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The Kid Comes Home

By Gary Armida

You can go home again. Ken Griffey Jr., after debating a move to the Atlanta Braves, has agreed to a one year contract worth a guaranteed $2 million plus the opportunity to earn an additional $4 million in incentives to return to the Seattle Mariners. The moves marks the return of the best player in Mariners’ history and gives the Mariners help on the field as well as with the frustrated fan base.  While Griffey may have had a slightly better chance of making the playoffs had he signed with the Braves, he makes the correct decision to return to the American League and to return to the city that saw him electrify the sport.  Now, at 39 years old, Griffey can give the fans in Seattle as well as Baseball fans a much needed walk down memory lane to the time when number 24 roamed centerfield with reckless abandon. Sure, he is no longer capable of being that player; being 20 years old will do that to a player. Sure, he may not be capable of hitting 40 homeruns again. But, he is capable of hitting 30 homeruns and leading the poor Mariners’ offense in most offensive categories. He is capable of being a part-time left fielder and a part-time designated hitter, the latter of which should have a positive impact on his health. The move makes sense on all fronts. It helps the Mariners on the field, it helps them with the fan base, it allows Griffey to end his career with the fanfare he deserves, and it gives Baseball a much needed good story.

On the Field

Many will look at the acquisition of Griffey as simply a PR move by the Mariners, a franchise in need of good publicity after their disastrous 2008 season. But, with better health, Griffey is an upgrade for the Mariners’ offense.  The 2008 Mariners had an offense that ranked 27^th in Baseball with a .707 OPS. They ranked 29^th with a team OBP of .318. Even more poorly, they ranked 26^th in homeruns and runs scored. With their best hitter, Raul Ibanez, playing left field for the Phillies, the Mariners’ offense projects to be worse in 2009. General Manager Jack Zduriencik has started the long rebuilding process of the Mariners with Franklin Gutierrez, Endy Chavez, Ronny Cedeno, and Russell Branyan being added to the putrid offense. While Gutierrez has some upside and Branyan can be a productive platoon player, the new additions will have minimal impact on improving the Mariners’ offense.

Griffey, even at 39 years old, will help the offense. While fighting a knee injury in 2008, Griffey posted a .249/.353/.424 batting line with 18 homeruns. The surgery to repair his torn meniscus and damaged cartilage was completed earlier in the winter. It is not unreasonable to think that Griffey can approach his 2007 season of .277/.372/.496 with 30 homeruns. His 2007 numbers would have led the 2008 Mariners in on base percentage and slugging percentage. It is important to note that Griffey compiled his 2007 statistics while playing in the National League. Now, he can keep fresh by being the designated hitter.  As a part-time DH and part-time outfielder, Griffey could realistically be expected to produce a .260/.350/.450 season with 25-30 homeruns. His addition could make the Mariners a dark horse candidate for the West crown (obviously the pitching must rebound).

Given the price and the expected production, the Mariners are making themselves a better team heading into the 2009 season.

The Fan Base

Many baseball analysts will discuss Griffey’s shortcomings at his advanced baseball age. But, as just illustrated, he is still capable of being a very productive player. Perhaps more importantly, given the state of the economy, is the impact on the Mariners’ fan base. The Mariners not only disappointed last season, but they were perhaps the least likable team in the game. With stories of clubhouse fights and players wanting to punch Ichiro, the Mariners played lifeless, heartless baseball in 2008. Jack Zduriencik has done a nice job with changing the culture of the clubhouse with his turnover of players, but the Mariners’ fans did not have one offensive player to really cling to other than Ichiro and perhaps rookie Jeff Clement (if he can play to his press clippings).

Bring back Griffey gives the fans a reason to come to Safeco Field. As many sports are starting to see a decline in revenue, teams must be more conscious of giving the fans a reason to buy tickets. With the American public careful about spending, fans will not just come to the park to root for a mediocre, lifeless team that has no chance of competing. The Mariners ran that risk heading into the season with only Ichiro and Felix Hernandez as major selling points. Bringing back the legend, Griffey, will excite the fans and make them want to come to the park, even if the Mariners are not in contention.

His return brings an excitement to the park with each at bat potentially bringing Junior closer to Willie Mays’ 660 homeruns. There is a whole generation of fans who will go out and buy the new Griffey jersey (hopefully he wears 24 once again). Memorabilia sales will rise in a year when the Mariners were probably looking at a loss in revenue due to a lack of “sellable” players.

The fans will get their chance to see “their guy” in their uniform one more time. There aren’t many players with that type of drawing power. But, Junior is one of those guys. The rabid Seattle Mariners fans will relish in this opportunity to see Griffey again.

Great Move for Griffey

For Griffey, the choice to return to Seattle is wise. First, if he had decided to play for the Braves, he would’ve had to play the outfield on a full-time basis. Given his recent knee injury and his injury history, the results may have been negative. By returning to the American League (where he won’t have to play centerfield like he did for the White Sox last season), he can manage his bumps and bruises as well as stay rested. If he can adjust to the designated hitter role (which, fairly, cannot be assumed), he will be able to stay healthy for the entire season.

Furthermore, this will give Griffey the ending to his career that he truly deserves. Unfortunately, his injury history robbed him of the opportunity to become the all-time homerun leader. But, it also robbed him of the National recognition he deserved for his immortal statistics. By returning to Seattle, he goes to a place where he will be the story, the object of the fan’s attention, and where he will get the proper respect due. He gets to complete his career in the uniform that he will be enshrined in at Cooperstown. His legacy was built in Seattle; it is only fitting that it ends there. Instead of going to another team and becoming a nomad at the end of his career, he finishes with his original team.    

Good for Baseball

At a time when Baseball found out that its latest “Great Hope” used steroids, the need for a feel good story is paramount. Ken Griffey Jr., who is this generation’s greatest player, returning to Seattle is that story. Now, Major League Baseball can run all of the Seattle footage of the Kid hitting mammoth homeruns, chasing down fly balls, and scoring the winning run of the 1995 ALDS against the Yankees. There will be a live cut-in of Griffey’s first at bat back in Seattle from every baseball carrying channel. Every time Griffey has a good game, there will be the composites of his younger days and today. There will be features on all of the major sports networks. His return will bring about positive conversation. That is something that Baseball is sorely lacking at the moment. If the Mariners could somehow contend for most of the season, the story gets that much bigger.

Closing Thoughts

Ken Griffey Jr. can no longer carry a team. But, if used properly, he can be a highly productive player. His return not only helps the Mariners, but it is a positive development for Mariners’ fans and fans of baseball. Jack Zduriencik should be lauded for his rebuilding effort while keeping in mind the importance of keeping the fan base happy. Bringing back Griffey helps both causes. Finally, Baseball fans have positive story to cling to after a weeks of steroids talk.

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