Feb 15 2009
Junior eyes Braves: Griffey, team have mutual interest
By Bud L. Ellis
braves.today.com
ATLANTA — “Griffey where?”
That’s the text message a buddy of mine sent me last night, after I sent him a note asking what he thought of the Ken Griffey Jr. story. Upon seeing his text, I called:
“Here,” I said.
“Here” would be Atlanta, and it appears that is where the man who has belted 611 career home runs wants to play in 2009. Griffey, coming off a season in which he played 143 games and hit .249 with 18 homers, 30 doubles and 71 RBIs, was thought to be close to a deal with Seattle – where he played the first 11 years of his career.
But living in Orlando, Junior apparently doesn’t want to head all the way back to the Great Northwest. Instead, the Braves appear front and center in the mix for Griffey, according to several published reports Saturday afternoon and evening, and it appears there is mutual interest in making this thing happen.
Interesting, isn’t it?
The Braves provide Griffey with an intriguing situation, one that might provide the perfect fit for the future Hall of Famer. Atlanta needs power in the outfield – God knows the Braves can use any boost in the wattage from an outfield that cranked out a grand total of 27 homers COMBINED in 2008.
With Matt Diaz looking to bounce back from an injury-marred 2008, the Braves would love to find a power bat to platoon with Diaz. They’re not going to find it from within. They watched this week as Bobby Abreu and Adam Dunn signed with the Angels and Nationals, respectively.
So now, the Braves turn to Junior. I say go for it, He’s played 287 games the past two years (144 in 2007, 143 last season), the most games in a two-year stretch since 1999-2000. Were it not for his dreadful showing against left-handers (.202 average, four dingers in 163 at-bats last season), I’d say forget the platoon, tell Diaz to enjoy the view from the pine and run Griffey out there every single day, even though he just turned 39.
Now don’t get me wrong, folks. I don’t think it’s realistic to expect that Griffey, the guy who hit 48 homers in ’99 and 44 homers in ’00. But let’s say he ends up a Brave? If he hits .260 with 15 homers in, say, 130 games, would you take that?
You bet your bottom dollar you would.
Griffey’s not going to win a batting title or hit 40 homers. But he doesn’t have to put up MVP-type numbers. And as we all learned last season, any source of power added to the outfield is an upgrade.
—30—
I would take an average Griffey season from the last five years in our LF slot right now, no questions asked. I know this might elicit giggles from the SABRE crowd, but I think Junior is still perceived within MLB as a guy who shakes up the entire batting order and could single-handedly change the image of the Braves’ offense. This isn’t a greatly diminished Dale Murphy, flailing away at the sad end of a great career…Junior’s still capable of going out there and being electrifying on any given night. Plus, from a pure fanboy POV, I’d love it just because it’s been so long since the Braves picked up a household name, attention-getting superstar. I say go for it…
I agree that a Diaz/Griffey platoon would be great for us.