View Profile
View Forum Posts
View Blog Entries
View Articles
Reply With Quote
It is terrific news. Two thumbs up as Siskel and Ebert might say.
The press release seems to state it best: "What he did in that clubhouse, and what he did with his presence, I think goes beyond what any of us expected," general manager Jack Zduriencik said. "Others who have been around Kenny for years knew him a lot better than I did, and I can see how important [it was to come back] and how he relished this opportunity to give back to an organization that he cut his teeth on, and give back to a community that he loves. I tip my hat to the effort he gave to us on and off the field."
Nice! I look forward to seeing him one last time then this year. He is only 30 HR behind Willie Mays heh.
http://seattle.mariners.mlb.com/news...=.jsp&c_id=sea
Check out some demos from my upcoming album: http://www.myspace.com/le_serge
It is terrific news. Two thumbs up as Siskel and Ebert might say.
big deal !
How much money did he sign for?Originally Posted by Nat Bailey
I'm a little surprised that he came back. 19 home runs is okay, but he only
hit - what .214?
By coming back he'll join two rare groups:
1. Four Decade players (1989-2010) : Active in the 1980s, 1990s, 2000s and 2010s.
2. Homered both in their Teens and their 40s. - Much rarer than four decade players. Only ones that come to mind are Al Kaline and Gary Sheffield. Perhaps Mel Ott.
Does anyone know if there are any others?
No one should begrudge a player for playing as long as he wants, if some team is willing to employ him.
That said, Griffey clearly is hanging on, and has been for several years. All of his skills have eroded dramatically. He is a below average offensive player playing a position where offense is expected. He is at best an adequate defensive rightfielder, and that's being generous, in my opinion. He's unable to stay in the lineup regularly. He loads up, trying to hit homeruns, in most at bats, because he can do little else.
The longer he stays, the more distant become the memories of the outstanding player he once was. This isn't unique to Griffey, but it still is somewhat disheartening to see.
There wasn't much disheartening about him being on the team last season. It's why he'll be with the team again this season. He has already stated he will take whatever role Wak wants for him.
AL West Champs:
*1995*1997*2001*
World Series Titles:
Everyone knows and Griffey knows himself that his career is winding down. This season might be an opportuinity for him to further his career if he decides to get into coaching. He may not play 50% of the time, but I think his impact in the clubhouse really benefits the team.
My collection of autographs: TTM Autos
Well, he hit .214 with an OBA of .324 and SA of .411- all below AL average. His OPS+ was 95. He played in the field 11 games. Griffey is a once great player who has been nowhere near great for at least the last 8 seasons. I didn't check, but I'm pretty sure he placed near the bottom of AL DHers in performance. The likeliehood of him being as effective in 2010 as he was in 2009 is very low. Just my opinion, but that seems pretty disheartening.
Which is why I believe him being on the team isn't disheartening. Maybe use a different term and I'll agree. He's not here necessarily for his stellar offensive/defensive stats, I think most people understand/understood that. But that hardly makes his presence on the team disheartening to see. I don't understand why seeing him in an M's uniform would have that effect on someone. Were they watching the same team I was?
Last edited by Trickyhop; 11-16-2009 at 02:55 PM.
AL West Champs:
*1995*1997*2001*
World Series Titles:
Currently he's the JKidd of baseball, the guy did so much in the clubhouse, you CANNOT measure his value by the stat sheet. I mean you can, by looking at the turnaround this club underwent. There was so much made of Ichiro casting himself as a stat sheet watcher, watching his own numbers, keeping to himself, that it was Ichiro and the other 24 guys, Griffey came in and made this club into a club. Just by walking in the clubhouse, he got rid of all those issues. He showed Ichiro you're playing a little kids game, you're getting paid for it, smile, be a part of something special.
Then hire him as a coach and sign a DH who will produce...
"You should enter a ballpark the way you enter a church." - Bill Spaceman Lee
Except that .214/.324/.411 stuff...
"You should enter a ballpark the way you enter a church." - Bill Spaceman Lee
Not really. You must not have been watching or listening to during 2008, or to any of the commentary about the 2008 team. Well, I did. I paid attention to the entire season, and it sucked, lol. 'Nuff said. Besides that, Griffey had some really nice clutch at bats for us last season. We weren't postseason ready no matter how much anyone would like to delude themselves into thinking we were. There was nothing disheartening about having him on the team. Maybe peoples expectations were set too high. Mine weren't, so I wasn't dissapointed, and now our team can actually all have a team dinner together in the same resteraunt. I'd much rather have that than a player with better numbers on a team that has a toxic environment.
Last edited by Trickyhop; 11-25-2009 at 09:05 AM.
AL West Champs:
*1995*1997*2001*
World Series Titles:
Yeah I thought you guys would go after Matsui...
Would have been nice.
"You should enter a ballpark the way you enter a church." - Bill Spaceman Lee
There was definitely a positive aspect to him being on the team last year, but they need to face the fact that his job here is done. There was no way the M's were going to compete last year, but they're moving back in a good direction now, and we'd be a whole lot better off getting a DH that can still hit.
"You should enter a ballpark the way you enter a church." - Bill Spaceman Lee
A's Super Moderator
More like Prince Fielder or Lyle Overbay...
Fire Billy Beane!
Trusted Traders: ttmman21, Dalkowski110, BoofBonser26, Kearns643, HudsonHarden, Extra Innings, MadHatter
I think the clubhouse without a leader will fall back into what it was before 2009. Ichiro is not an outgoing person. As the best player on this club, the players look to him for leadership and he does not give it. He has a quiet personality and some times it is deemed aloof. Junior does what he does best and it is to involve everyone. Now if you go out and bring in a guy that does the same as Griffey and hits better, then I'm all for it, but who out there can you get that has that personality? I'll toss this in, the M's best pitcher is King Felix, another guy who seems quiet in the clubhouse. The days where you had a Dan Wilson, Edgar, Buhner, veteran leaders who will get into teammates ears in a positive way are gone. It's one of the difficulties of rebuilding with a pair of superstars in the clubhouse. When the M's had that established core,they added to the edges of it and the new guys respected the clubhouse because of the veteran core. Now they come here, to play and collect a check, Sexson, Beltre. I think the M's better start hashing out some leadership for 2011.
Well, my posts were specifically referring to last season. I'll with hold jugdement on this season after I see what kind of role Jr. will even play.
AL West Champs:
*1995*1997*2001*
World Series Titles:
The feeling that Safeco Field gets when #24 comes to bat in a PH situation in late innings is enough, for me at least, to warrant keeping him around as long as he wants.
Clearly as the GM stated Griffey has had nothing but a positive effect on the team from inside out. I think there are quite a few teams who would love to have that kind of player (and there's a lot that do have this already) with that kind of history & ability to change the game with one swing.
This is a guy who is one of very few who were able to escape playing baseball in the 1990's with no allegations of drug abuse. It sure would be nice to see him end 2010 and his career with a ring!
Visit Homepage