He's Back! Return of the Kid - Series Thread

[bedir than average]

John Clayton is advocating the return of Griffey, after he's a free agent.

I'm personally of the opinion that if you want Ichiro to want to play here, bringing back Ichiro is a strong idea. Ichiro indicated that part of the reason that he wanted to play here was due to two men, neither of which he ever got to play alongside. Junior and Alex.

I don't know that its the best reason, but it is one to consider.

For an organization that is into having marketable stars those two would be appealing.

[TestSubjekt]

Articles from MLB.com relating to Griffey's return

Fans give Griffey collective hug in return
Fans still adore Griffey in Seattle
Reds take part in Griffey appreciation

I saw the highlights. I was expecting some hard feelings because of how he left.

[bedir than average]

Test, the people who paid to go to that game were fans of his. I mean would one really spend money if they were bitter for 8 years?

Look at phredmojo for an example

by the way, they missed capacity by a few hundred according to their website, and yet sold standing room only seats?


Kelley Calls for a Griffey return to uniform, not just the stadium

Despite this lopsided loss, the Mariners should be buyers this summer. Trade for Griffey. Not because it's sentimental, but because it's smart.

He's healthy again. His 19 home runs are third-best in the National League. Once reluctant to make the move from center field to right, Griffey, now 37, is an agreeable right fielder for the Reds.

Imagine Griffey and Ichiro in the same outfield. Imagine Griffey, his health and his home-run stroke restored, in the middle of the lineup. Imagine him coming home and hitting his 600th career homer wearing a Mariners uniform.

This franchise has taken its lumps the past three seasons. Even with the team's surprising, above-.500 start this year, Safeco Field never has felt as cold and empty as it has been much of this season.

The Mariners need a shakeup. The offense needs a jolt. This season can be rescued.

Reads very much like what I wrote ages ago

[bedir than average]

Washburn vs Lohse

Vidro batting third, as the DH

The Reds have Griffey batting 3rd and Dunn at DH

Somehow the Mariners have a better overall offense despite that giant disparity. Hopefully the Mariners give their home town fans something to cheer about as opposed to last night debacle.

I wouldn't mind a decent night from Griffey if the Mariners win

[bedir than average]

This looks to be the exact opposite of last night's game. The Mariners tonight have scored more runs than they have hits.

[bedir than average]

Dammit, Raul injured. Tis early so we'll have to wait to figure out severity.

Current OF is Ellison LF(batting 4th) and Broussard in RF.

Mariners currently up 6-nil.

Washburn is the better verision tonight, with an even GB/FB rate.

[Slica]

8-0 after a Broussard homer.

Johjima GIDP with the bases juiced to end our latest threat. Feels like we're scoring a ton of runs, yet...you see 16 on the scorecard yesterday.

[bedir than average]

There was a game? All I saw was a press conference, a speech on the field and a clubhouse interview. There was no game.

[Slica]

If we're erasing games from our memory, im gonna choose either a loss to the Tigers or Angels.

Or the ALCS Championship games that knocked us out in 95 and 01.

Phillips breaks the shut out with a solo shot. 8-1. Griffey struck out for the 2nd time tonight and 5th time in the series. I was rooting for a homer there, I admit it.

[bedir than average]

That's exactly the situation where a Mariners fan is justified in rooting for a Homer.

I'd just erase the 9th inning from Game 4 ALCS 2001

[Timberwolf]

I'm going to erase game #1 of the 1997 playoff series against the Orioles when Mussina outpitched Johnson. I still think that 1997 team was the strongest we ever had, but that one game scrubbed the season.

[bedir than average]

Griffey hits his 20th Home Run of the season in the top of the 1st and gets a standing ovation. It went out to left-center field over 390 feet away, to the most difficult part of the park to hit it out. He puts the Reds up 1-0.

Go time for the Ms with nearly all B lineup.

[bedir than average]

Griffey clearly stated that he would like to end his career as a Mariner.

He also just hit his second homer of the game, again a standing ovation. He has now passed Mark McGuire, 584 for his career.

Cinci leads 2-0 just off of Junior.


His statements are going to anger a community that never accepted him. He may have just forced a deal.

[bedir than average]

Link to Ichiro non-obtusely indicating that if Junior was here he (Ichiro) would likely stay

Sports | Junior brings out kid in Ichiro | Seattle Times Newspaper

No more stoicism. No more calm. On the outside, Ichiro appeared the same. On the inside, however, he was dreaming the good dream.

"I felt he should come back," Ichiro said of his emotions while watching Junior's homecoming ceremony on Friday.

You, too?

Ichiro nodded. He has a business-class seat on the bring-back-Griffey bandwagon.

"If I heard that he'll come back to Seattle, I would gladly give up my position of center field to him," Ichiro said.

[bedir than average]

Ben Broussard nails a ground-rule double to tie the game and gets a rightly deserved standing ovation.

Good for the fans, better for the Mariners

2-2