Quick Math

by Jeff Sullivan on Oct 1, 2009 4:31 PM PDT in Seattle Mariners Stats

I'm in a rush and won't be around tonight, but while I have a minute:

Ken Griffey Jr., 2009: .215/.324/.408, .221 BABIP

	BABIP
BIP	2003-2008	2009
Grounder	0.204	0.128
Fly	0.117	0.117
Liner	0.696	0.723

Difference: -9 1B, grounders, +1 1B, liner

Ken Griffey Jr., 2009, adjusted*: .236/.342/.430,.249 BABIP

* assuming no park factors, which isn't right, but this gets close enough

Griffey's speed now is probably lower than his average speed over the six years previous, so maybe I shouldn't regress that grounder BABIP all the way up to .204, but this is more of an approximation than anything else, with the conclusion being that, while Griffey's no world-beater, his true talent at this point is higher than his batting line.

I haven't decided what I think about the possibility of Griffey coming back in 2010, but should that end up happening, he could fill a role. Outside of the clubhouse.

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I'm fine with him as a bench bat/occassional DH if and only if we have another bench bat with defensive value in the OF.

I’d really prefer he retire.

by Aaron Campeau on Oct 1, 2009 4:34 PM PDT reply actions

I'm pretty sure I'd rather he retire too

But if he’s okay with ending his career as a sparingly-used bench bat, then hey, whatever.

by Jeff Sullivan on Oct 1, 2009 4:35 PM PDT up reply actions

Ditto.

If he wants to come back for 500K to start at DH at home against RH starters then whatever, he’s probably worth it in the cloubhouse/fanbase/etc

by Matthew on Oct 1, 2009 4:35 PM PDT up reply actions

Actually I would be fine with him being platoon DH at home and PH on the road.

You can cycle RH position players when you’re facing a LH starter and do the same with LH position players against RH starters on the road. That way he’s not just a wasted bench spot and in fact he is providing some value.

by Aaron Campeau on Oct 1, 2009 4:48 PM PDT up reply actions

SHOW FiFi THE MONEY!!!!

by PositivePaul on Oct 2, 2009 8:58 AM PDT up reply actions

Seems about right.

by Poochie on Oct 1, 2009 4:51 PM PDT reply actions

The fact that Griffey originally joined the 2009 Seattle Mariners under the pretense that he would regularly patrol the OF

And that he then did no such thing is that all the evidence I need to believe he’s willing to be humble and accept a(n even greater) reduced role. There are much worse options than Griffey as a platoon bat for 2010. I’d be happy to take him back for such a role.

by katal on Oct 1, 2009 5:00 PM PDT reply actions

At some point...

Wouldn’t he rather just be home with his kids?

by b_rider on Oct 1, 2009 5:23 PM PDT reply actions

The team can do better.

by mark sobba on Oct 1, 2009 5:35 PM PDT reply actions

Depends on opportunity cost

I really want to see the best team playing at home. If Griffey is playing instead of a better LH option at DH at Safeco then I’m against this. If we’ve got a right-handed DH who gets most of the AB’s, then I’d be ok with seeing Griffey play at home vs. RHP’s due to the park factors.

But I think b_rider makes a good point…I’d be surprised if Griffey would want to go another season for only ~200 AB’s + hugs and tickles. If he comes back I assume it will be our regular LH DH. We can do better in terms of on-field performance.

by short on Oct 1, 2009 5:40 PM PDT reply actions

His home performance has been pretty awesome to date

While his road stats are enough to make me want to cut out my heart with a spoon. I’m sure it’s been mentioned on here before, but Griffey at home is actually still a decent product. I guess this really is the house built for Griffey.

I’m all for bringing him back to be a pinch hitter and occasional DH against righties at home. He’d be well worth the million bucks plus incentives in my opinion.

by Bodhizefa on Oct 1, 2009 5:44 PM PDT reply actions

The Griffey signing was, all things considered, a stroke of genius

Make the casual fanbase happy with the Griffey smokescreen while making shrewd baseball moves to help improve the actual product on the field (Putz trade, Branyan, getting rid of Betancourt).

I’d have no problem with another year of Griffey, sparingly used of course. That’s partially an effect of watching the Mariners sign Miguel Cairo to a major-league level contract, but I digress.

by cwel87 on Oct 1, 2009 6:33 PM PDT up reply actions

Home/road splits over a sample as small as Griffey's season barely mean anything

by Jeff Sullivan on Oct 1, 2009 11:47 PM PDT up reply actions

Ken Griffey, Children's Ambassador and Titan of Tickles?

by msb on Oct 1, 2009 6:01 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs

You traitor.

by abender20 on Oct 1, 2009 6:44 PM PDT reply actions

I prefer he didn't come back

But I’d be willing to support him coming back in a very reduced, bench-platoon type role. Still prefer somebody who can play in the field though.

by MT Olson on Oct 1, 2009 7:22 PM PDT reply actions

The guy is clearly out of shape.

If they do bring him back, I suppose they could try to put him on some type of rigorous training program that, at the very least, will make him slightly more mobile on grounders. Then if he breaks during the training, he’ll be able to have that one send off at bat that everyone wanted anyway.

...and now I'm here

by CapSea on Oct 1, 2009 11:27 PM PDT reply actions

They can't.

If the guy cannot even play the field for one game without his knee acting up…

by Matthew on Oct 1, 2009 11:56 PM PDT up reply actions

Upper body?

Rather than improve his leg strength, he simply reduces the force on his legs? It wouldn’t be to make him faster, it would simply be so that he labors less when he tries to run. Plus there are some fitness machines that, while they are less beneficial, are also less stressful on knees and joints.

I don’t really expect any of this, nor even any improvement in his athletic prowess if he did do it, but it does seem like one of those things they should try.

...and now I'm here

by CapSea on Oct 2, 2009 1:20 AM PDT up reply actions