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My sentiments about Ken Griffey Jr's decision are validated by Keith Law

Last night I wrote a pretty harsh criticism of Ken Griffey Jr. for choosing the Mariners over the Braves. In part that was a criticism of the Mariners for thinking that signing Griffey was a good idea. Here is what I said:

Griffey's decision relegates his 2009 season to a farewell homecoming tour - the baseball equivalent of the Vegas casino "meet the champ ex-boxing star greeter." The Mariners have no need for an aging slugger in their present state -- they're half a dozen moves from being competitive. Griffey has relegated himself to pure sideshow status on a completely irrelevant team thousands of miles from home -- absolutely stupid!

That drew some sharp replies from Mariners' fans stopping by to disagree (something I have absolutely no problem with, I encourage this kind of back and forth). However, I still maintain that my analysis of the situation was the right one. In an article posted to ESPN by Keith Law, I get some validation on my argument. Here is what Law says:

The Mariners' agreement with Ken Griffey Jr. is a nostalgia signing that does very little to push the franchise forward and carries some risk of retarding their recovery from five years of mismanagement by the previous baseball regime. [...]

What's most troubling is that this appears not to be a baseball move, but a marketing one. It's a cynical, insulting ploy to try to get fans into the park -- "Hey, they've heard of this guy! They won't know he's not half the player he used to be!" -- and worse, it's misguided. Fans who want to see Griffey play again will go … once. One past-prime player isn't going to get large numbers of fans to go to the park on a regular basis; the only thing that can do that is winning, and Griffey is worth maybe a win to the Mariners in 2009, with the potential that he reduces future win totals if he takes playing time away from younger players.

Absolutely correct.

I guess to some degree the Braves desire to have Griffey was in part about him being an attraction for fans to come and see, but mainly it was about adding power to the lineup at a reasonable price. Our efforts this off-season to get a full-time left fielder were unscucesful or impossible due to financial constraints, so the next best option was to try and add a platoon partner for Matt Diaz. This seems like it would have been a more satisfying role for Griffey, but he chose the gold watch division.

Perhaps this is the best thing for the Braves. I said before the Griffey possibility broke a week ago that I thought the Braves should wait until the end of spring training or a month into the season before they make a move. We've got a lot of internal options and it could add long-term value to give guys like Brandon Jones and Jordan Schafer a chance to break into the majors.

I'd like to throw out one more name for left-field platoon consideration; Brooks Conrad. He's an unproven hitter, but as a switch-hitter batting left-handed against right-handed pitchers at triple-A last year he hit .262 with a .527 slugging percentage. If he can control his strikeouts he could probably be even better, as he had a .300 BABIP vs. right-handers. What Conrad lacks in average and plate discipline he brings in power -- which is a lot of what we're looking for in left field. He's obvoiusly not ideal, and I have no idea if he can play left field, but the Braves don't seem to be searching for a long-term solution in left field anyway.

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I agree it’s ok we didn’t sign Griffey. My problem is on mlb trade rumors they are saying the braves are leaning toward internal of. This in my mind makes us a worse offensive team than the Padres. I know when we had our big three on the mound we made it most years without offense, but we dont have those big three anymore and if we dont find a legit power threat or lead off man we can go ahead and chalk it up until 2010.

Proof that when posting while high or intoxicated can lead to some really funny posts

by bravesrbaseball on Feb 19, 2009 2:34 PM EST reply actions  

You write
I guess to some degree the Braves desire to have Griffey was in part about him being an attraction for fans to come and see, but mainly it was about adding power to the lineup at a reasonable price.

So why can it not be the same for Seattle? I’m no big fan of signing Griffey from a baseball perspective, but it’s also not a terrible baseball move and frankly, thinking Griffey was going to provide the Braves with any value while playing LF strikes me as disregarding how bad of a fielder he has become.

Keith Law is way off the mark here, insinuating motives that he has no idea about.

by Matthew on Feb 19, 2009 2:36 PM EST reply actions  

Because the Mariners have young players worth a shit that Griffey would be stealing plate appearances from.

SWAGGA LIKE BJONES, SWAGGA LIKE BJONES

by bigjoe on Feb 19, 2009 2:48 PM EST up reply actions  

Uh.

No, they don’t. Their only young outfielder is Wlad Balentien and he looks like a serious potential bust. The person he might take ABs from is Jeff Clement, but only when he isn’t catching, which he needs to be doing anyway. His value as a DH is almost nothing, but as a catcher it’s good. So. Griffey platoon at DH is much better than any other options they have. Besides which, I don’t understand why it is cynical to get fans to come to the park. Finally, I think Keith Law underestimates Griffey’s appeal to the casual, doesn’t know a damn thing about the Mariner’s, fan.

by Perrinbar on Feb 19, 2009 3:46 PM EST up reply actions  

Wladdy B OPS’d 938 in AAA last year, at age 23.

It’s far too early to consider him a serious potential bust.

Formerly Uncle Charlie of Minor League Ball

by Yakker on Feb 19, 2009 4:39 PM EST up reply actions  

Franklin Gutierrez ring a bell at all?

SWAGGA LIKE BJONES, SWAGGA LIKE BJONES

by bigjoe on Feb 19, 2009 4:54 PM EST up reply actions  

He's their CF.

And will be all year, Griffey being DH isn’t going to take time away from Gutierrez. As for Wlad, his AAA numbers were damn good but he has been atrocious in his time in the majors so far. Very, very bad. I agree he could be something, but he’s not even their starting anything this year, before the Griffey signing. Endy Chavez is set to be the starting LFer. So, if their management has little faith in Wlad, I fail to see how Griffey is taking time from him. Again, this hinges on him being a DH. If they play Griffey in the field more than 10 times, it was a dumb move.

by Perrinbar on Feb 19, 2009 5:35 PM EST up reply actions  

You’re not losing much if you take away at-bats from Gutierrez. Where you lose value is if Griffey takes fielding innings away from him.

I'll handle u in spring training - phil413

by mattdiaz4life on Feb 19, 2009 5:57 PM EST up reply actions  

Which is why Wakamatsu should keep him out of the field.

And I mean a big, fat “0” in the “IP in the OF” column.

You're trying to kidnap what I've rightfully stolen.

by Sentinel on Feb 19, 2009 7:01 PM EST up reply actions  

Law is just as wrong as you are

Citing equally faulty analysis from someone else doesn’t validate your own fautly analysis.

From a purely baseball standpoint Griffey makes much more sense in Seattle than Atlanta. He’s a defensive liability at this point in his career which takes away some of his value as a platoon hitter. In Seattle he’ll be spending most of his time as a DH which is exactly what he should be doing at this point in his career to maximize his value to the team. And he’s not blocking any deserving younger player either. Clement will be getting his ABs as a catcher and Balentien has too many holes in his swing at this point. If his bat comes around there’s room in LF for him or as a platoon DH against LHP. He definitely won’t be taking any ABs away from Gutierrez who will be the starting CF.

The claim that Seattle’s Griffey signing was all about marketing rather than baseball is absolute rubbish. It makes sense from both perspectives.

by rsrobinson on Feb 20, 2009 10:57 AM EST reply actions  

i thought we mentioned that Balentien posted a 900+ OPS… im not familiar but what else could need to learn…. im just trying to figure out what is holding him back

Heyward,Hanson,and Shaffer r ready now!! Why do you think they havent signed the "right handed bat"?

by fatazfoot on Jan 7, 2009 8:59 PM EST

by Swo12bv on Feb 20, 2009 12:43 PM EST up reply actions  

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