Spring Report No. 4

SARASOTA, Fla. - You know someone's gonna do it. Somebody in your league is going to draft Ken Griffey Jr.

It's only a matter of time before Junior's name gets called, and then the jokes are gonna start flying. Calling him injury-prone is an understatement at this point, and he even got started early this year, breaking his hand while wrestling with his kids on the family's yacht in the offseason (coulda happened to any of us).

So should YOU be the one who takes a chance on Griffey this year? Maybe you convince yourself he got the yearly injury out of the way already. And hey, he hasn't lost that sweet home run swing, even after all these years (18, do you believe it?!).

Then reality begins to set in. Griffey hasn't had 500 at-bats in a season since 2000. He was on the bench yet again Thursday against the New York Yankees and has yet to make an appearance this spring. And this week the Reds announced he's moving to right field - a change that hasn't exactly made him jump for joy but is a surefire sign his career is winding down.

You don't want to be the one who gets suckered in by Griffey this time around, but that doesn't mean you have to avoid him at all costs. Instead of considering him a once-great player in decline, treat him more like an unproven rookie. He should be no more than your fourth or fifth outfielder in mixed leagues, but look at some of the other guys available to fill those slots - Brian Giles, Moises Alou, Milton Bradley, and so on. Do any of those stiffs have the potential to hit 40 home runs? I think not. In a perfect world, Griff does, no matter how unlikely that scenario might be.

Don't let Griffey break your heart. But if you haven't taken many risks with your lineup, and you can afford to dump him the moment a hamstring tears or a tendon snaps, he's not a terrible pick. No matter how much they laugh at you on draft day.

Some other observations from Reds camp:

- Griffey's position change isn't the only interesting story in the Rays outfield. Josh Hamilton - the 1999 No. 1 overall draft pick by the Devil Rays who had his career derailed by drug addiction - has been the feel-good story this spring as he attempts a comeback. Hamilton, still just 25, has taken steps to get his life back in order and was reinstated by MLB last season. He was taken by the Cubs in the Rule 5 draft this year, then the Reds acquired him and decided to give him another chance, and they haven't been disappointed. He's been one of the hottest hitters in the Grapefruit League (.527 in 46 at-bats) as he gets an extended look in right with Griffey still on the shelf. He's a five-tool player, and he seems to have a great shot at making the Opening Day roster (the Reds will lose him if he doesn't). We've all seen springtime All-Stars who fizzle in the regular season, and we know the demons of addiction will always be with him, but Hamilton is still a player who bears watching this year.

-Carl Pavano had a decent, if underwhelming, start Thursday (three runs, eight hits in 4.1 innings). He did show a little tenacity by getting out of a bases-loaded jam in the first inning unscathed, and perhaps best of all, he didn't get injured. I'm still not sold on the guy, though (neither are his teammates), so I'd suggest a wait-and-see approach.

-Derek Jeter showed off some of his trademark hustle in the middle of Thursday's game when he and Alex Rodriguez bolted off the field to avoid a giant swarm of bees making its way to the outfield. I haven't checked out the New York tabloids yet, but I didn't exactly see Jeter attempt to save A-Rod from the swarm, so their friendship may have reached a new low.