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

[bedir than average]

Betancourt doubles
Vidro sac bunts him to third, but the throw goes there late and both are safe

Willie lays down the bunt on a suicide squeeze and ALL are Safe. Small ball at the bottom of the order, big ball in the middle, this is a beautiful game.

Ichiro 2-3 already tonight is up with men on 1st and 2nd, turns to bunt on the first pitch, but takes for ball one.

the Ichiro chant has started, he bunts both over on a sacrifice for an actual out.

Lopez foul pop, Vidro given an IBB (what are the Reds thinking?)

Sexson up with the bases loaded, but strikes out swinging.

Mariners up 3-2

[bedir than average]

Junior recieved a standing ovation as he trotted in from Right Field. The Fans, Junior and Ichiro have all made their case.

[Slica]

Im trying to gather my thoughts right now. Griffey coming back makes sense if hes a DH. We know Ichiro doesnt like CF as opposed to RF anyways. Funny how Ichiro spoke perfect english with no crazy quotes, too.

Im just trying to not get caught up in the hype and nostalgia regarding him coming back. I cant lie though. Him saying he wanted to retire a Mariner got me giddy a bit.

[bedir than average]

Totally understand the need to gather conflicted emotions and not get caught up in the hype. You'll forgive me, but this is one of those things for which I have asked for quite some time.

[Slica]

Oh no, it does make sense.

Im just in a wait and see mode. Wait until the whole numbness thing wears off, and see how possible this really is. The question is, how caught up in the hype if Griffey? Who knows, he might leave and eventually that nostalgia fades a bit. Then again, going back to Cincy, he might even get booed after his comments. If not, im sure hes going to notice a difference in appreciation from the fans.

It was great watching Griffey triumph over yet another Roider on the all time list...and we won, too. Honestly, after all the things he has done in Seattle, I expected a HR at some point. And like my childhood, he never disappointed.

[bedir than average]

I will be posting Griffey's postgame comments as true to his real words as I can type them from KOMO-AM
The questions are impossible to make out

It was everything I thought it would be and more.
Three of you guys came to visit me [before the series] and I was trying to not get ahead of myself. My preference is not to say to much, I would rather talk about other topics than me. That's the way I grew up, that's my household. My mom and dad always asked abou the how the team did.
It was nice to be back. It was nice to see friends and family. I really enjoyed my time here, my four days.
I always thought I would be back, I just never knew when.
As an athlete you always want to retire with the organization you started with. [gives examples] Also I have a few more years, I don't think it is going to be any time soon.
That depends on a lot of things, health and everything else.
It was my way of saying thank you, for coming out and supporting, it [ovations] was every inning, every time going out there. I wish it could be like that every time.
That's a lot of decisions that have to do with the front office. I just have to keep playing. If something happens, it happens. I just have to try to win with the team I am with right now.
[speaks about the HR with late call]
Today I was slotted in the DH slot, but I talked to Jerry and said I could go out there. It woudln't be fair to the people of Seattle to just DH.
[comments on a defensive play]
I'm going to answer this one time. Its simple. I asked Chuck to close the roof, he said the fans wanted it open, but then it started raining and they closed it.
on passing McGuire
Its just one of those things that happen. You play long enough and hit a few out and you catch people. He's a big reason why baseball is where it is now. With he and Sammy they helped make it where it is.
It was a lot of fun. A lot of great memories. A lot of family I hadn't had a chance to see in a while, a lot of familiar faces.
It hasn't changed, I've always thought I would be back. I didn't know when, but I'm just glad the people from Seattle welcomed me like this.

Drayer on postgame has stated that Armstrong says that though over budget for the right deal can still go further.

[Slica]

That would be awesome.

Im in Maryland so while I didnt get bombed with repetitive stuff, I also didnt get to see the ceremony.

I saw the video they played for him before the first game, but it cut off with 40 seconds left...it was getting me pumped too, I was waiting for the 95 stuff to kick in at the end (I heard it ended with the famous pileup).

[bedir than average]

Slica, the comments are up

[Slica]

Thanks a ton Bedir. I really appreciate that.

It shouldnt take that much to get him back. The Reds want pitching, and they badly want to get rid of the contract (apparently they want to have money to spend on mediocre pitchers in FA). They've always had several OFers. Ichiro is more likely to stay with Griffey here. Just give them a rent a player so it doesnt kill our budget (Weaver has a 1 year deal, right?)...and give up a pitching prospect (or two, depending on who) such as Ri-Fi (preferably someone else as outside of Baek, Ri-Fi might be the only starter we have whos major league ready, and after the other game, im sure the Reds would want someone else)...and eat their salary. Shouldnt be THAT hard.

Problem is, Griffey belongs at DH. Maybe here and there put him in the OF to give someone a break, but he belongs at DH. Thats not rocket science.

Im not gonna think about it unless it shows up in the horizon, but if Griffey comes here soon and DHes, how cool would it be for him to prolong his career and take down Barry Bonds once and for all.

[Chris]

Bring the Kid back.

[bedir than average]

http://www.forums.mlb.com/n/pfx/foru...reds&tid=37451

Many Reds fans are wanting him gone tonight

Both on the official forum, on REDSZone.com on our old partner site as well as Cincinatti.com

Comparable trades would be the Sheffield and Abreu deals

[Slica]

I read the Red's equilvalent of Lookout Landing, and they talked about Griffey's comments, saying "it wont sit well in Cinci'. Yes, they spelled the abbreviation of Cincy with an I. Prolly grammarly correct, but as you can tell by my use of the word 'prolly', I dont really care.

Anyways, yeah thats one comment from someone on the link Bedir provided I agree with. They dont appreciate him. I know he had injury issues, but hes a walking legend. If Griffey stayed healthy, demolished Aaron's record, people would be calling him quite possibly the greatest player in history. I think when he was in his prime, he was close. I have zero respect for any of their fans because I saw a highlight right after his 2nd or 3rd season ending injury, and there were several fans in the OF stands (where the injury happened) pointing, laughing, and mocking him when he was on the ground writhing in pain.

I wonder if Griffey is thinking with a clear conscience. He becomes a Mariner tonight, 2 years from now he wont be getting those monumental standing ovations he got this weekend. The nirvana will fade by then. The question is, does Griffey REALLY want to be here, or does he want infinity more moments like he had this weekend?

Seriously, I would be surprised if this doesnt happen. We know how the FO is. They want money, fans, and Ichiro (translate 'Ichiro' to money and fans). What becomes of Jose Vidro? He belongs on the bench, but his contract says otherwise.

[bedir than average]

Dave Campbell and John Miller are talking about the amazing reception that Junior got here in Seattle. How he thought he wasn't going to get a positive response, but that it was amazing the way the fans responded.

[bedir than average]

Griffey shows interest in coming to Seattle (some day)

Small addition from Hickey's blog

However, speaking informally after that, when asked about retiring as a Mariner, Griffey stepped up once again and told the P-I's Art Thiel ''why wouldn't I?''

this got legs people, got legs

[bedir than average]

The Seattle Times: Sports: Mariners Blog

Baker's take

As for Griffey, it's good riddance in the short term, as far as the M's are concerned. But how about the long-term? We all saw -- most of us -- that FSN interview in which Griffey suggested he would be open to finishing his career as a Mariner. My take? Go ahead and do it, but only if you make the team better in the process. Make the moves you need to make first, clearing out the right bodies from the roster, then add Griffey as a DH. But don't skimp on the mound. Don't use the price of a Griffey acquisition as an excuse for not making the needed pitching moves you need to do before bringing him here.

Mark Buehrle would help this team a whole lot more than Griffey right now, next year and the year after that. So would Carlos Zambrano for that matter. Get a deal done, add Feierabend and perhaps Brandon Morrow to the rotation next season, then give me a call and we'll talk about Griffey.

He's got it right, a Griffey addition can't be the only move.