Ken Griffey Jr. Returns to Seattle

[Coug00]

Re: Griffey near return to Mariners

The Mariners can outbid Atlanta, so I hope Zduriencik doesn't give in and get into a bidding war with them. Sentimentally, it would be great to have him back in Seattle (since he's not blocking any young talent by platooning at DH), but the guy isn't worth more than a couple million.

I'm not sure why Wren wants him so badly. I love Griffey, but his days in the field seem like they should be over.

[AUTiger1]

Re: Griffey near return to Mariners

The Mariners can outbid Atlanta, so I hope Zduriencik doesn't give in and get into a bidding war with them. Sentimentally, it would be great to have him back in Seattle (since he's not blocking any young talent by platooning at DH), but the guy isn't worth more than a couple million.

I'm not sure why Wren wants him so badly. I love Griffey, but his days in the field seem like they should be over.

Because this has nothing to do with feilding anymore. It's about his bat. A platoon of Diaz and Griffey would be better than a platoon of Diaz and Brandon Jones/Gregor Blanco. It's all about getting some power. Last year the Braves outfielders hit 27 homeruns. That's it. Nobody had more than Francoeur's 11. Kotsay missed 2 and a half months between being hurt and traded to the Red Sox in mid August and he still had the 2nd most homeruns by a Braves outfielder. That's pathetic.

[Coug00]

Re: Griffey near return to Mariners

Because this has nothing to do with feilding anymore. It's about his bat. A platoon of Diaz and Griffey would be better than a platoon of Diaz and Brandon Jones/Gregor Blanco. It's all about getting some power. Last year the Braves outfielders hit 27 homeruns. That's it. Nobody had more than Francoeur's 11. Kotsay missed 2 and a half months between being hurt and traded to the Red Sox in mid August and he still had the 2nd most homeruns by a Braves outfielder. That's pathetic.

Last I checked Atlanta is still in the NL and fielding does matter. I will never understand why anyone would want to stick one of the worst fielding outfielders in the field so the team can hit a few more home runs.

[keRplunK]

Re: Griffey near return to Mariners

I don't care either way. It would be nice to see Griffey play in person again but it would also be nice to develop some young players. It would also avoid the possibility of him complaining about being a DH or limping around in LF. I'm 50-50 on this one.

[bravesfan1984]

Re: Griffey near return to Mariners

at this point griffey to the braves makes since, at least for me. as a braves fan the last thing i want to see is the braves give up young talent for a nick swisher or xavier nady...just doesnt make since when you have young outfield talent almost major league ready. as far as free agents i'd take griffey over anyone else thats out there...anderson could also fit in but i think griffey/diaz platoon could work out nicely...and as a plus griffey could put more people in the stands. i just still dont see why they didnt go after abreu when he was willing to sign for 5 million.

[AUTiger1]

Re: Griffey near return to Mariners

Last I checked Atlanta is still in the NL and fielding does matter. I will never understand why anyone would want to stick one of the worst fielding outfielders in the field so the team can hit a few more home runs.

When I meant it didn't matter anymore I was talking about as far as the guys that are all still available. There isn't any good fielders left out there. It's just some thing we're going to have to deal with. Nobody likes it.

[bravesfan1984]

Re: Griffey near return to Mariners

with the slim pickings left in the outfield market, fielding just isnt as important as trying to find what the braves need...and what the braves need is a bat. and of the bats left with the exception of manny, griffey's is the best available in my opinion...if they wanted to find someone who could play defense they would just stick with internal options such as gregor and brandon.

[Coug00]

Re: Griffey near return to Mariners

When I meant it didn't matter anymore I was talking about as far as the guys that are all still available. There isn't any good fielders left out there. It's just some thing we're going to have to deal with. Nobody likes it.

If you're looking solely at the big name FA's remaining, Anderson can still move and play the field (at a level way higher than Jr). Anderson is a singles hitter anymore though.

If Griffey heads to Atlanta, the M's are probably going after Anderson. Sentimentally, that move is the complete opposite (bringing in a hated Mariner-killer), but Anderson isn't limited to the DH role, which gives them more flexibility.

with the slim pickings left in the outfield market, fielding just isnt as important as trying to find what the braves need...and what the braves need is a bat. and of the bats left with the exception of manny, griffey's is the best available in my opinion...if they wanted to find someone who could play defense they would just stick with internal options such as gregor and brandon.

Then why go after a guy just because he's a hitter? The bottom line is scoring more runs than your opponents either by scoring more or saving more. I will never, ever understand moves that marginally improve hitting, but significantly weaken defense. Junior in the field is spinning your tires in mud. IMO, its a waste of money and a roster position for Atlanta because he doesn't improve their team.

[bravesfan1984]

Re: Griffey near return to Mariners

when you're outfield hit a combined 27 hr's last season.....and when a speedster named josh anderson led the outfield with 3...yes 3..homeruns after the all star break..i think i'd be willing to sacrifice some defense for a bat...that's just how i feel about..but you have your opinion and i respect that also..i just think they need some offense more than defense in LF

[Speedy]

Re: Griffey near return to Mariners

If Griffey heads to Atlanta, the M's are probably going after Anderson. Sentimentally, that move is the complete opposite (bringing in a hated Mariner-killer), but Anderson isn't limited to the DH role, which gives them more flexibility.

I'd love for Griffey to be in Atlanta as he'd help the PR department that is a disaster b/c of Frank Wren but we already have been through enough with injury-prone vets

[AUTiger1]

Re: Griffey near return to Mariners

If you're looking solely at the big name FA's remaining, Anderson can still move and play the field (at a level way higher than Jr). Anderson is a singles hitter anymore though.

If Griffey heads to Atlanta, the M's are probably going after Anderson. Sentimentally, that move is the complete opposite (bringing in a hated Mariner-killer), but Anderson isn't limited to the DH role, which gives them more flexibility.



Then why go after a guy just because he's a hitter? The bottom line is scoring more runs than your opponents either by scoring more or saving more. I will never, ever understand moves that marginally improve hitting, but significantly weaken defense. Junior in the field is spinning your tires in mud. IMO, its a waste of money and a roster position for Atlanta because he doesn't improve their team.

You are also not thinking about the HUGE draw Griffey would bring. Griffey has always been one of the most popular players in baseball and Braves fans have longed for YEARS to get Griffey. Yes he's no where near the same player he was even 2 years ago but people will still pay to watch Griffey Jr. play. Nobody is going to pay to watch Anderson play.

[Coug00]

Re: Griffey near return to Mariners

You are also not thinking about the HUGE draw Griffey would bring. Griffey has always been one of the most popular players in baseball and Braves fans have longed for YEARS to get Griffey. Yes he's no where near the same player he was even 2 years ago but people will still pay to watch Griffey Jr. play. Nobody is going to pay to watch Anderson play.

I understand the draw, which is the ONLY reason I would want Seattle to grab Jr over Anderson. And its not the draw of wanting to see a MLB future HOF'er, its the draw of the most popular baseball player (along with Edgar) in Seattle history returning home for one last hurrah.

I don't believe the draw in Atlanta will be that big outside of the first month or so. If Griffey is hitting .248/.350/.416 and the Braves are 20gb of Philly or New York in August do you think somebody is going to pay money in this economy to watch Griffey?

What's funny about all of this is that Junior could go from hero to zero in Seattle. It took a long time for the majority of Mariner fans to forgive him for the bush league BS he pulled in '99. If the reports are legit that he began campaigning to the Braves to sign him and used the M's as leverage, he'll be right back in the dog house.

[BravesBoy]

Re: Griffey near return to Mariners

You are also not thinking about the HUGE draw Griffey would bring. Griffey has always been one of the most popular players in baseball and Braves fans have longed for YEARS to get Griffey. Yes he's no where near the same player he was even 2 years ago but people will still pay to watch Griffey Jr. play. Nobody is going to pay to watch Anderson play.

Exactly...I would love to see Griffey in a Braves uni...The only thing that scares me is his health. But he can add a HUGE vetran presence in the locker room that we lost with Smoltz...

[snepp]

Re: Griffey near return to Mariners

His defensive "ability" should scare you a whole lot more than his health.

[Speedy]

Re: Griffey near return to Mariners

Exactly...I would love to see Griffey in a Braves uni...The only thing that scares me is his health. But he can add a HUGE vetran presence in the locker room that we lost with Smoltz...

I actually think he'd be a good fit here in Atlanta; a good platoon in LF with Diaz hitting the lefties and Griffey hitting the righties...I'd love for Frenchy to have a productive season where Junior would hit behind him in the 6th spot in the lineup

CF Josh Anderson (hopefully - if Bobby's smart enough)
SS Esky
3B Chipper
C McCann
RF Frenchy
LF Griffey/Diaz
1B Kotchman
2B Johnson
P

I don't think that's a bad lineup at all; the main thing is for both Chipper and Griffey to be healthy but I don't like putting a season's success on the health of players who probably won't play in 120 games in a season