HAINES CITY, FLA. ? Kansas City Royals pitcher Doug Henry is eager to get this season under way, hoping to put last year’s disaster behind him.

The Royals signed him to a two-year contract before last season after he went 4-4 with a 3.79 earned run average in 72 games in 2001 with the Houston Astros and San Francisco Giants.

But his season fell apart. He was 2-2 with a 6.07 ERA, blew two saves and allowed 21 doubles, two triples and 14 home runs in 752¼3 innings.

“That was easily my all-around worst year of my career in every aspect,” Henry said. “I don’t know what to blame it on. I have no explanations. Physically I felt great.”

Henry was setback by back spasms last March.

“I was a little behind the other pitchers (then), but I have no explanations,” Henry said.

The Royals saw Henry as the setup for closer Roberto Hernandez, but Jason Grimsley won that job, while Cory Bailey pitched the seventh inning in most situations. Henry was relegated to mop-up duties in many games.

That, however, is last year.

“That’s why I’m looking forward to getting this year started, so I can completely put it all behind me,” Henry said. “I want to quit talking about it and start talking about something positive.”

Henry spent the off season working on an addition to his house and being the equipment manager for his son’s high school hockey team in Hartland, Wis.

“It was a big distraction for me and I needed it,” Henry said. “I was a water boy and a go-for on the construction. I did manual labor and was a slave. I treated the boys on the varsity hockey team better than they deserved to be treated.”

Henry is scheduled to make his first spring training appearance today against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

“He needs to have a good spring,” Royals manager Tony Muser said. “He’s a veteran guy who had a bad year last year, but he didn’t pout and he never refused the ball.”

Henry, a 38-year-old right-hander, has pitched 101¼2 seasons in the majors with five different clubs and has a 34-42 record with a 4.19 ERA and 82 saves.

“I have to do what I’ve done in the past,” Henry said. “It’s not like I have to prove myself for the first time. If I come out and do what I’m capable of doing, I’ll make the team. That’s the way I look at it.

“I don’t feel like I have to win a job, but I know I can’t come out and be a dud again. I’ve got to come out and get the job done.”