told me anything. I just play. I can't control what people do.

Q: How do you think people in Seattle regard you now?

A: In my case, it took a year for people to understand what I was talking about. I didn't go out there and say: “I'm going to Cincinnati, that's it. Cincinnati's going to pay me $20 million (a year).” I didn't do that. Obviously by my contract and how much I deferred, it took people a year to understand what's more important to me. I took a lot of grief, and then now, with Alex's contract ... I got some calls from people in Seattle; a couple of radio guys talked to Brian (and said), “We're starting to see what kind of person you are.” One person even wrote, “They traded the wrong ego.”

Q: Have you talked to Alex Rodriguez since he signed with Texas?

A: I talked to him while I was at the Super Bowl. He was on the golf course. I told him, “I've gotta give you some strokes, but I know I can get in your pockets now.”

Q: Will you enter the home run hitting contest before this year's All-Star Game?

A: (Griffey didn't want to assume that he'll make the All-Star team) I'm really superstitious, from cars that I drive to not signing Hall of Fame balls — or not signing All-Star Game balls, until I get to the All-Star Game. If I drive a car and get no hits, I switch cars. ... Like that black car (a Mercedes) I had in spring training (last year)? That lasted a month into the season. Then I got rid of it (because he was slumping). I will not drive a car if it doesn't have any hits in it. I won't actually get rid of it. I'll keep it in the rotation.

I will get rid of a bat if it feels soft. I'll switch a glove if it doesn't feel right. You guys can't tell, because I have six gloves. I drive the same way to the ballpark, listen to the same song. Don't ask about food. I don't eat before a game.

Q: Manager Bob Boone has been quiet about plans for the batting order, leading some observers to speculate that he might ask you to bat fourth. You've always hit third. Has he talked to you about it?

A: Nobody really talks to me. It's, “Hi, Ken. Bye, Ken. Go play.” But it was like that in Seattle. They just say how are you doing, and that's it. From the front office on down. I mean the guys in the clubhouse, they're going to mess with you. I've just learned to accept that they're not going to say too much to me.

Q: But Boone has said that he'll try to communicate with you more.

A: I don't have that much to say. I'll just sit there and listen. I do that with my dad. But I look around when he starts talking and I get in a little trouble — “Would you look at me?”