Can Griffey contribute to the 2009 Mariner ballclub? This was the question on everyone's mind when Griffey was given a contract offer. There were a lot of doubters and naysayers that said no. They felt Griffey is too old, too fat, too slow.
The naive baseball fan would agree. To start the season Griffey is batting 182 with 1 HR and only 1 RBI. This is not what you want from a bat in the meat of your lineup.
Is Griffey hurting the team by taking away at bats from the younger guys on the team?
Let's dive a little deeper into Griffey's return to the Emerald City. The Mariners are 4-2. No, that is not a typo! Griffey's presence has caused a visible difference in the clubhouse, and the players are finally meshing. He has taught his teammates the importance of patience and good pitch selection.
Griffey has a golden eye. In 17 total at bats this season he has walked 6 times. His on base percentage is a staggering 471. To put this in perspective, Betancourt has come to the dish 18 times this year. He has a 333 batting average, 6 hits, 3 runs, and 2 doubles. Most people would say Yuni is hot, but I beg to differ. Betancourt has zero walks this year and a subpar 333 on base percentage.
Griffey adds more than just a presence in the clubhouse and a veteran in your lineup. He gets on base! His stats help the team win.
Has the Griffey experiment paid off? Look at the AL West standings and decide for yourself.
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Nice post!
ReplyDeleteGriffey's impact on the team has been huge with his OBP, clubhouse impact, etc. He is also teaching the younger guys the meaning of the word team.
I can't wait to see him drive some HR's off the Hit it Here Cafe at the Safe next week...
Good post, although I think it's way too early to declare anything, good or bad.
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