Clear mind helps Grieve hit well

The rightfielder already has hit four home runs this year after his worst season.

By MARC TOPKIN, Times Staff Writer

© St. Petersburg Times
published April 13, 2002

ST. PETERSBURG -- Ben Grieve is trying to keep it simple this year.

So far, it's working pretty well.

Grieve hit two home runs Friday, giving him four in the first nine games of the season.

Last year -- in the worst offensive season of his career -- he hit only 11 and didn't hit his fourth until June12, in the Rays' 63rd game.

Grieve believes he was trying too many things last year and trying too hard to correct possible flaws in his mechanics.

This year, he's trying to make his swing the thing.

"I'm not constantly trying to work on stuff, not worrying about it as much," he said.

That means he doesn't spend nearly as much time in the batting cage during games, nor does he replay the previous at-bat over and over in his head while waiting for his next chance.

"There's definitely less thought," he said. "That's hard to do sometimes because you want to be at your best.

"And if you're not, you want to find out why. But sometimes, a better option is not worrying about it a lot."

After averaging 24 homers and 93 RBI in his first three full big-league seasons for Oakland, Grieve didn't adjust well to the move to Tampa Bay.

He was part of a three-way trade that sent closer Roberto Hernandez to Kansas City and starter Cory Lidle to Oakland.

Manager Hal McRae said he noticed a different attitude when Grieve reported in February.

"I thought he was more relaxed going all the way back to spring training, and I think that's the difference in Ben now and Ben last year," McRae said. "It's just the fact that he's comfortable in this environment now. He's putting his ability into play.

"And I felt that during the spring."

There has been a carryover to his trips to the plate as well.

"I feel better than I did last year," Grieve said.

"I'm more comfortable, getting better swings. And maybe a little more patient. Everything's a little more comfortable than at this point last year."

A good start is unusual for Grieve, who never has been much of an April power hitter.

Entering this season, he had a .240 average in April, his lowest of any month, and eight April home runs. His four home runs match his April high, which he hit in 2000. This morning, He is hitting .303 with four homers and seven RBIs.

"For 30 at-bats or whatever, this is probably the best start to a season that I've had," Grieve said. "It's not great or anything. It's not like I'm leading the league or anything, but it's better than I usually do."

Grieve said he didn't think the quick start had anything to do with being dropped to sixth in the batting order. "In our lineup, I don't think you get any better pitches hitting a certain spot in the order," he said.

There is another difference, however.

Grieve switched bats this season, now using a maple model produced by a new company, D-Bat, that a friend started.

The burnt orange color is named after him, the Grieve Finish.

"I hope it's more that the bat," Grieve said. "I'd like to think it has something to do with what I'm doing."