Is this the end for Ken Griffey Jr.?

[smapdi]

Averaging 36 homers a year for a decade is what very few people have ever done, let alone someone already in his second decade in the game. That anyone expected Griffey to break "the most hallowed record in all of sports" is placing an inordinate amount of faith in one person's talent, body, and mind. Great if it happens, but really unrealistic to proclaim as definite, or even likely.

How many players actually deliver on expectations? Everyone from Gehrig to Mantle to the latest draft busts fails to live up to someone's projection of where talent, drive, health and reality intersect. In thinking about it, power hitters are the greatest 'disappointments' because they have had a hard time breaking 600, let alone 700. Guys like Rose or Biggio probably do more in the way of meeting or exceeding expectations.

The same ideas get floated with A-Rod, though now apparently no one wants him to get there.

 

[sportscardtheory]

I see Ken Griffey Jr. being the Mickey Mantle of his era... not always considered the best of his era (besides his prime years), but easily the MOST popular with the fans. 20 years from now, his cards will be the cream of the crop in every set he is in... just like Mickey Mantle from 1951-1969.

 

[bikerider60]

[quote="ALL_THE_HYPE":2ai11dqq]Keep in mind that this is what is supposed to happen to human beings who play baseball. Their bodies begin to deteriorate and near the age of 40, it becomes difficult for them to produce at anywhere near the level they once could.

With all the steroid crap lately and Barry Bonds hitting progressively more homeruns as he got older, sometimes we forget that a natural human body does indeed deteriorate around this age.

It's too bad that he isn't the same player he was anymore, but I think this goes to say that in an era of doubt, he really did play the game the right way.

Good post. If he hadn't had all those leg injuries, we would be talking about how close he is to the HR record right now... sigh.

Yeah it's really too bad. It will be a sad day for baseball when he retires, because it will be the official end to an unfortunate failure at what could have been.

How can you say unfortunate failure with a 1st ballot Hall of Fame career and a few other highlights..

Most Valuable Player Award winner (1997)
7x Silver Slugger Award winner (1991, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999)
10x Gold Glove Award winner (1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999)
13x All-Star selection (1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2004, 2007)

What do you call a success?[/quote:2ai11dqq]

Agree 100% .......Seattle is a cool and damp place. Older Humans feel the pain in their Bones..joints...like me. When it warms up I feel he will be fine.

 

[MOFNY]

I hate to say it, but for me a huge part of his legacy will be what could have been. If he had produced from roughly 1999-2005. That's a pretty large chunk of a career, and he was certainly capable (if you eliminate injuries) of breaking big career records. I have never been a Bonds basher, but it is truly epic the inflated numbers he put up from 1999 to 2004 while Griffey was struggling. I mean he broke records that many thought were untouchable. Who knows what Bonds would have done if he had "deteriorated" naturally like Griffey (at least from a bystander point of view).

 

[sportscardtheory]

I hate to say it, but for me a huge part of his legacy will be what could have been. If he had produced from roughly 1999-2005. That's a pretty large chunk of a career, and he was certainly capable (if you eliminate injuries) of breaking big career records. I have never been a Bonds basher, but it is truly epic the inflated numbers he put up from 1999 to 2004 while Griffey was struggling. I mean he broke records that many thought were untouchable. Who knows what Bonds would have done if he had "deteriorated" naturally like Griffey (at least from a bystander point of view).

The juicers (the ones that got caught anyway), along with MLB looking the other way, brought this upon themselves. Without the use of PEDs, Bonds would have most likely been better than Willie Mays, but now will forever be known as a cheater. It's actually kind of sad to see so many careers tarnished by PEDs. Yes, they still hold their records, yes, they still accomplished great things... but they will always be known as cheaters, and that is not a good thing to be remembered for.

 

[MOFNY]

One of Griffey's biggest legacy attributes might be the fact that few people pointed fingers at him. In an era where many were tarnished simply by association, Griffey may come out unscaved. Throw in his likeable personality, and he might be the most popular player of the last 30 years. I would reserve a room at Cooperstown ASAP if you want to see his induction. As much as I like to see him back at Seattle, he should retire next year.

 

[sportscardtheory]

Maybe Griffey should take PEDs to extend his career.

 

[jeff550]

i picked other because he is not hurting is team but i think he will retire after this year. i dont think he has anything left in the tank but he is not hurtin seattle.

 

[Rudzud]

Keep in mind that this is what is supposed to happen to human beings who play baseball. Their bodies begin to deteriorate and near the age of 40, it becomes difficult for them to produce at anywhere near the level they once could.

With all the steroid crap lately and Barry Bonds hitting progressively more homeruns as he got older, sometimes we forget that a natural human body does indeed deteriorate around this age.

It's too bad that he isn't the same player he was anymore, but I think this goes to say that in an era of doubt, he really did play the game the right way.

Good post. If he hadn't had all those leg injuries, we would be talking about how close he is to the HR record right now... sigh.

No, without those injuries he woul dhave hit 800.

 

[sportscardtheory]

Bump for new news.