Ken Griffey Jr. Retires

Ken Griffey Jr. called it quits today, ending an the amazing 22 year career of this baseball icon. In recent weeks things have gotten ugly for Griffey. He was caught sleeping during a game, his playing time was falling apart, and he wasn't playing well. Yet, all of us should forget that.

Griffey is one of the best players I have ever seen, and one of the few that seemed to have done it cleanly. He is 5th all time in HRs, made 13 All-Star appearances, and is known as one of the best teammates in baseball.

"To play with him is a treasure I will keep deep in my heart," Seattle's Ichiro Suzuki said through an interpreter. "I have played 19 years in professional baseball and I can say he was one of my best teammates and my best friend (ESPN)."

Players like Griffey don't come around very often. He is an icon even if you don't like baseball. Who hasn't tried the "Griffey swing"? I really can't understand how anyone couldn't be a little sad that he is gone. Sure, his career has been over for a little while now, and maybe it lingered too long, but still this is like seeing the last part of my childhood "move on".

Milton Bradley, Griffey's teammate for only a few months, turned to Mike Sweeney during batting practice and said, "on a day like this, it should rain in Seattle (ESPN)."

Griffey Signs 1 Year Deal With Seattle

"Ken Griffey Jr. has reached agreement on a one-year deal to return to the Seattle Mariners in 2010, according to a baseball source. The deal is similar to the contract that paid Griffey a base salary of $2 million and earned him $3.15 million total with incentives, the source said (ESPN)."

Griffey is one of my favorite players of all-time, and might be the best "clean" hitter in our lifetime. Yet, he is not close to the player he once was. He only hit .214 last year, and really wasn't much of a factor. Seattle has to get some more hitting. They have the pitching (if Morrow can become a solid starting pitcher), but they aren't going to go anywhere unless they get some better hitters.

I think Griffey should have retired, but maybe he feels that this team has got a shot at winning a championship (I don't see it unless they make some major moves on offense), since he has never won one and it would be the last thing he would want to get done before he retires.

This Just Felt Right...

Griffey will hit over 25 HRs this year....

Griffey's Career Comes Full Circle

Griffey as of about 4pm yesterday was part of the Atlanta Braves, but he quickly changed his mind and decided that his "legacy" with the game meant more to him then living near his family. Personally, I am pumped that Griffey is in the AL, and I am somewhat excited to see if he can add some life to a Seattle team that has a lot of pitching talent, and really just needs a couple bats. Once again, I am not saying that Griffey is going to turn around the Mariners, but he is now one of the top bats on the team (sad) and I think with Griffey playing DH he will be able to stay healthy and hit 20 HRs again.

Atlanta on the other hand has to be pissed. They have lost out on every free agent they have been after, and now they can't even sign an aging sluggers, who's family lives close. Anyways, it is great having Griffey back in the AL where he belongs, and I really hope he does well.

Griffey Chooses Braves...guess not

"Ken Griffey Jr. has decided to play for the Braves, a person close to the veteran outfielder and familiar with the negotiations (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)."

This is a stupid move by Griffey. He breaks down every year, but if he had stayed in the AL he would have had a shot at staying healthy playing DH everyday. Seattle really needed a bat, and have to be pissed that they lost out on another free agent. Griffey would not have turned around that offense, but at least if would have given them something. Not with Griffey playing part time I don't see him hitting more than 15 HRs, and that's if he even makes it through training camp.

The contract is believed to be a 1 year deal worth around $2 million, and it is also believed that Griffey picked Atlanta because it is closer to his family.

**UPDATE**Griffey at the last second changed his mind and is returning to Seattle....more tomorrow.

Griffey Update

Ken Griffey Jr. will choose what team he will play for by tomorrow. He has to choose between the Seattle Mariners and the Atlanta Braves. My hope is that he goes back to the Mariners, it would be nice to see his career go full circle, plus he might be able to have a decent year if he gets to DH a lot more. Seattle really needs some kind of bat, and even though Griffey is washed up, he is actually better then most of what Seattle has to choose from.

Seattle To Sign Griffey

"The Seattle Mariners have stepped up the pace in negotiations that could bring Ken Griffey Jr. back to the city where he spent the first 11 years of his major league career (ESPN)."

The deal is rumored to be for 1 year and worth $5 million, which I think is hilarious considering that's what the Angels just signed Abreu for. I love Griffey, but he is no where near the player that he used to be. Last year he hit only 18 homers in 490 at-bats, and had to have his knee drained 3 times. Still, this move is good for Seattle, because they can use all the help they can get on offense, and this will help sell more tickets. Griffey is still a big name, and is currently fifth on baseball's career list with 611 home runs. Maybe he can stay a lot more healthy if he is able to just DH. Anyways, I expect the deal to be done in the next week or so.

Griffey Jr. - FREE AGENT

If you don't like Ken Griffey Jr., I don't like you. Actually I hate you. Given it is not a surprise that the Chicago White Sox have declined Junior's $16.5 Million option and Griff does earn a $4 Million buyout but I hope everyone is as excited as I am that Griffey is a unrestricted free agent. I want Griffey on my team no matter what. With his leadership and interaction with the fans, I can only pray that he fills the left field gap for the Mets.

Griffey,

I love you. No homo. Come to the Mets and break-in Citi Field! Even Willie Mays became a Met toward the end.

Your best friend,
Scott Beer

This Just In...

Alright I'm sure by now most of all of us have seen this ridiculous shit about Ichiro and everyone trying to fuck him up. For one, the Mariners suck more than an Asian prostitute (no pun intended). But seriously what the fuck is this, of all the players on the team they want to fuck Ichiro up? Come on now hes the best player to be in Seatle since A-Rod and Junior Griffey. If anything they should be going after Beltre, their catcher who doesn't even count as a player considering he sucks so much and Richie "I love cock in my ass" Sexson. Seriously Seatle, you don't deserve a team anymore. As an organization you suck at drafting young talent, and if you have it you give it up for the likes of Ben Brousard (granted he was sick in Baltimore, but sucked ass in Seatle until getting injured). What happened to the good old days when the Mariners where the most exciting team in baseball to watch(I don't care what you say, Griffey, A-Rod-when he was fun to watch, a young Freddy Garcia, and Randy Johnson where mint to watch play)? Granted that I am a New Englander and love all of our teams besides the Bruins because quite frankly hockey sucks to watch until the play-off's, I loved watching the old school teams like the 9ers and the good version of the Mariners. Please executives of the Mariners, bring back the good ol' days and draft the next Griffey or A-Rod and bring some more excitement to my life. With that being said, FUCK THE YANKEES, HAVE FUN PLAYING GOLF THIS FALL BITCHES!!!!!

Griffey To Sox

This morning ESPN is reporting that Ken Griffey Jr. is being traded to the Chicago White Sox from the Cincinnati Reds. The trade has to be approved by Griffey due to his no trade clause in his contract. We don't know who the White Sox are shipping to get Griffey back.

Even though I don't know who the White Sox got rid of to get Jr. I think this is a terrific move. I love Ken Griffey Jr. and will love to see him more on a regular basis. The White Sox now will have a pretty dangerous heart in the line up with Dye, Quinten, and now Griffey.