Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Sports Return of the Kid
Posted by Jonah Spangenthal-Lee on Wed, Feb 18, 2009 at 5:44 PM
Fnarf, rejoice: Ken Griffey Jr. is coming back to the Mariners.
According to Atlanta's WSBTV
Ken Griffey Jr. jilted the Atlanta Braves Wednesday, informing the club he plans to return to the Seattle Mariners.Two sources have confirmed to WSB-TV Channel 2 sports director Chuck Dowdle and sports anchor Zach Klein that Griffey came to an agreement with Seattle.
Griffey spent the first 11 years of his career with the Mariners.
The 39-year-old Griffey is clearly past his prime, but his 2008 numbers — a .249 average, 18 homers and 71 RBIs — were more productive than any of Atlanta's outfielders.
Bitter much, Atlanta?
Obamafied Griffey picture courtesy of Andrew Austin.
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1
this is great news of local goodwill/PR/press for our team .
The teevee anchors have been abuzz for days.
The teevee anchors have been abuzz for days.
3
Junior on "The Simpsons" as himself, suffering from nerve tonic gigantism:
http://www.hulu.com/watch/34894/the-simp…
http://www.hulu.com/watch/34894/the-simp…
4
Even if he is unable to contribute this year it will be great to see him in a M's uniform again. I just hope he doesn't make the team wear that teal vest bullshit. My guess is to see him early in the season, injuries will bench him for the second half of the season.
10
I love Seattle, but damn, we have some bizarre nostalgiamania going on here. If we keep this up, next we'll be trying to save some ugly, boarded-up ex-Denny's.
11
Aw, fawk, do we have to build ANOTHER stadium now?
How about Junior help pay to reopen some of those recently-deemed-to-be-closed schools.
How about Junior help pay to reopen some of those recently-deemed-to-be-closed schools.
13
Bitter? I dont think at all. It is clear that he IS past his prime. He would have been a nice bit piece for Atlanta but hardly and splash in the bigger picture.
He means way more to Seattle then to any other team period.
He means way more to Seattle then to any other team period.
15
@11 - no, we're building an express tunnel, so they have to wait four years before they force us to build another stadium.
16
Even though I don't follow baseball very much this is far more interesting than what's his face going down Pine on a bicycle.
17
Pathetic ass sports town Seattle is. Getting so excited over a 39 year old bad baseball player who never won a title.
18
Honestly, we need A-Rod too. The Mariners would become the perfectly dysfunctional clubhouse that could win the Series. Think about it, players from Canada, Japan, Australia and parts far and wide possessing all those raging egos. A baseball junkyard. It's Perfect. Seattle WILL and CAN re-hab A-Rod, and frankly the Mariners can use a .300+ hitter.
19
Thanks 17, what the fuck is up with this excitement? The team SUCKS ASS and will continue to SUCK ASS, with or without yet another over-priced has-been. I so love this city, but the way people here worship these loser teams is beyond my comprehension...
21
someone talked some sense into the boneheaded narcissist: he can only thrive as an AL DH - he's a disaster in the field, and it leads to injuries every year. i bet he rents kevin durant's house.
still, fuck MLB.
still, fuck MLB.
22
Increased attendance and sales will probably cover his salary, so why not? Either way the Mariners are not contending this year.
23
@21 is right -- Atlanta dodged a bullet there. As an outfielder, Griffey is a HUGE net negative. His defense is seriously among the worst of all time now, more than enough to obliterate whatever value is still left in his bat. As a DH against right-handers, he's a decent stopgap. He can't hit lefties at all anymore.
The M's are probably going to be surprisingly decent this year, and could even contend, if only because they're in the weakest division in baseball, where 82 wins might take it. And even if they're not, they're going to be a TON more entertaining to watch than last year's freakshow. I'm not talking about Griffey's 90-year-old knees, either; I'm talking about the zippy young defensive talent and intelligently managed roster, led by the exciting Don Wakamatsu. Seriously -- this may not be the BEST M's team since 2001, but it will be the most interesting.
Griffey doesn't matter.
The M's are probably going to be surprisingly decent this year, and could even contend, if only because they're in the weakest division in baseball, where 82 wins might take it. And even if they're not, they're going to be a TON more entertaining to watch than last year's freakshow. I'm not talking about Griffey's 90-year-old knees, either; I'm talking about the zippy young defensive talent and intelligently managed roster, led by the exciting Don Wakamatsu. Seriously -- this may not be the BEST M's team since 2001, but it will be the most interesting.
Griffey doesn't matter.
24
We got Ken Griffey Jr. to sleep with us again. A good effort by all involved. I like that all the little, growing up kids in Seattle will benefit from a long look at a baseball veteran.
25
@23 - "As a DH against right-handers, he's a decent stopgap. He can't hit lefties at all anymore."
Compared with Richie Sexson, even the 39 year-old version of Griffey will look like Ted Williams.
Compared with Richie Sexson, even the 39 year-old version of Griffey will look like Ted Williams.
26
Shit, I forgot - Will, if you pay enough attention this season, blue cotton candy and I'll keep 'em coming.
27
We're gonna win TWINS,
We're gonna score!
We're gonna win TWINS,
Watch that baseball soar!
We're gonna win TWINS,
shout hip hip hurray!
Cheer for the Minnesota
TWINS TO-DAY!
We're gonna score!
We're gonna win TWINS,
Watch that baseball soar!
We're gonna win TWINS,
shout hip hip hurray!
Cheer for the Minnesota
TWINS TO-DAY!
28
@17 & 19: What's your point of reference, exactly? I moved back here after a long time in Chicago, and I can tell you that nostalgia for former local players who were extremely popular but never won a championship is pretty much the same there. If Frank Thomas went back to the Sox, half the city would jizz itself.
But, go ahead, call Chicago a "pathetic ass sports town." Whatever makes you feel alive.
But, go ahead, call Chicago a "pathetic ass sports town." Whatever makes you feel alive.
29
@25,
Griffey vs. LHP, 2008: .202/.299/.350
Sexson vs. LHP, 2008: .325/.414/.578
Griffey vs. RHP, 2008: .272/.379/.462
Sexson vs. RHP, 2008: .178/.281/.299
Griffey total, 2008: .249/.353/.424
Sexson total, 2008: .221/.321/.382
They'd make a pretty good DH platoon, actually. Griffey's a better hitter than Sexson, but not against lefties.
@22, merch sales is split equally between all clubs, so the M's won't benefit significantly from those. Only from attendance and food sales, which will be very slightly up, almost all of it on opening day.
Griffey vs. LHP, 2008: .202/.299/.350
Sexson vs. LHP, 2008: .325/.414/.578
Griffey vs. RHP, 2008: .272/.379/.462
Sexson vs. RHP, 2008: .178/.281/.299
Griffey total, 2008: .249/.353/.424
Sexson total, 2008: .221/.321/.382
They'd make a pretty good DH platoon, actually. Griffey's a better hitter than Sexson, but not against lefties.
@22, merch sales is split equally between all clubs, so the M's won't benefit significantly from those. Only from attendance and food sales, which will be very slightly up, almost all of it on opening day.
30
Then, do you have an explanation for this?
In 2007, Sexson was .238/.333/.419 against LHP, .195/.283/.392 against RHP.
Always the model of consistency, in 2006 it was the other way around ... .204/.325/.438 against LHP, and .282/.342/.524 against RHP.
And, in 2005 it was similar to 2008, with .333/.458/.659 against LHP, and .244/.342/.508 against RHP.
I think he swings with his eyes closed.
For his part, Griffey has consistently stunk it up against lefties for the past several years. Luckily, only about 1/4 of the pitchers in MLB are lefties (though they will certainly be running out of the bullpen in the late innings if Griffey is up).
In 2007, Sexson was .238/.333/.419 against LHP, .195/.283/.392 against RHP.
Always the model of consistency, in 2006 it was the other way around ... .204/.325/.438 against LHP, and .282/.342/.524 against RHP.
And, in 2005 it was similar to 2008, with .333/.458/.659 against LHP, and .244/.342/.508 against RHP.
I think he swings with his eyes closed.
For his part, Griffey has consistently stunk it up against lefties for the past several years. Luckily, only about 1/4 of the pitchers in MLB are lefties (though they will certainly be running out of the bullpen in the late innings if Griffey is up).
31
Well, I have to say, as a kid who's nostalgic for the Kingdome (it was my playground as a kid!) I'm enjoying it all. I don't think he'll have that great an impact, but it'll be nice to see the face that adorned my wall along with the face that my brother hung up (Ichiro).
32
So the Mariners signaled today that it is more important to sell tickets. Winning isn't important.
Be honest with yourselves Ms fans. Griffey in his current condition is a zero sum addition. He's not much more productive offensively than Sexton. He's a defnesive liability. He likely won't be available for a huge chunk of the season. But ticket purchases by notstalgists will more than cover the $2-3 million (incentives).
So congrats Seattle. You got your prodigal son back. Enjoy 20 games out of first by the middle of June. Same as the last few years.
Keep buying the tickets though so management won't feel the need to field a winning club.
Be honest with yourselves Ms fans. Griffey in his current condition is a zero sum addition. He's not much more productive offensively than Sexton. He's a defnesive liability. He likely won't be available for a huge chunk of the season. But ticket purchases by notstalgists will more than cover the $2-3 million (incentives).
So congrats Seattle. You got your prodigal son back. Enjoy 20 games out of first by the middle of June. Same as the last few years.
Keep buying the tickets though so management won't feel the need to field a winning club.
34
@32: as long as they keep him out of the field he should last longer. honestly, he should have been a DH for the last 5 years. wakamatsu isn't dumb enough to put him in the field that often. if griffey's expecting him to, then he's even thicker than i thought. and i think he's thick.
35
32 - Well, it probably would be Clement and Johjima sharing DH duties without Griffey here, so they just wait another year (or, er, less?). I doubt the M's go out and spend a bunchish of money to add a free agent DH if they don't get Griffey. It's low risk, high nostalgia.
37
@32: I am totally fine with having a baseball team that sucks. I don't go to games to watch the Mariners take the division, I go to watch them beat the overpriced and under-talented Yankees, which they've managed to do every time I've been to a Y@M game in the last five years.
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