NewsGriffey brings happy returns to Mariners
Despite the numbers, Seattle icon has provided big boost
By Jim Street / MLB.com
09/07/09 10:00 AM ET
ANAHEIM -- There are better choices among the American League Comeback Player of the Year candidates this year, but only one comeback is worth mentioning in the Northwest.It's the return of Ken Griffey Jr.
Even without the gaudy offensive numbers he accumulated during his first stint with the Mariners, from 1989-99, Griffey's return has been an all-around success.
"It has been an absolute joy," manager Don Wakamatsu said of his working relationship with Griffey. "He's energetic, genuine and enjoys life as much as anyone I have been around."
The soon-to-be 40-year-old Griffey has made a major contribution in bringing respect back to the organization he helped put on the baseball map when he first arrived as a teenager 20 years ago. He's been a model citizen inside and outside the clubhouse, enhancing a team chemistry that was non-existent during the 101-loss 2008 season.
"When we brought Kenny in and put him in the middle of the lineup, we thought he would help the ballclub," general manager Jack Zduriencik said. "There have been some bumps in the road physically, but nothing as bad as in the past, and he has meant a lot to this club."
Problems with his colon, and more recently his surgically repaired left knee, have kept Griffey out of the Mariners lineup more often than expected. As a result, he has been unable to perform to his own high standards.
He has played in 96 games, most of them as a designated hitter. Of his 326 at-bats, all but 38 of them have been as a DH, primarily because his legs can't handle playing in the field over long stretches.
"I think he wishes the numbers were better, but you can't always judge the value of a player by picking up a stat pack," Zduriencik said. "That is only one aspect for what someone can do for a ballclub.
"Some players struggle with ups and downs, and with his experience and leadership, Griffey has come in and relished his role, and for me, it has been a positive, a tremendous positive. I am appreciative of what he has meant to everyone on the club. He has been friends with these guys."
"This is a good story," Zduriencik added.
And the story is still being written.
While Griffey's agent Brian Goldberg and Mariners club officials have not commented on the possibility of Junior returning for another season, he told The Associated Press recently that he would consider it.
"If it works out for both sides, I'm fine," Griffey said. "We'll figure it out at the end of the year."
The best of Junior in 2009 | ||
| April 6 -- Hit the eighth Opening Day home run of his career, tying Frank Robinson for the most in MLB history. | ||
| April 15 -- The 613th home run of his career, against the Angels, was the 400th of Griffey's career wearing a Mariners uniform. | ||
| May 10 -- A two-run home run against the Twins at the Metrodome was his seventh on Mother's Day, tied for the second-most in MLB history. | ||
| June 19 -- A two-out, two-run pinch-hit home run off D-backs reliever Tony Pena in the eighth inning tied the game and the Mariners scored another run to win. | ||
| June 23 -- Griffey's eighth home run of the season, off Padres right-hander Chad Gaudin, was the 5,000th in franchise history. | ||
| Aug. 12 -- The longest game of the season reached the 14th inning when Griffey entered the game against the White Sox as a pinch-hitter, and delivered a walk-off single to right field. | ||
"I have not had a chance to sit down with Kenny," Zduriencik said. "I think you let the year unfold, let everything digest, and see what happens. Regardless of what happens, if I am Ken Griffey, it has been a very special year for me. It has meant a lot to the fans, a lot to the organization, a lot to his teammates and a lot to him. He started here, he's here now, and we're happy that he is."
This story began in mid-February, when Junior decided to sign with the Mariners instead of the Braves, ending a tug-of-war that took more than two weeks to play itself out.
Less than a month remains in the regular season and Junior is winding down one of the most fun-filled campaigns of his big league career.
"It's still fun," Junior said earlier this season. "I get to come to the ballpark and do something I love to do. I just have a little more responsibility as far as with the younger guys."
With a .218 batting average, 14 home runs and 43 RBIs, Griffey probably will finish the season with the lowest batting average and the second- or third-fewest home run and RBI totals of his Hall of Fame career.
"When you look at the numbers from a sabermetric standpoint, nothing excites you," Wakamatsu said. "But Griff has had the knack throughout his career to have big hits and he's done things this year to electrify us."
Among those was a pinch-hit, walk-off single in the 14th inning against the White Sox; a game-tying pinch-hit home run against the D-backs in the eighth inning; and a two-run home run against the Twins that helped snap a six-game losing streak in April.
But his presence has been felt even more off the field.
"Walk into the clubhouse and ask the players how much affect [Griffey] has had on them and they will tell you how valuable he has been," Wakamatsu said. "He and Mike Sweeney have done a tremendous job of bringing everyone together."
Junior has been the big brother to just about all of his teammates.
"Junior is something else, man," right-handed pitcher Ian Snell said. "He's a piece of work, and a great teammate. I mean a great teammate. He keeps the clubhouse down to earth, makes fun of everybody, and everybody makes fun of him. So, it's great."
Catcher Rob Johnson, who has shared the same row of lockers inside the home clubhouse as Junior this season, oftentimes sits back before and after games and enjoys the activity around Griffey's three lockers.
"It has been a blast," Johnson said. "Most of the time the media go to certain guys, and it seems to me he's always there when things are going bad. That's really cool. It takes the pressure off other guys, like Ichiro."
Zduriencik agrees.
"I think Kenny has had a huge affect on Ichiro," the GM said. "It has been fun and games."
A loner for virtually his entire career with the Mariners, Ichiro has smiled and laughed more this season. He and Griffey will wrestle and banter back and forth, Junior almost always being the instigator.
"I think one of main reasons Ichiro is having such a good, fun time year is because of Griffey," Wakamatsu said. "It has been fun watching them interact."
Thanks in large part to Junior's return, the Mariners' home attendance should be higher than the organization expected given the economic recession and the 101-loss season in 2008.
Seattle currently ranks 18th in the Majors in home attendance with 1.9 million after 69 home dates, compared to 20th last season, with 2.329 million.
"I think the fans have shown great admiration and respect for him," club president Chuck Armstrong said. "It's clearly a love-fest with the fans, and it's well deserved. We appreciate him making the decision to pick Seattle over Atlanta. This season has exceeded our expectations. Kenny has been a wonderful addition."
Jim Street is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
