Prodded by internet mockery, Griffey signs
DMZ · February 18, 2009 at 5:21 pm · Filed Under Mariners
- 2009 slogan “A New Day, A New Way” hastily scrapped,
- New commercial scripts being hastily written
Reports are starting to pile up that Griffey has actually, no-fooling, we’re-serious-this-time signed with the Mariners, terms not leaked, etc. Here’s hoping one of the teams confirms and schedules a press conference.
Useful link: Projecting New Mariner Griffey’s Offense.
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*gag*
I don’t believe you.
Crap. Atlanta fails again.
That’s twice this year they’ve been used to drum up someones pay.
Finally
You know, they’ve been throwing around the stat about how all of our current outfielders only hit 22 bombs last year. I realize he will DH. But at least someone other than Beltre and Lopez could hit 15 Hrs. That’s the glass half full lady’s and gentlemen.
It’s a bit disappointing, but it’s not the end of the world, it that’s true. Hopefully he’ll fair better than Franco Harris when he came to Seattle to end his career.
Hey, well, I might as well be excited about it right? Makes me running around my office with my Griffey statuette the other day a little less regrettable.
This just in:
While signing his contract to return to Seattle, Junior suddenly felt a slight tinge in his right index finger and could be out for the season.
At this point, I want to see not only a press conference, but an actual copy of Griffey’s signature on a contract with the M’s and a lease for a Belltown condo.
Hickey says it’s a done deal
Griffey!
The Seattle Times says there is no official word. Everybody seems to be quoting a paper/TV station in Atlanta.
This just in:
While signing his contract to return to Seattle, Junior suddenly felt a slight tinge in his right index finger and could be out for the season.
I’ll believe it when I see it….
it’s better than getting anderson IMO. something I was afraid would happen otherwise.
as someone who was there for his last game as an M, and was there for his first game back with Cincy…
Welcome home Junior!
It depends. . .
Griffey playing left field = BAD
Griffey playing DH = NEUTRAL to GOOD
Griffey taking away playing time from Clement = BAD
Johjima and Clement having a fair battle for the #1 catching job in Spring Training with Clement’s immediate upside in mind = GOOD
Believe me, how good or bad this is depends on how Wakamatsu uses him. And lest we forget, the Second Coming of Griffey will likely be for ONE YEAR (as could the 3-year stay of Johjima in Seattle, but that’s a different story).
*In short: Keep your pants on, people. The sky is not falling, nor will it fall because of this move.
Please discard my repetitiveness.
Please discard my repetitiveness.
He’s going to call MLB.com and deny this report as well, then decides to play for the Newark Bears.
I’m excited.
This is an understatement.
It’s sort of like that love of your life that broke your heart in your 20/30s leaving you devastated for a decade… and then wants to get back together when you’re in your 70/80s. Great for reminiscing about the good times while you spend your final years together, but not much else.
Here’s to hoping Junior is 100% healthy and he lives up to all of the expectations of those that think that this was a good baseball move.
PI scoops the Times … Stone and Baker are going to be pissed.
ESPN reporting it.
.01% times .01% times (1 minus “no-fooling, we’re-serious-this-time”)= ?
While reconciling my irrational love for the Ms from my childhood and my rational belief that, at best, Griffey only mildly helps the Ms is difficult, I find that happiness is really winning out at the moment. Welcome home, Junior!
On a side note, now I wont feel nearly as awkward wearing my old Griffey jersey anymore.
It depends. . .
Griffey playing in the outfield = BAD
Griffey limited to DH duties = NEUTRAL to GOOD
Griffey taking away PT from Clement = BAD
Clement and Johjima having a fair battle for playing time in the spring with a high consideration to Clement’s upside = AWESOME
How good or bad this move will be baseball wise for the Mariners will depend halfway on how Wak decides to use Junior.
Regardless, if this really is happening, I’d be thrilled to see #24 retire as a Mariner in Seattle where he belongs. Finally, something about Seattle sports that can make you feel at least a little good.
I also hope people understand that this is a very unique situation in today’s day and age of free agency where a player has a wish to retire back at the place where his career started to take off for one year.
In short: Keep your pants on, people. The sky is not falling, nor will it not fall due to this move.
Instead, crack a smile people. The Kid’s retirement party will be in Seattle after all.
Also in short: YOUR USSM BROWSER ASPLODE
Does Griffey go back to 24 or continue using 3 or 17?
I hope this is true!
I owe someone a dollar…welcome home Jr!
A poster on talkingchop.com says it appears Griffey is returning to Seattle BUT THERE’S STILL NO OFFICIAL WORD.
I need to know when the ‘09 Jerseys come out. Fox sports and Espn have it so it has to hold some weight. I could have gone 20 miles down the road to watch him all season but I much rather fly 2900 miles to see a weekend series. That is what Jr. does to a true Mariner fan.
Welcome home Jr. I bet Neihous is doing backflips.
So…Does Selig now step in to stop this, or do the Braves have to make another huge stink about this – like Furcal – before something happens…
Or will this end up in the courts???
Please be kind to the servers, folks. This is big news and some of y’all are hammering refresh.
That is what Jr. does to a true Mariner fan.
Don’t imply that people who don’t care as much as you do about this signing aren’t true fans. Thanks!
Enjoy the day everyone! The kid is coming home!!!
So now I don’t have to have sour grapes and pretend I never liked him in the first place? Awesome!
Keith Olbermann just announced Griffey’s return to the Mariners on Countdown. (Seriously…)
I guess all those stories in the PI and Times late last week were accurate after all.
And, given the initial details, I have no reason to be against this move. As long as Clement gets ABs, it should all work out.
Sorry, computer problems.
Baker’s reporting the same thing but at this point I’m just waiting for a damned Press Release so we can close the book on this (or in this case, move on to the next Chapter).
I don’t care where Griffy plays in reality. He’s not going to be a factor one way or another here in Seattle so it hardly matters.
I don’t blame him if he wants be be closer to home and I don’t think he owes Seattle squat. His motives are obviously unknown to us and frankly…none of our business.
I wish he’d have signed elsewhere though. I will hardly be able to tolerate the whole ‘95 play-off excitement again and again and again. Something tells me that is all we are going to hear about this season when I really do want to hear about the new guys. I’ve seen KG’s smile at the bottom of the dog pile on homeplate enough already.
Now we have to tolerate the media fawning over the prodigal son countless times between now and opening day.
Gotta be #24.
The best thing about his return is that never again will another Seattle sports columnist write a “Bring Griffey Back” column.
It would be blasphemy if Junior didn’t wear #24
In addition, if your post doesn’t show up instantaneously, relax and go get a cup of coffee or something, don’t sit there hammering on the submit button like an out of control chimpanzee.
This will be the last time #24 will ever be worn in Mariners history.
Yes… I just threw on my Mariner’s jersey that I haven’t worn in over four years.
And my girlfriend laughed
Umm.. I don’t think so. hahaha
WELCOME BACK JUNIOR!!!!!!!!!
Wow this is exciting! The Last time I saw Junior play it was in the kingdome and I was 11.
Mariners just announced Junior:
http://seattle.mariners.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=sea
Welcome back Kid!
[we just talked about this in a post like three days ago. you are not the judge of anyone else's fandom]
[original post deleted, so this one is too!]
Since people seem to have a short memory, this comment thread is not exempt from the “no questioning anyone else’s fandom” rule.
People are allowed to hate, mildly dislike, be indifferent about, mildly like, or love this signing, and you’re not allowed to be a snot to them because they express a different opinion from yours.
I think Griffey didn’t want to contend with the rapier-like wit of Derek and Dave (to say nothing of other various denizens of USSM) if he ditched Seattle again.
I’m ambivalent about it, overall. But come April, I’ll allow myself to be a kid again. For awhile. I just don’t want Clement to lose the ABs he needs to prove himself a solid offensive producer in the big leagues.
If the M’s were smart, they’d open up single game ticket sales tomorrow instead of waiting till March 14
I don’t see the logical reasoning behind the overwhelming scorn for this deal. The M’s needed a Lefty power hitter. The M’s needed to field a team with more familiarity. The M’s needed that over the top buzz/excitement around the clubhouse to start the season. The M’s needed clubhouse leadership. Currently, These alone are worth 2 million dollars+ in the MLB. Let me applaud our new GM Jack ‘of all trades’ Zduriencik for fielding a baseball team that caters to Safeco’s strengths while not bending over backwards like Bavasi to make easy and obvious fan moves that bit us in the ass over time.
Derek,
Where do you see Griffey fitting into the order? Fourth?
*getting bones back in place after deciding on a what-the-heck cartwheel*
I’d put Junior in the six-hole.
I don’t see the logical reasoning behind the overwhelming scorn for this deal. The M’s needed a Lefty power hitter. The M’s needed to field a team with more familiarity. The M’s needed that over the top buzz/excitement around the clubhouse to start the season. The M’s needed clubhouse leadership.
There isn’t overwhelming scorn, but it’s not a good baseball signing. The M’s don’t need any of the things you mentioned, they need to get better at baseball, and only the left-handed power is even related to that.
You could make a very real argument that Griffey isn’t even the second-best LH power hitter on the team, too.
So who’s your 3, 4, 5? Beltre, Branyan, Clement? If so, and Griffey is sixth, then that’s three lefties in a row.
One morning I woke upAnd I knew you were really gone
A new day, a new way
And new eyes to see the dawn.
[So, moving down the lyrics a ways, we have the new Mariners slogan for 2009]
Rejoice, Rejoice, we have no choice
But to carry on.
Yeah? Any data on how that’s good or bad?
Armstrong is on the phone to KJR– he said that Harold Reynolds was a big part the whole thing.
He said that Harold called him to tell him that Willie Mays wanted to talk to Chuck about the importance of Griffey to Seattle, and did Chuck think Ken would mind if Willie called Ken to talk about the importance of legacy? So he did.
Armstrong says the deal is the same one they talked about last week, it wasn’t sweetened to get him here, and that they were told it was pretty much the same as Atlanta’s offer. They talked last week about him DH-ing, and it sounds like the plan is a mix of LF and DH.
By my count, assuming Clement is the first-string catcher and Chavez wins the left-fielder’s job, we now have 6 everyday lefties hitting in the lineup.
Ichiro, Branyan, Clement, Junior, Gutierrez, Endy
Should be interesting. . .
By my count, assuming Clement is the first-string catcher and Chavez wins the left-fielder’s job, we now have 6 everyday lefties hitting in the lineup.
Ichiro, Branyan, Clement, Junior, Gutierrez, Endy
Should be interesting. . .
Well Gutierrez is a righty.
I grew up with Kid Griffey. I thank my father and his season tickets (still has ‘em, and he’s had ‘em since Day 1). Griffey and my father are the reason I love baseball, and perhaps sports in general. Because of college and a “career” I haven’t lived in Seattle since 2002, but I can tell you now that my top priority when I visit home this summer is seeing Junior play in the House That Junior Built. And I can’t wait to see him in New Yankees Stadium as well.
Russ: Now we have to tolerate the media fawning over the prodigal son countless times between now and opening day.
Hey, at least it gives the media something else besides the “clubhouse in turmoil” saga to talk about.
after all, Jr will magically fix it, right?
Now that the JailBlazers era is finally over, I can say that it’s not so bad to be in P-town, even when it comes to pro sports. Ugh.
Well, it WILL take time to form new animosities and feuds, right?
Folks, there is never a better time for Jr. to come back. We have -0- expectations of doing shit this year, so why not have a little nostalgic fun. The guy may still have a gallon or so of unleaded in the tank, and he’ll put butts in the seats. Anyone who is a true M’s fan should welcome this. Even though the guy is kind of a dick, those of us with young kids can bring their kids to see “the kid.” And my old man, in one of his final seasons (if not the last), will feel just giddy announcing his first dinger in 10 years. Bring it on.
[Niehaus]
Oops, my bad. I must’ve had him confused for someone else.
Hey, where’s that GTownHoyas kid who was dogging the guys here for their certainty that Griffey would sign (“Sounds like stuff that is pretty hard to go back on…”)? Or should we be cutting him more slack than he was willing to cut Derek and Dave?
People never, ever come back and apologize if we’re right about something and they called us idiots at the time of post. No one ever came around about the season projection series I did, for instance, and there were some crazy “you’re off your rocker”/”this whole exercise is laughable”-type stuff.
Yeah, I know. And people seem incapable of remembering Dave picked the Rays to surprise also.
But that GTownHoyas handle is memorable enough that I’ll be prompted to mildly yank his chain about this a couple of times when I see it again.