(St. Petersburg, October 29, 2000) We all should have Junior's problems. While the ultimate goal of a World Championship eludes him, and it must have been painful to see the Mariners in the playoffs the year he opted out, he can still play the game. Widely acknowledged as the best in the game a year ago, after a 'subpar' season of 40/118/.271 he has been (supposably) surpassed by several outfielders defensively and is almost (dare I say) underrated. BOULDERDASH I say. Griffey will dominate the NL a he did the AL. The real question is whether the Reds can afford to compete in today's atmosphere. I think that depends on how much money they're willing to lose. Love to see what Junior does in the Series...
(St. Petersburg, June 23, 2000) Seems Junior is having a little 'adjustment period' with National League pitching. The good folks in Cincinnati aren't losing sleep - they know the numbers will come up, and besides, they get to watch him play the game. And that is what Griffey is really about. Or so I am told... Hitting .232 at this point, but has 21 taters and 50 rbi, so he ain't mailing it in. And the Reds remain in the hunt, trailing the Cards by about 6 games.
(Boston, February 19, 2000) As you may have heard, Ken Griffey, Jr. has been traded to the Reds for outfielder Mike Cameron, pitcher Brett Tomko and a couple of low-level minor leaguers, one of which at least has a good name: Antonio Perez. Seattle had no choice, of course, Griffey wanted to be nearer to home in Florida, and joins his dad in Cinci. And Junior put his mouth where the money was and signed for probably half of what he could have had in a bidding war. Respectable...
It does boggle the mind that the Mariners would let him go for next to nothing when they could have utilized his prowess for a year for a cool $8 mil. The Mariners improved their club in the offseason, adding John Olerud, Aaron Sele and Arthur Rhodes. Why not make a run for the flag in the new park, while A-Rod and Griffey are still in the fold? Credit to the Reds, who blindsided the Mets in similar fashion in 1977, though that was a mid-season deal. (Tom Seaver for Steve Henderson and Pat Zachry, in case you forgot.)
In any event, Griffey is poised to attack Henry Aaron's homerun record, and the Reds have already noticed Junior's drawing power.
(Boston, June 13, 1999) It's impossible to predict the longevity of a ballplayer's career, but Ken Griffey, Jr. is halfway to the top of the mountain that includes the likes of Mays, Aaron, Ruth, and Williams. He could likely retire right now and become a first ballot Hall of Famer five years from now.
| YR 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 |
TM Sea Sea Sea Sea Sea Sea Sea Sea Sea Sea Sea Cin |
G 127 155 154 142 156 111 72 140 157 161 160 145 |
AB 455 597 548 565 582 433 260 545 608 633 606 520 |
R 61 91 76 83 113 94 52 125 125 120 123 100 |
H 120 179 179 174 180 140 67 165 185 180 173 141 |
2B 23 28 42 39 38 24 7 26 34 33 26 22 |
3B 0 7 1 4 3 4 0 2 3 3 3 3 |
HR 16 22 22 27 45 40 17 49 56 56 48 40 |
RBI 61 80 100 103 109 90 42 140 147 146 134 118 |
BB 44 63 71 44 96 56 52 78 76 76 91 94 |
SO 83 81 82 67 91 73 53 104 121 121 108 117 |
SB 16 16 18 10 17 11 4 16 15 20 24 6 |
CS 7 11 6 5 9 3 2 1 4 5 7 4 |
OBP .329 .366 .399 .361 .408 .402 .379 .392 .382 .365 .384 .387 |
SLG .420 .481 .527 .535 .617 .674 .481 .628 .646 .611 .576 .556 |
AVG .264 .300 .327 .308 .309 .323 .258 .303 .304 .284 .285 .271 |
| Totals |
|
G 1680 |
AB 6352 |
R 1163 |
H 1883 |
2B 342 |
3B 33 |
HR 438 |
RBI 1270 |
BB 841 |
SO 1101 |
SB 173 |
CS 64 |
OBP .380 |
SLG .568 |
AVG .296 |
| G 159 |
AB 616 |
R 123 |
H 179 |
2B 31 |
3B 3 |
HR 53 |
RBI 142 |
BB 81 |
SO 117 |
SB 20 |
CS 5 |
OBP .377 |
SLG .611 |
AVG .291 |
| YEARS 10.37 |
G 162 |
AB 613 |
R 112 |
H 182 |
2B 33 |
3B 3 |
HR 42 |
RBI 122 |
BB 81 |
SO 106 |
SB 17 |
CS 6 |
OBP .380 |
SLG .568 |
AVG .296 |
