Griffey update . . . for real

Jerry Narron said the hope now is that Ken Griffey Jr. will play some time this week. When he does play, it will be in right field.

Griffey basically missed the chance to play in center because he was hurt.

"We would have like to get Junior out there in center," Narron said. "But we're running out of games. We need to get our lineup out there with Ryan Freel in center. I think that gives us the best defense up the middle.

"That's the deciscion I made. It's a decision I didn't take lightly. I talked to other people around baseball."

Narron danced around the right vs. center question before the game. But answered the question after the Reds' 6-3 loss to Detroit.

There was a report on foxsports.com on the right-center thing. Griffey's people have been saying similar things since the Winter Meetings -- that Griffey was willing to make the move, but he would be more willing if the Reds obtained an established center fielder.


I thought there was a chance today would be the day Griffey would play. The Reds are playing in Lakeland, which is 50 miles west of Griffey's offseason home.

Let me ask you this: Are you as tired of reading about Griffey's return as I am of writing about it? I waited a couple of days to ask Narron. It's a legitimate issue, but it's gone on way too long -- for whatever reason.