Why Tonight Matters
May 12, 2008Live Blog: Eastern Conference Semis Game Four
May 12, 2008
We’ve gone on and on about the Indians offensive struggles. We’ve suggested different line-ups, and pleaded for another outfield bat. Ben Francisco has been a short breath of fresh air, but when he hits a slump, how long before his head is called for?
Ownership promised to spend a little money when the time was right. That time has most certainly come. But who is out there? Who could the Tribe get to be that bat and possibly play left or right field? How does Ken Griffey Jr. sound?
Reportedly, the Reds are open to offers for the man with 597 career home runs. The Seattle Mariners are rumored to want Griffey to return to the place he began his career, and while that certainly seems poetic, is it the best fit for Griffey, or the best chance for him to win a World Series? The Indians and Reds have a pretty rich history as trade partners, especially lately. Griffey makes $8.2 million this year. Certainly not an outrageous amount for the Indians to pay. There is a club option in ’09 for $16 million, which nobody would touch. Griffey also gets the right to refuse any trade. He has said that he wouldn’t mind returning to the Seattle area, but that he wants a shot to win a ring. Why wouldn’t Griffey consider a trade to the Indians?
He has said on numerous occasions that he doesn’t want to DH, but I don’t see a problem with letting him have the left or right field positions. His current numbers aren’t spectacular, but perhaps the infamous ‘change of scenery’ would help him, and his veteran leadership and presence in the clubhouse would have to be welcome. How would this line-up look- (Gutierrez and Dellucci to split time in the outfield…or move one of them to Cincy to pave way for Francisco…)
-
Grady Sizemore CF
-
David Dellucci LF
-
Victor Martinez C
-
Ken Griffey Jr. RF
-
Travis Hafner DH
-
Casey Blake 3B
-
Jhonny Peralta SS
-
Ryan Garko 1B
-
Asdrubal Cabrera 2B
Of course, throwing Griffey into the mix doesn’t make the other hitters come out of the funk they are in, but let’s face it the Indians are in trouble if they don’t start hitting consistently no matter who they add.
13 Comments
where do i sign? i’m slightly biased because he is by far my favorite baseball player since i knew what baseball was, but seriously, he’ll bring fans to the park, he’ll give us that little jolt in the middle of our line-up. he might be able able to help our younger guys a little bit in the batter’s box.
so i guess what i’m saying is yes i would do it
Eh, why not? If the Indians were hitting, I’d say thanks, but no thanks. But since nobody on this team outside of Victor remembers how to hit a baseball this season, I’d say why not? Give Griffey a shot. He can’t be WORSE than some of these guys playing every day right now.
I’d be for it, but for a guy that may not be here too long I’d have to see what we give up first. Then again, he could be a great stop-gap until Weglarz is ready in a couple of years.
still has one of the best swing in the bigs…
Should I assume Gutierrez gets dealt?
I would think some SP would have to leave
I would be against this, he is only hitting .254. he is getting older and all those injuries he has had in his career work as a big red flag. So I guess he can’t be worse than our hitting now, but at the price it would take to get him, I’d rather get Xavier Nady or Jason Bay from Pittsburgh. I could think of other guys, maybe Garrett Atkins or something, I dunno, I just threw that out there without thinking
We already have seen the price for Nady or Bay. I don’t think the Indians are willing to pay that for a rented player. Besides Bay isn’t hitting much better than Casey Blake at this point.
I’m not sure what it would take to get Griffey, but I don’t think it would be as high. The Reds will not pick up his option and so they will lose him at the end of the year anyway.
it will be starting pitching. i would imagine they would take a position player too, prolly like catcher or something like that.
im interested. throw marte in.
griff’s actually never been much of a leader or clubhouse presence, so i’d discount that part, but i’m into this. if pronk would start using the right end of the bat again, griff’s got some good protection as the meat in a v-mart/pronk lineup sandwich, depending on the ask. someone said starting pitching, which we actually have in spades…
It all would depend on what the Indians have to give up. Griffey is an intriguing possibility. Not only would he add offense from a corner position, but he would also bring asses to the seats with his quest for 600, then 700.
Offensively, he would bring some power, and a spark. At the same time, his health would for sure be a concern, and as hard as it is to say this, would he bring any more than Dellucci? Dellucci is a solid fielder, who throws his body out on the line.
I can’t believe I just said that.
They would immediately go after Gutierrez (no way) and/or Francisco (maybe), and at least one of the Indians stud, young starters…
That’s too much for the name…
Still…would the added bonus of seats be the final touch?
The price for Nady or Bay probably has changed, since if my memory serves me Cliff Lee was part of the talks, and if Guitierrez and Cabrera are still struggling in mid June, are we all more eager to possibly trade them? I might be. And Jason Bay was hitting .270 last I checked, and Nady has at least 30 RBIs, so that is definitely an upgrade. Plus, Griffey makes a lot of money and doesn’t really put up the numbers he used to. I guess it looks like I am the only one here against it haha
Laffey and Gutierrez should do it. I will make the round trip to pick him up, and rent a U-Haul to move some stuff into his apartment in C-town. Whatever it takes.
Come on, how loud would the fans be in his first game at the Pro? Louder than when Lofton came back last year? Indians fans realize the value he brings to the team offensively, and the fact it clears up the outfield picture a bit (at least until Choo is healthy). He would look good in the Sunday creams, too.
Francisco in RF, Griff in LF, Grady up the middle, Dellucci the spot pinch-hitter. Now, if I can only figure out how to turn on the Marte machine, and throw Casey into the deal as well.