Do you find that chicks really do dig the longball?

Griffey: Well, my wife has one of those T-shirts. Still wears it to bed. Hers on the back says, "I have one of those long-ball hitters." They made her one special.

Thomas: I think they do. Everybody digs it. You watch ESPN and the only thing they highlight is the home runs. The longball always has a place in everybody's minds.

If you could hit .365 with 235 hits and, say, 20 homers and 90 RBIs or .270 with 40 homers and 125 RBIs, which would you choose?

Griffey (laughing): I'm taking the .365 because I'd have a chance to win the batting title. I've hit 56, so that 40 doesn't do it for me.

Killebrew: No question: RBIs win ballgames.

Thomas: .270 because you're more dangerous. You have a better chance to win.

Which pitch (fastball, curve, slider, etc.) would you say you most often hit for a home run?

Griffey: I have no idea. Hopefully a fastball. Guys throw change-ups, you get out front and hit it. Sliders, catch it before it really starts to break. Really, I have no idea.

Killebrew: I would go in streaks. Sometimes I'd hit more fastballs, some streaks I'd hit more breaking balls. But you can't play in the big leagues if you can't hit a fastball, so I'd say more fastballs than anything.

Thomas: I think a mixture of curveballs and fastballs. I've always been a good curveball hitter, and early in my career a lot of pitchers threw me a lot of curveballs.

Which fellow power hitter did you admire?

Griffey: George Foster.

Killebrew: Ted Williams. He was the greatest hitter of all time. When Ted took batting practice, everybody in the park stopped what they were doing and watched.

Thomas: You've got to watch what Barry (Bonds) does. It's incredible. Everybody wants to question him, if he did or he didn't, but the bottom line is he's been doing this a long time, and it is amazing to watch one of his.

How often do/did you go to the plate trying specifically to hit a home run?

Griffey: Only when it's necessary. Late in the game when I've got to try to tie it up. Or extra innings, when I have to try to get us home. Oh, there's been a few times when I've done that. Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn't.

Killebrew: If the situation called for a longball, I would try to hit one, and many times I did. I've heard players say if they try to hit a home run, they can't — but I don't believe that. Maybe they're being modest.

Thomas: I'd probably say one or two swings a night. You get ahead in situations; it's more of a count thing. There are one or two swings a night you try it.

Slide show   Week in Sports Pictures Flying on the hardwood, racing on the rink, getting physical on the gridiron, and much more. more photos

Are too many guys swinging for the fences at the expense of situational hitting?

Griffey: The public salivates over the longball. When I grew up, hitting the longball was fine, but the most important thing was to get the win. Everybody now is fascinated by the guy who can hit it 500 feet. But look back at the Big Red Machine. Let's go by the order: Pete Rose could bunt, Joe Morgan could bunt, my dad could bunt, Dave Concepcion could bunt, Cesar Geronimo. You had six out of the nine guys coming up to the plate who could manufacture runs. That's what it's about.

Killebrew: There are a lot of guys who shouldn't be trying to swing for the fences, but they are, and they'll end up hitting a lazy fly ball to right. What good does that do?

What will be your emotions when Bonds breaks the record?

Griffey: I'll be happy.

Thomas: I've got mixed emotions. I know what Hank Aaron went through. Barry, over the last year and a half, has gone through a lot, but he still hasn't gone through what Hank Aaron went through back in the day. ... There's been so much said over the last year and a half, and it looks like it's going to happen, so I guess we're all resigned to the fact that it's going to happen.

MORE FROM BASEBALL

Baseball Section Front

GMs head out to work on offseason trades Report: Mets, Phillies interested in Figgins MLB blog: Tigers listening to offers for Granderson Blyleven: Pitching to be had beyond Halladay Varitek exercises option to remain with Red Sox MLB blog: Mariners are bringing back Griffey ... why? AP sources: Riggleman staying as Nationals manager Wainwright: Holliday wants to return to Cards Cardinals GM still trying to get McGwire to talk to media MLB blog: NL Gold Glove picks were right, unlike AL's   Baseball Section Front   Add Baseball headlines to your news reader: