State o' the Junyah
Q. Can Griffey play left this year? Is he capable?
A. Well, he played 144 games last year, all but 6 of them in the outfield.
At Mariner Central, there's a cool thread on Junior's knee. http://www.marinercentral.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=1823 He's already icing it the first week. What's the mainframe crunch on this?
It wouldn't surprise me if Griff's legs don't hold up to everyday play any more. That's number one. If it all boils down that in his late 30's, he just can't do it, I won't be even 01% surprised.
Remember, Dr. D is on the wrong side of 37. That year was exactly the one at which my legs couldn't take it any more. I mean, you can try, sure. It's just that when you do, you tear stuff.
..................
But OTOH, remember that Griffey HAS played the outfield, every day. In 2007 and 2008, he played 144 and 143 games, and 95% of them were in the outfield. The White Sox put him in CENTER field. So let's slow down before we take it as proven that he cannot do it: when we last saw him (2008), he WAS doing it. Every day.
..................
Remember also that GRIFFEY believes he can play every day. Before we snort at this as wishful thinking on this part, let's stop and ask first: who knows Ken Griffey's body better than Ken Griffey? Wouldn't Griffey be a higher authority on his knee than you are? Or I am?
He seems quite sincere about his belief that his leg will hold up, and seeing as he did play 144 games last year, he's got evidence to back it up.
...................
Q. Yeah, but icing the first week?!
A. He's coming off surgery, and this is the first time he's playing baseball on it. It's going to bark. Especially at his age.
Major leaguers play in pain -- a LOT more than fans realize. There is a reason they have team doctors and team trainers and training rooms and needles and medicine all over the place. You think Griffey's knee is a problem, ask Johann Santana about his elbow.
Still and all, I'm not saying his knee is okay. I'm just saying that a little ice around the locker room, hey, it's way too early to panic. :- )
.
Q. What's your sense of it?
A. My sense of it is that the Mariners, and Griffey, and White Sox, and Reds, think his knee's okay.
...................
Q. Wouldn't it be safer to Edgar him?
A. Sure, but do you realize you're giving up the Clement-Branyan-Griffey stack against righties? Because right now, Kenji Johjima is going to catch 110-120 games unless he hits his way out of the lineup. (I doubt he will. His K rate is still very low.)
Still and all, if the Mariners want to Edgar him, they have options in LF. Dr. D has nothing against a three-man hydra in LF. Endy Chavez, even with a 65 OPS+ in the corner, could be a weapon if used under the right circumstances (those being the days on which flyball, non-K starters are throwing, and it's not Fenway Park or Texas or something).
Put Endy in there for defense 50 games a year when Washburn's up, etc ... put Wlad in there for 300 AB's, and use Junior when you're stacking Clement-Junior-Branyan against a righty, and you could win that way.
......................
My argument has never been that a glove specialist can't help the ballclub. He can. My argument is that there is no way a 65 OPS+ hitter can equal a 7.0 RC/27 guy because of the differences in their gloves. That's all.
I want to see Griff, Branyan, and Clement -- and preferably Swisher -- in the lineup together. That's my thang.
'y feel me?,
Dr D
........................
image: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0f/Sport_injury_warning_sign.jpg
