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Reds Insider
From news of the day to news of the weird, John Fay provides a glimpse of what it’s like to cover the Cincinnati Reds

John Fay
John Fay has been the Reds beat writer for the Enquirer since 2001. Prior to that, he served in a variety of roles for the Enquirer: backup Reds writer, UC beat writer, backup Bengals writer and as a general assignment reporter. He is a Cincinnati native and a graduate of Elder High School and the University of Dayton.

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Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Seattle angle on Griffey

From the Seattle Post intelligencer:

The quest to add more pop to the Mariners lineup may be taking a swing through Cincinnati.

The Reds apparently are more than willing to trade outfielder Ken Griffey Jr., and Griffey's original team, the Mariners, is in the process of checking out the 38-year-old slugger to see if he might be the answer to an underperforming offense.

Duane Shaffer, a special assistant to Mariners general manager Bill Bavasi, was in New York on Sunday to watch the Reds and the Mets play at Shea Stadium and, more specifically, to watch Griffey, who went 0-for-2 with two walks.

Mariners sources say no deal is imminent, but as long as the club continues to struggle, every time a Mariners scout watches the Reds, it will be news.

Entering play this week, the Mariners have a need for a middle-of-the-lineup power hitter (a lefty, like Griffey, would be the best fit). Off the field, Griffey would be a major draw in the city that was his home for a decade. After eight of the 10 smallest crowds in Safeco Field history have turned up this season, the ballclub would have to consider the attendance implications and financial advantages of having Griffey back in a Mariners uniform.

How much Griffey has left as a player isn't clear. He hit 30 home runs last season in 144 games, and has averaged 31 homers the past three seasons. But he has just four in the first six weeks of the 2008 season to go with a .254 batting average.

The story goes on to say:

But there are potential barriers to a deal. Suggestions that he come aboard in Seattle as the designated hitter probably wouldn't go over well with Griffey, who is playing right field for the Reds and wants to play in the field. If the DH job is all the Mariners can offer, a deal probably will never have any legs.

For the Mariners to fit him in the outfield, they'd probably have to shift left fielder Raul Ibanez to DH and right fielder Wladimir Balentien to left.

Griffey is a 10-and-5 player (10 or more years in the big leagues, the past five with the same team) with the right to veto any trade. If no trade happens in the coming weeks, the Mariners are expected to be a serious suitor for his services should he become a free agent this offseason.


59 Comments:

at 9:01 AM Anonymous Anonymous said...

That pretty well shoots this deal dead. Griffey is a fielding liability, he's not hitting, not showing power, not hitting away from the shift. We're stuck with him, and he will never bat lower than the four spot, because his ego won't allow it.

 
at 10:44 AM Blogger Cheviot Sports Authority said...

- Don't care what the Reds do with him but its time he got the hell out of the way. There comes a time when even HOFers become part time players or retire.

+ It is time for Jay Bruce to take over in RF.

ST CSA

 
at 10:57 AM Blogger Cheviot Sports Authority said...

POOTYBRAIN SAID:
+ Cantu had two hits
-He got caught stealing. Did not produce any runs with the hits. Then that makes 'em meaningless hits.
- He had a error(even edwin can't throw that bad) that led to runs.
+ He's a Marlin

- Griffey had no hits.
- Griffey dropped a pop fly, let in 2 runs and almost dropped the next one which would have cost the game.
- Griffey makes $12 mil this year.
- Griffey is a Red.

+ The TV broadcast was very good last nite in HD with Brantley and Brennaman.

 
at 11:09 AM Anonymous Anonymous said...

Seems like a classic game of chicken. It seemed obvious that the Reds were not negotiating from a position of strength, but it sounds like Seattle needs him as much as we need to shed him.

I expect Seattle to blink first and give us more than we expect so St. Junior can return to Seattle.

Totally class guy who I'll miss. I'll always wonder what might have been.

 
at 11:23 AM Blogger Steven Ross said...

We want Griffey out and Seattle wants him in...for the most part. No reason a deal can't be ironed out to appease both sides. Make it happen.

Off topic: stop with the Cantu nonsense. My gawd, let it go. He's NOT that good!

 
at 11:41 AM Blogger RickDinChicago said...

Addition by subtraction.

Trade him or Dunn for nothing I say. Jay Bruce is already at a level higher than either one.

 
at 11:41 AM Blogger RickDinChicago said...

Addition by subtraction.

Trade him or Dunn for nothing I say. Jay Bruce is already at a level higher than either one.

 
at 11:41 AM Blogger will said...

CSA, what does Cantu have to do with Griffey? Can cantu play right field too? Maybe he can pitch while were at it. I think we all can agree that Griffey is a liability in the field. However I do agree on Bruce and the tv broadcast. Brennamen is a vast improvment over George Grande. Also, I think I'm going to throw up if I see another JTM commercial.

 
at 11:53 AM Blogger Middie said...

Junior needs to get 600 HR's with the Reds and then off to Safeco; deal done.

 
at 12:01 PM Blogger Rob Dicken said...

CSA, you're driving that +/- stuff into the ground, buddy.

- This is becoming annoying
- You're JackBlueAsh, no one's fooled
- This never contains anything factual

+ The Reds won

- You're not funny

SUBTOTAL = -3 = You lose!

 
at 12:09 PM Blogger Unknown said...

Put Cantu in right field, BRILLIANT!

Keep the banana phone comedy coming.

 
at 12:15 PM Blogger MJ said...

What is with all this Cantu nonsense?

 
at 12:31 PM Blogger Nathan said...

So has anyone suggested what Seattle has to offer in return?

 
at 12:31 PM Blogger dmiller9500 said...

Does anyone actually care if Griffey hits #600 with the Reds? I say trade him ASAP regardless of any HR chase.

 
at 12:32 PM Blogger JackBlueAsh said...

I like your format CSA and I think even John Fay finds it to be amusing. It simplifies everything

Gotta love the FLA Marlins and all they have done with 22 million

John..what is your take on Griffey to Seattle..your gut feeling?

 
at 12:35 PM Blogger Unknown said...

Any chance that we will all be invited to the CSA/Cantu wedding? When is it?

 
at 12:37 PM Blogger Rob said...

RickD-
explain how Jay Bruce with ZERO major League ABs is better than both Griffey and Dunn. Dunn is a 40 HR 100 BB 100 Run 100 RBI guy- every year. Dont be fooled by guys who do well in AAA. Remember Brandon Larson? When Bruce is ready, he will be ready.

 
at 12:52 PM Blogger Mr. Doom and Gloom said...

espn.com has an excellent article on edinson volquez today

 
at 12:56 PM Anonymous Anonymous said...

Cantu had a career year one year. To keep him, the Reds had to offer arbitration, and tat one year could have landed him an unreasonable salary. So they let him go. Smart move.

I sure agree Griffey is a nice man and is good for baseball, but not for Cincy, not now.

 
at 1:00 PM Blogger Arden Dulou said...

Since I don't get to watch the Reds where I live, I can't speak to if Griffey has lost a step in the field. He should consider moving on for the Reds, Mariners and his sake. By going DH, he could play for another 6 years and remove Bonds from the HR title and help both teams move forward.

 
at 1:04 PM Blogger redsfaninchitown said...

If I remember correctly in '90 the Reds released Griffey Sr., who then went to Seattle and played with Jr. It was not a popular or pleasant decision but had to be done for the team to win, which they did, winning the World Series. Maybe it's time for that type of move right now.

 
at 1:10 PM Blogger JackBlueAsh said...

Cantu's salary would have been between 1 and 1.5 million..far less than Patterson..dumb move to let him go


thank you WK

JAB

 
at 1:13 PM Blogger Joe said...

Is, CSA really JBA?

Who cares. Split personalities are not uncommon among the criminal element, why not among the sport loving crowd as well.

Jr. would have to weigh moving to DH. If it gave him a few more years in the game and a chance to get back to Seattle to retire at home, I bet he would do it.

 
at 1:37 PM Blogger Kevin said...

John is it true Cantu saved a baby from a burning building, stopped to change an older women's tire AND hate 6 cheese coney's and two three ways on his way to the game last night?

The cheese coney's explain the error and caught stealing so lets trade Patterson for Cantu. Marlins need a CF, the Reds need a guy who can change a tire.

Jocketty, GIT R DONE!

 
at 1:38 PM Blogger Kevin said...

As a Moeller grad, was Griffey saying he had Moeller hands...aka butter fingers or he saved the game with Moeller hands.

Does this mean I have Moeller hands?

 
at 1:41 PM Blogger Krawhitham said...

You people are just nuts

Jr always starts off slow, his best friend just died and he is pressing because he is close to 600.

Settle wants him as a DH and have no hope of a playoff berth (they have a worse record than us) why would Jr ever accept a trade to a worse team where he will not even be in the field? Show a little respect he has the same RBI total as Dunn and Phillips and a better OBP than Phillips and a better average than Dunn

 
at 1:56 PM Blogger BATSFAN said...

I think that everybodys waiting on him to get to 600 homers, then the reds will trade him back to the M's, he better hurry he is doing nothing but hurting the reds

 
at 1:58 PM Blogger Rob Dicken said...

Cantu had a career year one year. To keep him, the Reds had to offer arbitration, and tat one year could have landed him an unreasonable salary. So they let him go. Smart move.

I have been explaining this for over 2 months to the "Blunder in Blue Ash" and the "Cheviot Math Authority"...which by the way...ARE THE SAME PERSON!!

I like your format CSA and I think even John Fay finds it to be amusing. It simplifies everything

Will you quit talking to yourself?! LOL!!

The only thing amusing is your admiration for yourself and your split personality.

 
at 2:03 PM Anonymous Anonymous said...

After watching last night's 8th inning, I don't Junior's heart is in Cincinnati. Let him go. Maybe he should just retire.

 
at 2:15 PM Blogger HoosierRedsFan said...

Dunn will be lucky to get any of those numbers this year, Rob. We are now seeing the decline in his short career already. Now that I said that, hopefully he'll get hot so some team out there may want him. The Reds will start winning once they get younger and smarter. Go Reds!!!

 
at 2:23 PM Blogger BATSFAN said...

I would go ahead and start freel and hatteberg tonight, Hatteburg had such a good game saturday we need to see if he keeps it up and maybe we can get a good trade for him.

 
at 2:25 PM Blogger KevinFtMyers said...

I just dont see this happening this season. Someone else made the comment that "Seattle is not one KG Jr away from a championship."

They arent going anywhere this year so why assume his bloated contract and buyout / option?

Why give up prospects for him?

They can wait until November and get him for something like 8mil.

It just seems like a bad move for Seattle to try and get him now, maybe if they are like 3 or 4 games back in mid august it would be worth it, but that doesnt seem likely.

 
at 2:29 PM Blogger BATSFAN said...

Bats had a nice double header today Maloney pitched a complete game evan know it was only 7 innings, and he gave up 0 runs. Shearn is 6-1 with a era under 4, Pettyjohn pitches tonight hes 3-0 and I AM GOING TO THE GAME, And Lehr I think goes tommorow hes good to. Id say the weakest link on the Bats pitching staff is Homer Bailey, HE SUCKS!

 
at 2:30 PM Blogger BATSFAN said...

Bats had a nice double header today Maloney pitched a complete game evan know it was only 7 innings, and he gave up 0 runs. Shearn is 6-1 with a era under 4, Pettyjohn pitches tonight hes 3-0 and I AM GOING TO THE GAME, And Lehr I think goes tommorow hes good to. Id say the weakest link on the Bats pitching staff is Homer Bailey, HE SUCKS!

 
at 2:31 PM Blogger KevinFtMyers said...

Im sure Griffey knows he will eventually have to be a DH, but may not be ready yet, but he may soon be realizing that he just cant play the field anymore.

(As evidenced so far this year)

 
at 2:48 PM Blogger Ron said...

John,
On Reds on Radio this past weekend Hal McCoy said that he thought changes would be made this week? What's your thought on that? It seems that the Reds are in a position to make some moves that will allow movements throughout the system, i.e., if Bruce moves up then someone moves to Louisville to take his place, etc., etc.

 
at 3:10 PM Blogger bsu1 said...

I'd trade Griff in a heartbeat for a minor league catcher with high potential.

 
at 3:12 PM Blogger r m largent said...

Dunn's progression (regression) is following a similar career path as Andruw Jones. Heard it on the radio, must be true ;) At least he went the opposite way last night and hit a sac fly.

I agree about Cantu on certain points, would have been a nice RH reserve, and the move to take him off the 40-man to pick up a Rule V pitcher that didn't even throw a pitch in the regular season, seems a bit mystifying. Other than that, he would not help this team as a regular contributor. They have enough of these retreads out there running around.

 
at 3:12 PM Blogger JackBlueAsh said...

John if you are unable to put the time and effort in to oversee this blog..maybe it would be best to let someone else take over

This blog is very disjunct and does not allow for honest debate.. I would bet that most feel the same

This is not an affront to you, personally or professionally. Frankly, I don't see how you have the time to do this anyway

I think if you disabled moderation you would see some honest debate

 
at 3:14 PM Blogger RickDinChicago said...

2008 Season Stats (162 game career avg)

Adam Dunn
115AB (557), 17R (102), 24H (138), 4Db (29), 0Tp (1), 6HR (39), 18RBI (95), 1SB (9), .209BA (.247), .352OBA(.380), .400SLG (.515), 27-33BB-K (113-181), 2E (10)

Griffey Jr.
It's difficult to compare his numbers against his career as I think he's had two careers. One as a Mariner (where he was a superstar) and one as a Red (where he has been slightly above average overall). Either way from average, slugging, to defense his numbers are substantially worse.

I think the "slump" argument is not valid with both players since each individual's slump started at the onset of spring training. This represents a) overall horrid year, and/or b) player rapidly in decline.

I can't even begin to calculate what the average NL Outfielder should be performing at but please check out a list I generated on ESPN.com. I created a data table of all NL Outfielders with 75+ plate appearances. http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/stats/batting?sort=avg&split=0&league=nl&season=2008&seasonType=2&type=reg&ageMin=17&ageMax=51&minpa=75&hand=a&pos=of&startDate=null&endDate=null&qual=false

All three Reds outfielders rank near the bottom in just about every category.

I'm confident that Jay Bruce can perform up to the NL average if not exceed that this year.

I have no confidence that any of the three current starters will meet or exceed their career average or the NL average.

Dusty is delusional on this whole "career average" issue.

 
at 3:21 PM Blogger JackBlueAsh said...

Then Alex Gonzalez (Anybody remember him?) turned into a bad signing. He was in-and-out of last year’s lineup due to injuries and a life-threatening illness to his son. Keppinger stepped in and hit .332 in 241 at-bats.

A fluke? Too short of a sampling?

Well, Gonzalez, due to a wounded knee, hasn’t played all year and Keppinger has played every game but one at an All-Star pace. Oh, he won’t be an All-Star, but he is a star. In addition to hitting like Pete Rose, he is fielding his position with proficiency.

That’s the other thing they (it is always ‘they.’ Just who are ‘they?’) said. He can’t play shortstop? Yes, he can.

He had seven straight hits in New York, he hit a tie-breaking two-run homer Monday against the Marlins in the 8-7 victory.

As far as I’m concerned, they can bury Alex Gonzalez at Wounded Knee. He’s a good player, a good shortstop, but he is no Jeff Keppinger. And what scout wou,d ever say that?

HAL MC COY

 
at 3:21 PM Blogger Cheviot Sports Authority said...

- 15,000 announced attendance last night to watch the crawl to 600 and the circus in right field.

+ The Reds should put Freel in Mr Redlegs suit and just have him bounce around the field like a pinball to amuse the fans. That would probably put as many butts in the seats as the crawl to 600 does.
Always fair & balanced,
ST CSA

PS: I told you a long time ago. The point about Cantu has been made 100 times. He would be a better option for the Reds than a lot of the guys on the current roster. No one ever said he should be playing everyday here. The Amazing Krivsky has been dismissed. This pathetic roster is one of the many reasons why. Maybe some of you heard Brantley on the subject last night. Far as I am concerned case closed.

 
at 3:34 PM Blogger Todd McElmurray said...

What are the odds of us packaging Griffey (amongst others) for Clement? The Seattle youth cupboard is pretty dry thanks to the Bedard deal.

 
at 4:50 PM Blogger John Fay said...

Jack: You're the biggest reason this blog is moderated. If I left unmoderated, you'd slip some personal attack in on someone.

When I was out I few weeks ago, it went unmoderated until it got out of hand. I went back and checked and you had a half dozen posts removed. You had a post today that I had to take down.

We're moving toward an unmoderated site. When we do, it will be self-policed, i.e., any two readers object to a post and it's taken down. Until then, it will be moderated because I can't trust people to behave.

 
at 4:53 PM Blogger Cheviot Sports Authority said...

I think that Seattle is actually looking to improve their ball club. So aside from the nostalgia factor, I would think that interest in Griffey is fading very fast.
ST CSA

 
at 5:01 PM Blogger JackBlueAsh said...

John ..grow up ..you dont let people post blogs that knock on Griffey most of the time.. you get offended because you know those players..

by your own conveyances you have repeatedly told us not to attack other bloggers.. yet you let others do so.

you start lockeroom garbage that diminishes Josh Hamilton
..as we discussed

whether you know it..or not Dicken, Richie, Kevin , Smokey et al.. are all one in the same..you are the only one that does not seem aware of this

quit being hypocritical

read through the posts of the past three days I see numerous attacks that you have let slide

 
at 5:02 PM Blogger JackBlueAsh said...

I attack posts occasionally..show me where I have attacked bloggers recently Fay

 
at 5:27 PM Blogger Rob Dicken said...

I told you a long time ago. The point about Cantu has been made 100 times. He would be a better option for the Reds than a lot of the guys on the current roster. No one ever said he should be playing everyday here. The Amazing Krivsky has been dismissed. This pathetic roster is one of the many reasons why. Maybe some of you heard Brantley on the subject last night. Far as I am concerned case closed.

No, the case isn't closed because you just don't get it! You don't platoon a right handed batter at first base that can't hit lefties. Joey Votto is hitting lefties better right now than Jorge Cantu has his entire career!!

When would you platoon him? If Votto hits lefties just as good as righties, what's the point? And what's the point you are trying to make?

Would he be better at 3rd? You saw that error last night...he has quite a darn few of them this year, and not all of them are throwing errors. He costs his team runs ALL THE TIME!

YOU need to let the issue go because your argument doesn't have any logic or sense to it. No one else is in the wrong here. Jorge Cantu doesn't make sense on this team. Quit beating the dead horse and move on!

This team has the talent to win baseball games...as I said about 5 times before this, the desire isn't there. If you say the talent isn't there, then you just ignoring statistics, and that's obviously nothing new.

 
at 5:30 PM Blogger will said...

JBA and your point is? No ones arguing that keppinger hasnt played well at shortstop this year. But historicaly and statisticaly Gonzo is a better devensive shortstop. That doesnt mean he should play over keppinger or that keppinger cant play shortstop, all it means is Gonzo is better defensivly.

 
at 5:36 PM Blogger ADMS said...

John Fay: I must ask you a simple question since I've been reading the blog all season so far and am getting tired of the beating of non-points into the ground.
It seems that some on the blog can't get over some Reds that got away. Now...
What are the odds that, for example, Texas fans look at A-Rod and blog all night with BS that goes on and on. (Oohhh...if only we could only match the Evil Empire's paycheck...)
Let's go further back - maybe some long-time and angry (if they exist) Expos fans still blog about how they let Randy Johnson leave. How about Toronto and Clemens?
Please, let's get over this whole Hamilton/Cantu junk. Unless some people on this blog plan on cutting a check and making themselves GM of the Reds tomorrow, what's the point?
Guys...I've lived in one of the sports-negative towns in the world (Philadelphia - the city with teams that love to rip out your heart at the last second) and this is still BY FAR the most negative I've seen "fans." Maybe it's because I've been at the alter of Xavier for so long that I have that thing called "hope" but while this Reds' season bites the big one, there's always next year!
We have a great young core combined with some driftwood. It is just impossible to cut all of the driftwood right now so please, please deal with it!

 
at 5:40 PM Blogger ADMS said...

Is is OK to tell others here to get a life?

 
at 5:44 PM Blogger John Fay said...

Jack: You should see the stuff about you I don't let go. I've let more stuff go lately because we're moving and unmoderated blog. I'm not going to be able to keep it off the board.

The new system will limit one screen name per email address.

As I've pointed out many times, you don't have to post, you don't have to read the blog.

 
at 5:48 PM Blogger Jeff said...

Jack lost all credibility with me when he accused me of having the same IP address as Mr. Redlegs. I knew then he was willing to simply make things up to undermine other posters.

Jack is clearly the problem on this blog. His juvenile behavior has become tiresome. He only posts about the same 4 or 5 topics over and over again. His intent seems to center solely on stirring up controversy with others. If he were blocked, going without moderation might actually work.

 
at 6:00 PM Blogger reaganspad said...

jack, you are constantly mis-quoting other posters. Lying about what other people post is an attack, not a debate of opinion.

You have done that to serveral in this blog, and then stand on some sort of "American right" that you have to post in John Fay's blog, or that he is somehow limiting your free speech. John is more patient with you than he should be

 
at 6:16 PM Blogger krivskywasgood said...

John-does this blog allow you to IP ban people? Then you could take care of "St CSA" and "JBA" in one block.

More importantly though, when are Alex Gonzalez and Norris Hopper expected back? Also, is Mike Lincoln slowly pitching himself out of the bullpen?

 
at 6:39 PM Blogger Cheviot Sports Authority said...

I stand corrected once again by Robbie Dickens. LMAO.
ST CSA

 
at 7:19 PM Blogger JackBlueAsh said...

Cantu makes a great deal of sense in left field at 1 million bucks..or center

 
at 8:32 PM Blogger Unknown said...

I've finally figured out how to enjoy this blog...comic relief. The guy who single-handedly ruins this blog is complaining about it...LMAO. Even better...the honesty complaint...when he posts under several aliases. Classic.

Keep up the good work John...the unmoderated board sounds like a great idea. I'm sure as soon as two people read JBA/CSA posts...they will be purged and gone : )

 
at 11:44 PM Blogger Hugh D. Pohl said...

Jack, I am absolutely flabergasted that you dare suggest to John how to run his blog when you are the source of anything that is wrong with it and most everyone on here knows it. John is a great uy who provides us with a great opportunity for debate and comment and you constantly dog him and others with your assinine behavior. You almost make me want to dislike Josh Hamilton, Jeff Keppinger, bottled water and nurses.

 
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