Tony DeMarco

As he approaches milestones and accomplishments that only those enshrined in Cooperstown attain, Ken Griffey Jr. thinks only about playing the game the same way he always has.

Numbers, comparisons and places on all-time lists? That can wait until his career is over.

“Let me ask you a question,’’ Griffey said recently. “In Little League baseball, did you go up there thinking about hitting 500 homers? No, you thought about hitting that home run to win the World Series. There’s not one person who plays this game who doesn’t want to be Joe Carter.

“If you think about wanting to hit 500 homers, you’re not going to play this game very long. Just do everything you can to help your team win, and the numbers will take care of themselves.

“My Dad has told me from day one — get your hits and the home runs will come. When you think about hitting home runs, you start doing things you’re not supposed to do. Just hit a ball hard, and eventually one is going to get out for you. And another.’’

That’s easy for him to say. Griffey already has passed Reggie Jackson, Rafael Palmeiro and Harmon Killebrew on the all-time home run list this season, and at 576, he is within seven of Mark McGwire and 10 of Frank Robinson.

“For awhile there, he was passing a guy every week,’’ Reds general manager Wayne Krivsky said.

Sammy Sosa’s comeback has included 10 home runs to bring him within two of 600, and that leaves only Willie Mays, Babe Ruth, Barry Bonds and Hank Aaron also ahead of Griffey. Still, ask him about the numbers, and he wants to change the subject.

“It’s not the numbers; it’s just the effort that I put out,’’ Griffey said. “That’s the most important thing. People are going to judge you on what they see. But it’s how you judge yourself that’s most important.

“If you gave your best effort, it doesn’t matter what anybody else thinks. There are going be people who don’t like you, just because they don’t like you. So why worry about it?’’

What Griffey has been able to give the Reds this season has been substantial. He has played in 55 of their first 59 games, leads the team in walks and on-base percentage, and is second in homers and RBI.

In a 10-game stretch at the beginning of May, Griffey hit .432 with five homers. He hadn’t done something along those lines since 1999 with the Mariners. He hit .306 overall in May, and ranked second in the league in homers with 10, and third in RBI with 22.

That kind of production again makes you wonder what if he hadn’t missed those huge chunks of three consecutive seasons in 2002-04 — or those 90 games in Seattle in 1995. Where would his career totals be then? But again, just don’t expect him to think out loud along those lines.

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“One of the things I look at as far as what I do is what do my kids think about me?’’ Griffey said. “The biggest thing is, ‘OK, Dad got hurt. But what is he doing? He’s rehabbing, trying to get back on the field.’ That’s important in anything, in life itself.

“When it’s all over, I’ll be able to say this was the best Ken Griffey had, no matter where the numbers end up. I play for one reason — to win. I’m not going to stick around to be a DH, just to get to some number. When it’s time, it’s time. Right now, I can still go out there and play defense and help this team.’’

Contractually, Griffey is tied to the Reds through next season with an option for 2009, and there are indications that very well might be it. So expect him to retire as a Red — no matter what milestone or legendary figure he may be chasing at the time. No going elsewhere for him.

“I’d have to change my address and phone number if that happened,’’ Krivsky said.

But before Griffey goes away, there is one more accomplishment he is willing to admit to desiring.

“I’m going to play shortstop for one inning,’’ he said. “Just so I can show everybody I can do it. And I hope a ball is hit in the hole, because I’ll get it.’’