SpringfieldNewsSun.com

CINCINNATI — Ken Griffey Sr. walked through the clubhouse door and said, "I'm here to straighten out my kid. He has a lot on his head."

Ken Griffey Jr.'s famous father was referring to the death last week of Griffey's best friend, Frank King, a victim of cancer at 38, and to the incessant chatter about a possible trade to Seattle.

Griffey was not in Tuesday's (May 13) lineup, but it had nothing to do with the dropped fly ball that let in two runs and the near-drop of the next fly ball that skittered out of Griffey's glove and into his bare hand.

"If I had dropped that one I would have thrown my glove into the stands and played barehanded," he said. "That catch came from my Moeller High School pass-receiving days.

"On the first one (that he dropped) I was just trying to protect myself. I saw (second baseman) Brandon Phillips fall to the ground in front of me and I flinched. I thought I might have to jump over him."

Said manager Dusty Baker, "Him not playing has nothing to do with that. He's human. He saw Phillips coming. The thing is, that only happened because of Brandon's range. Most second basemen wouldn't have been out that far. I'd rather have too many guys running after the ball than too few."

Griffey said Baker told him Sunday night he wouldn't play Tuesday.

"I was supposed to have the second game of the doubleheader off in New York Saturday, but when we lost the first game that threw the monkey wrench into that plan."

After playing the doubleheader, Griffey played the afternoon game Sunday and the Monday night game.

"I'm sure he doesn't want a day off, but he has played every day and sometimes you just have to do it," said Baker. "I talked to him about it and he said, 'I don't need it,' but I didn't discuss it with him after that. I just did it. It has nothing to do with the game (Monday) night."

Dunn did it right

There were a couple of important hits by Corey Patterson and homers by Jeff Keppinger and Brandon Phillips in Monday's 8-7 win over the Marlins.

Baker was most impressed with the 3-and-2 sacrifice fly to left field by Adam Dunn in the sixth inning on a pitch he might normally take for Ball 4.

"The biggest at-bat of the night, THE at-bat of the night," said Baker. "If he hadn't done that they would have walked Paul Bako (intentionally) and made me make a decision on whether to pinch hit for Aaron Harang."

About Dunn swinging at a marginal pitch he normally would not swing at to hit a ball the opposite way, Baker said, "He doesn't like how he is doing and playing, and that was a chance to contribute. I mean, the guy is busting his butt chasing down balls that a lot of people told me he couldn't catch. I know he'll get going at some point."

The 'Mohawk' is gone

From Day 1 of spring training, Brandon Phillips has taken heavy abuse for his Mohawk-style haircut. It's gone. His head is slick and hairless.

"Got tired of getting haircuts," he said. "I'm not used to that."

Quote of the day

"Two hits a day for a week cures what ails you and that's the prescription from the Hit Doctor. I only wish I could write that prescription for my whole team." — Baker

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