Griffey Jr. Question
 

Do you think it is possible that if he never came to the reds and stayed with the Mariners that he wouldn't be having all these problems medical and what not.
i mean the guy made the all century team left Seattle and into the shitter.

This is one of the most depressing down falls I have seen.
I mean damn he had a promising future and now, shit he may never make Hall of Fame, it really saddens me.

And after these last few years, Do you think he can ever turn around?

I dont think he will ever be the player he was but i do think he will eventually hit 500 and possibly 600 homers sending him on the a-train to cooperstown.

Ideally, he should ask for a trade to an AL team, and play the DH position until he retires.

Look at Edgar Martinez with the Seattle Mariners. He hasn't played more than 10 games as an infielder since 1994, yet he has averaged 25 homeruns a season.

The only thing I care about regarding Griffey Jr is how much his Upper Deck rookie card is going for.....

...I probably shoulda sold it about 10 years ago.

If Griffey never plays a single game more or homers another time, I think he'll still make the Hall of Fame. Players with alot less creditials have.

As for him being injured all the time, it's just tough luck...For him and the Reds.

The playing the outfield doesn't really matter as a large majority of his injuries are from running the bases.

Edgar Martinez talks about how excited he gets for the games he plays. He is in excellent physical condition.

Ken Griffey whines. An above average sneeze puts him on the DL for months.

Apples and oranges. Griffey needs to figure out if he's interested in playing instead of going through the motions. He's nowhere near the player he was in Seattle.

That first part cracked me up!

And yes, Griffey needs to figure out if he even wants to play anymore. I dont think he cares. But then again, I never did like him.

I think Griffey cna return to his old form if he gets into the right situation--competitive team, not the "Man" anymore [needs someone else to share the load] and away from his hometown...puts too much pressure on himself

COUGHYankeesCOUGH

Oh yeah...if he can't handle the media and fan pressure in Cinci-fucking-NATTI, how do you think he'll do in New York?

it sucks for him too....he is only 18 HRs away from 500.....the guy is a fucking stud....if he hadnt gotten hurt these past years he would've been there already.....hes still my favorite player tho....and always will be.

He's a hall of famer already. There are other players who have fallen off a cliff and still made the HOF.

I think that there's a pretty obvious correlation between Griffey's workout regimen (or lack thereof) and his current spate of injuries. He's never taken care of himself, and his natural talent is giving way to age.

He could turn it around, but he'd have to change his whole approach to the game. I don't see it happening.

Too bad, too. I remember when he and Bonds were considered in the same breath. Now, it's not even close.

Griffey definitely need to find a new personal trainer. Either one that'll teach him how to stretch out before game... teach him how to run/walk/eat/shower/sleep/ etc etc etc.. so he wont get hurt!! I put so much hope on him in my fantasy team this year too :(

The Yankees have a CF. I'll take Bernie over Junior all week.

Hey Sox... YOU sign him, tack a few more decades onto the curse :)

-Mikey

"The Yankees have a CF. I'll take Bernie over Junior all week"

Ha. So would I; Griffey's hurt.

Bernie really should be in left field though. He can't play defense worth crap any more.

Of course, Griffey doesn't have the range for center any more either.

Moving to DH would do him good. A good portion of those injuries is from his defense. Diving for balls, running into walls etc. The guy doesn't know how to play any other way than flatout. A move back to the AL and a season at DH would probably do him good. Let his body heal back up and then a move to left or right field.

He'll be back.

Griffey is only what, 32? 34? He's still a bad ass, just tough luck. Still the purest swing in the game, and that's completely HIS swing, you can't learn how to swing a bat like he does. He could swing as a DH, like he does now well into his early 40's.. It doesn't take great physical ability to swing a bat that pure like that, it's natural ability. He'll be back, I love Griffey, and yeah, his rookie card is in the shitter.

Griffey wouldn't be a DH .. he was a gold glover for years, I don't think his ego would let him DH for another 5 years or so ... I bet he'd retire first

Begora21, don't believe for a second that the ego issue would not be overcome when George offers the greenbacks.... and the promise of additional $$$ when he asks to wear the MFY cap into the hall......

Money is not an issue with Griffey Jr. He took less money to join the Reds, so I doubt Steinbrenner can buy him off like he did with Giambi. Griffey will be back. It wasn't too long ago he was hitting 50+ homers a year.

It's funny how when the Mariners got rid of the Big Three, they actually kept doing good, who woulda thunk it?

Yeah they kept doing good but they haven't won jack shit either. They are a tightwad organization that has a huge fan base in Seattle, sells out home games, but they won't make the playoffs this year because once again they failed to improve the club during the trade deadline.

Griffer Jr. is a bum. He gets hurt every year.

If he can get a good physical trainer, and stick to a regimen that will strengthen his body, he'll be fine. He usually injures himself trying for an extra base, or going for that great catch...He hasn't injured himself in the dugout...

He's healthy so far, which has been his only problem. He is still an amazing talent, he's just been through a streatch of bad luck. I can only imagine what he would have done if he had remained healthy for his entire career. Griffey was the only reason I became interested in baseball at all. As a Seattlite, my heart broke when he left us. I am thrilled to see that he is getting back on track. His average is down, but he leads the league in homers, which is a start. I can only hope that he returns to Seattle one day, if that asshole Howard Lincoln can get over himself. During Spring training the reds would have done anything to get rid of Griffey and anyone could have had him for cheap if they wanted to take a risk. Now he's on the verge of a major comeback and there's no way the Reds will get rid of him. Griffey is a force on that team and they would not be where they are now without him as a player and a leader.

I think the one thing that ruined Griffey was the strike. Why am I the only one who makes note of this? He was on pace to beat the home run record back in 94, but the strike fucked it over.

Matt Williams also on pace to break the record too. He was even 3 ahead of Grumpy Jr.

Well. i treded for him cheap on one of myt fantasy teams a month ago and he is really tearin git up with homers.

One thing I have noticed though is that he is really starting to remind me of this guy who used to play way back when :) Reggie Jackson. If he doesn t make a homer he doesn't do much else. Which is ok If he can do at least one homer every game or 2.

I was in Seattle for 6 years and well I always Admired Griffey. It would be nice to see him come back with avengence.

I think he plays full tilt and that's why he's injured all the time. No matter where the venue he's gonna play the same way. It's unfortunate we won't see him break some more records but unless he plays all out he may not have been the player he is now.

I think most of you are missing the main reason why griffey is always hurt....the sauce! As a minor league player myself I can tell you first hand that injuries as freak as Griffey's (minus the seperated shoulder) are due to the sauce( aka roids). He's finally off the juice and look whats happening. Hes returning to old form instead of worrying about how big/strong he is. Its not coz hes in the NL or anything like that coz The Great American Ballpark is a launching pad. Baseball Tonight/Espn/Peter Gammons always say its poor training, no stretching, freak accident whatever, they say that coz they have to, they cannot talk about him on roids because thats taboo and considered unprofessional.

He will be a formitable threat for all-time homeruns if he stays the way he is. Hes still young and still has the tools.

Yeah...Griffey's on the 'roids.

So is David Eckstein.

The park in Cin is a good hitters park but it's not like BOB, Coors Canaveral, or Arlington. I was under the impression that you're more likely to get injured when you go off the sauce. Look at Sosa, Bonds, Giambi, Sheff, etc. They're all off the juice and have had back spasms all year.

Ken Griffey Junior and steroids. Are you kidding me? If he is on roids, he has the softest body of anyone in the history of illegal steroids. You know who else must be on steroids? Randy Johnson, Tayshaun Prince, Yao Ming and Shawn Bradley. This is ludicrous. Did you actually see how Junior separated his shoulder, that was a freak injury that had nothing to do with conditioning. Get a clue. Thank god he's healthy, Junior and Casey are carrying the Redleggers right now!

I think "the sauce" may be a valid point for some players but I'm not convinced it is for Griffey. As a minor league player I'm sure you have innumerous insights into the ins and outs of baseball but unless you can show me who has taken it and who hasn't I can't accept your "sauce" point to explain Griffey's injury propensity. Indulge me for a minute.... if we assume Griffey is on the juice and that's the reason for his injury ridden career, then who else can we point to as being in the same predicament. Certainly Big Mac with his back problems, Canseco has already admitted to using, ad nauseum. I think you would agree it's all speculation at this point as to who has and who hasn't used performance enhancing drugs in baseball. Neither of us has proof as to any positive drug tests so can I stipulate that the only way we as outsiders can even assume one is on steroids is to look at change in physiques? I'm discounting, maybe incorrectly, the overall increase in physical abilities of baseball players over the last 10 years. I feel this is due to more competition to break into the big leagues which causes initially bigger and stronger and faster athletes turning to baseball or being groomed for it out of necessity for a better chance to make it. Anyway, I have seen numerous players with substantially more differences in size from rookie to present day/ final playing size than Grif. For instance let's take Barry Bonds' case. He is an absolute monster from his rookie day to now. Did he lift weights? Absolutely. But if I am to assume Griffey did as well, I just don't see a comparative correlation between the increased muscle mass from beginning to end and performance enhancement. Both were fantastic players from the get go. I see the gradual increase in ability from the synergy of experience and natural talent in both. I just don't see any of the substantial physical mass increase element in Griffey . I'm not saying yor wrong, incorrect, or misinformed. I'm just saying if everything is presumptive at this point as to drug users, at least give me something for me to look more at your argument that Griffey's predisposition is due to his steroid use and not his all-out style of play.

Tru dat!

I would say one of the major reasons is all those years playing on that astro turf in Seattle finally came back to haunt him. The Griffey in Seattle and Cincy always played without regard to his body. He always went all out and gave 110%. It was only a matter of time that it was going to catch up with him. As for the reason for the turn around, could be better conditioning, could be just better mental preparation, could just be his body has finally had a chance to fully heal without him pushing the issue.

He is about to pass 500 hr, and since he is only 34, 600 is very likely. for those who say is doesn't deserve the H.O.F., how many other players in the history of the game has the power stats that he has put up; while going through a 4 year stretch of constant injuries, DL visits, and slumps.

I'm glad to see him back to his old form, and I look forward to many more years of him on the diamond!!!

Me too!

There is absolutely no doubt that Griffy Jr will be in the HOF.

He is just an awesome player imo, his swing is so effortless and the results are booming. I saw him at old tiger stadium long long time ago, man he could roof them, he hit one homer off the second deck overhang in left center field. could not believe it. opposite field to boot! hof for sure.