Griffey Denies Report
Dave · February 17, 2009 at 11:20 am · Filed Under Mariners
Jim Street talks with Junior, who says he still hasn’t made up his mind.
This is remarkably annoying.
Jim Street talks with Junior, who says he still hasn’t made up his mind.
This is remarkably annoying.
I’m picturing Jr. flipping a coin…heads Seattle…tails Atlanta…and the coin keeps landing on its edge! LOL!
PBS – well put.
Philly – do you work away from your family? It’s hard, man. It takes a big toll, so don’t underestimate that.
The introduction of the Braves as a competitor in the Junior “sweepstakes” seemed to be a classic tactic on the part of Goldberg to exact a little more out of the Mariners in an illusional bidding war. Last week it was easy to argue that the Mariners should keep their bid low (around $1-2 million) because they were only bidding against themselves. Now, by leaking to the press that Junior was all but assured to go to the Mariners, then all but assured to go to the Braves, and then still making up his mind, it seems Goldberg is just using the playbook from Negotiations 101 to maximize his client’s price. Maybe he could tease nostalgic fans into an uproar and force Chuck Armstrong to intervene.
What really surprised me (and it seems many others) was that the Braves would be complicit. As has been said here, why would an NL team want Griffey, especially when Garret Anderson is available for about the same price and plays better defense? If they are not interested, why would they allow Goldberg to use them as a pawn? Most teams, especially this offseason have actively sought to prevent agents from using them this way (see Red Sox; Angels; Mets).
Re-reading Stark yesterday, who alludes to “every indication” pointing to Griffey moving ahead of options such as Swisher and Garrett Anderson to man left field for the Braves, I wonder if we might be able to discern the Braves motivation. Perhaps they are using Griffey, just as Griffey is using them, for a better negotiating position with the Yankees in trade talks for Swisher. Perhaps I am assuming too much talent on the part of the Braves front office, but if we assume merely a competent approach, the Braves must have a motivation for leaking/not denying Junior stories other than actually acquiring Junior. My guess would be that their motivation is acquiring Swisher at a reduced price by demonstrating to the Yankees that they have competition in the market of supplying the Braves with a left fielder.
Hmmm, maybe Z’s motivation in talking to Junior is the same. One can dream…
Griffey will sign with Atlanta and will be announced tomorrow morning. It will be a 2 year deal worth $5 million with a mutual option on the 2nd year.
I’ve come to terms with it. It would have been nice. He would have made more in endorsements and would have had the love of a entire city. He could’nt have done any wrong going back. It is funny that the Braves think they car contenders this year. They dont see they got duked with the signing of Lowe. I would think the M’s would come out better going after Nady, Swisher, or Dye but I see Garrett Anderson continuing the cycle of the Mariners signing over the hill Angels. I also find it funny that people think Wakumatsu can command control of that clubhouse. If they go south really fast you can bet Wakumatsu will be a one and done manager.
I still don’t get why he couldn’t just have moved his family into Issaquah in the first place. Seattle is one of the more desirable places to live in the country, so its not like we’re Cleveland. The whole “being close to family” thing has always sounded like a cop-out.
And the nostalgia thing would be fun at first, but by May-June it’d probably become as sad as Patrick Ewing’s time in Seattle. He’d look like Griffey, but he’d play more like Al Martin, and the fans would turn on him real quick.
Why is everybody so hostile towards Garret Anderson? The guy will hit .290, 15-20 HR’s, and give you 75-90 RBI’s. He is 36 years old, he is still decent in left field, he can provide good clubhouse leadership, and we can sign him for 1-2 million.
For so little money, and production that is better than most of the Seattle roster over the past few seasons, what isn’t to like?
Its a Done Deal!!!! (insert team later)
Skylansky – you suggest Junior should have just moved to Issaquah, but one of his best friends (deceased PGA-er Payne Stewart) lived in Florida, and he wanted to be down there. Not that I don’t love the Northwest, but Junior wanted to be closer to his family. How can anyone begrudge him that position? Have you ever worked out-of-town for an extended period of time? Even without a wife and kids, it can be very difficult.
Listen…If Griffey really wanted to be a Mariner, he would be a Mariner.Simple as that!
I moved to Seattle around the time Griffey left. I don’t have memories of his great playing years; my memory is of him throwing a temper tantrum over wanting to be traded, and not wanting the other team to give up too much talent.
And now that “Junior” is 39, we’d end up with all of the attitude but none of the playing ability.
No matter how the Baker apologist tries to spin it, Baker’s harping comes off as having a bias against Ichiro and it is extremely tiresome to see his snippets picked up on national media outlets besmirching Ichiro’s reputation. Based on some underperforming whiners? Zero credibility.
The Griffey reporting is also terrible. Almost seems like anything to try to grab attention.
Griffey can go to Atlanta, it seems pretty clear that that was his first choice to begin with. It will be laughable if his salary approaches that of Abreu. Or maybe he gave Atlanta a “hometown” discount?
When the report first came out I was excited to have Griffey back, but now that it’s turned into some bidding war I could care less. Like some others said, if he wanted to be here he would already have signed the contract. Nick Johnson is looking like a nice addition every second that goes by. He was hurt last year but in 2007 he turned in over 100 walks and 46 doubles. Who wouldn’t want a guy that can yield a .400+ OBP?
Perhaps it is time to quote “Army of Darkness”:
Woman: “You found me beautiful once.”
Ash: “Lady, you got real ugly.”
I just have this weird feeling that The Kid is coming back – or maybe that’s the 7 hot dogs I ate talking.
Is it to late to call Edgar?
A good theory, if Griffey hadn’t been the one calling the Braves to get them involved….
im sorry.
Hearing that he was going to Atlanta today in class made me realize how much I really want him to sign with the M’s.
Because the average projection shows him at .280 with 15 HR, 80 RBI, and about 5 runs below league average total offensive output. This combined with around average defense for a corner outfielder makes him worth about .75 wins (-7.5 corner OF, -5 Offense).
Endy is worth at least as much and is already on the roster. Why spend the $$ for reduced production?
“Maybe Griffey is mad that A-Rod is stealing all the news around MLB today and is going to make everyone wait a day or two. Old jealousies die hard.”
Simply awesome.
I had exactly the same reaction. And another indication we really don’t need to revisit the drama of the Glory Years right now.
In other news, the new Morrissey record is awesome.
Sure he would’ve had to stay away from his family during the season. He’s a major league baseball player and gets paid million of dollars to play baseball. He only needs to work 7.5 months of a whole year. Hard to feel too bad for him. All he would have to do is to play 1 season in Seattle, and will have plenty of time to spend with his family after he retires. He can’t wait an extra 7.5 months? Even if he signs with Atlanda, he’ll be on the road for half the season anyway. So the different is really only 4.5 MONTHS.
But then again which college kid wouldn’t want his parents to move close to him and ruin the college experience.
I wanted Griffey to come back. I even already added him to the Mariners on MLB The Show ’08. If he signs with Atlanta, whatever. Once was enough. Now a second time? He can go f* himself.
but he doesn’t have to.
How many college kids…particularly college athletes…get homsick during college?
END! END!
I’M SO SICK OF THIS CRAP I’M ALMOST HOPING HE FAILS HIS PHYSICAL NO MATTER WHERE HE GOES.
END! DEAR GOD MAKE IT STOP!