We don’t really pay much attention to the Senior Circuit. Pretty much a snooze. But we do note with pleasure the return to form of Ken Griffey, Jr., in our minds the best player of the 90s (sorry Barry), his career sadly interrupted by injury. Granted, he’s not the player of old, but with a home run tonight he’s up to 21 on the season with a .289 BA, .368 OBP, and .548 SLG. More encouraging is the fact that he has improved with each month of the season, posting .244. .283, .303, and .333 BAs in the months from April-July. His July OPS in 1.242. There’s never been a prettier swing or more elegant player in the field. We’re glad to see him return, even if he’s lost a step. Especially as his birth preceded ours by precisely one day. Who says 35 is old?
Resurrection in Cincy
Next post: Impaled in Anaheim
Previous post: Small Is Large
9 comments… add one
One other note: among CFs, only Jim Edmonds and Andruw Jones have higher OPS numbers on the season. Johnny Damon is 4, but it’s not even close. The old man can still play.
Easily my favorite player when I was a bit younger. I always thought that if he did not have all those years wasted because of bad hamstrings, Barry and the likes would have been chasing him into the history books. Prettiest lefty swing I have ever seen – until Ortiz of course. If he’s genuinely healthy now, and the leg is no longer an issue, this would be a great pickup for someone in need of an OFer, but a momumental risk for whoever that would be.
Also, his #’s to this point are almost exactly where they were at this point a year ago – and we know what happened then. I wonder why noone ever put him in a corner spot or tried him a first base? I’m sure there is a logical reason why, but it makes sense just the same. Cinci is going to try real hard to dump him (and the rest of the team) in the next two weeks.
can Cinci dump him? or is he a 10-5 guy who has stedfastly stated he doesnt want to go anywhere-that he wants to retire a red. i agree, he he would (and could) be a great pickup for an american league team in need of some pop in the bat. plus he could extend his career as a DH and take a shot at those record books still…
I love Junior and he was one of my favorite players growing up but he was never as good as Bonds. It is great to see his resurrection though.
YF, does a similar post about Giambi come soon?
Nick, seriously, Junior was never as good as Bonds? How can anyone take that comment seriously?
Bill James agrees with me but he doesn’t know much, Battingly. Hey, I like you too much to get in a scuffle about this but check out the stats. Yanks fans shouldn’t fight. Griffey was great. Bonds was unbelievable.
So, I’m jetlagged and I can’t sleep (to explain the late posting) but I thought I’d follow up about Griffey v. Bonds and quote Bill James from his abstract: here’s his list of the 10 best players of the 90’s and a comment about Bonds (not in that order):
“Barry Bonds
Certainly the most un-appreciated superstar of my lifetime;
Bonds, [Craig] Biggio, and [Rickey] Henderson the three
most un-appreciated. Probably the second- or third-best
hitter among the 100 listed left fielders (behind [Ted] Williams
and perhaps [Stan] Musial), probably the third-best baserunner
(behind Henderson and [Tim] Raines), probably the best
defensive left fielder. Griffey has always been more popular,
but Bonds has been a far, far greater player.
The ten best players of the 1990s:
1. Barry Bonds
2. Craig Biggio
3. Frank Thomas
4. Ken Griffey Jr.
5. Jeff Bagwell
6. Rafael Palmeiro
7. Barry Larkin
8. Roberto Alomar
9. Mark McGwire
10. Greg Maddux”
I like Griffey more than Bonds but who doesn’t? Anyway, as you see, James is the iconoclast and this list is not without controversy. But, he generally knows what’s up as he spends a lot more time thinking about baseball and has a lot more mind to think with (than I do at least).
Griffey’s bat may still be fine, but at this point I want someone that’ll catch balls. Griffey’s defense hasn’t looked, well, griffey-esque in years.