Wednesday, January 17, 2007
CINCINNATI — The expected news is that Ken Griffey Jr. remains on schedule to be ready for spring training. The unexpected news is that right field may be in his future for the Cincinnati Reds.
Griffey and manager Jerry Narron have talked about the possibility of Griffey switching to right field and Griffey is open-minded about the possibility.
"Griffey is very open to doing what he can do to be on the field more," Narron said. "He realizes that Kirby Puckett moved (to right field) and that Cal Ripken, Jr. moved to third base.
"He wants to do what is best for the Cincinnati Reds," Narron added. "He realizes that to be on the field more he has to change positions."
Before moving, Griffey wants to be certain somebody better can play center field, the position Griffey has played since signing his first major-league contract in 1987.
Narron probably will play Ryan Freel and others in center and have Griffey play some right field the first couple weeks of spring training.
Said Narron, "If we started spring training tomorrow, Griffey would be in center field, but right field in spring training is a possibility.
"He was deeply disappointed that he missed September (dislocated toe on his right foot) in that we came so close and he wasn't able to help," Narron added. "I don't like to talk about what my players and I talk about, but I was very pleased with the way he sounded when we talked about this some late last year."
When the Reds report in mid-February, Griffey will be ready to play, according to team medical director Dr. Tim Kremchek.
X-rays showed that Griffey's broken left hand is healing as anticipated, and the hard cast was removed and replaced by a removable splint that the Reds' outfielder will wear for two weeks.
Griffey broke his hand three weeks ago while playing with his son, Trey, at their Florida home.
"It truly was nothing sinister," said Griffey's Cincinnati-based agent, Brian Goldberg. "It was a family thing, playing in the backyard with his kids and has nothing to do with a dirt bike. He wants to tell all the beat writers at one time what happened."
Contact this reporter at hmccoy@DaytonDailyNews.com.
Comments
By Steve in Murfreesboro,TN
January 26, 2007 02:18 PM | Link to this
I would move Griffey to left and Dunn to first!! Left field would be easier on Jr., add a FA bat to play RF and put Freel in Center!!
By By Jon in Dayton, Ohio
January 26, 2007 10:58 AM | Link to this
The Reds need to do whats best for the Reds. If this means moving Griffey to right field so be it.
This teams chemistry is one of the worst in the majors. I understand that last year the team made a good run of it, but when you watch them play they dont look like they have a clue.
Here’s a thought, what if the Reds decided to trade Dunn for pitching and a fielder who can catch the ball. Dunn gives up just as many runs as he drives in or scores himself.
By TANK 58
January 23, 2007 10:45 PM | Link to this
I HAVE BEEN SAYING THAT FOR TWO YEARS FREEL SHOULD BE IN CENTERFIELD,HE IS LIKE HAVING FOUR OUTFIELDERS.JERRY STICK TO YOUR GUNS,PUT GRIFFEY IN RIGHT FIELD HE ONLY HAS TO GO LEFT BECAUSE FREEL WILL COVER THE OTHER SIDE,RC,LC AND CENTER.MAYBE THEN FREEL CAN GET HIS GOLD GLOVE AND THE REDS CAN WIN ANOTHER PENNANT!!!!!! AND ANOTHER THING PETE ROSE NEEDS TO BE IN THE HALL OF FAME BEFOR HE DIES.IN COOPERSTOWN.!!!!!!!!!!GO REDS NUMBER 1 I 2007.
By Garret K in Columbia, MO
January 23, 2007 09:47 AM | Link to this
If Griffey were a hasbeen, how come no one else has picked the reds up when he has been injured. Say what you want, but Ken Griffey Jr. is still the best player on the reds hands down. He has been the best player most of his career. Just because you are jealous of his accomplishments does not give you the right to bash him. Maybe he should be traded to the royals or the cardinals, so i can appreciate a hall of fame outfielder everday. Griffey to the cards so you can moan about Jim Edmonds!!!!!!!
By Garret K in Columbia, MO
January 23, 2007 09:41 AM | Link to this
I wish all of you haters would shut the hell up. Griffey has been playing is heart out for the last 17 or 18 years. Numerous gold gloves, a cabinet full of silver slugger awards, and a league mvp. Do you think it’s easy to go out and play at your best day in and day out and not expect injuries to happen. This is the MLB, not your summer softball league. I think if Griffey is going to move to right field it will be because it’s whats best for the team. Most of you are saying he’s a hasbeen.
By Jim gable
January 23, 2007 09:06 AM | Link to this
Seatle must have had a crystle ball.We should have kept Cameron.He was an above average center feilder ,And a average hitter and he stayed on the field.And he was a hole lot less expensive.We could have some top notch pitchers for what Griffy and what Larken cost the team!
By Jason
January 22, 2007 09:36 AM | Link to this
All these experts thank goodness for them! Let’s give it a chance before we dog it.
By realistic
January 21, 2007 03:41 PM | Link to this
maybe he’ll od on asprin
By Mike
January 20, 2007 11:21 AM | Link to this
75 % of Ken Griffey is better than 100 % of most other outfielders . Cubs fans , do you remember Steve Bartman :- P
By Patrick
January 19, 2007 02:04 PM | Link to this
Ken Griffey will probably get injured, but don’t tell me he still can’t play. He was the Comeback Player of the Year two years ago and was the best player for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic. I think he still has two more years in him.
By chris
January 19, 2007 10:41 AM | Link to this
It dosent matter everyone else has improved there team in the divisonthey have brung in fossils and sent most of the young kids to other teams.This team will struggle for years to come griffey is a old man and dunn strikes out to much.Homer bailey is are only hope for years to come Im a baggage handler and i could of done a better job than the gm
By Tom
January 18, 2007 09:46 PM | Link to this
Junior will do fine in right field until he’s injured, then Hamilton or Hopper can take over. Freel and Denorfia holding down center is ok for the time being; at least it gives us some speed. Then if we’re out of it by late July, Krivsky can make some big trades to begin the revamping of the Reds.
By Mark T
January 18, 2007 05:50 PM | Link to this
I can see it now - foul ball down right field line, Griffey runs into wall trying to catch it, Griffey out for year.
By Grant
January 18, 2007 01:02 PM | Link to this
Ken Griffey Jr. was a great centerfielder but i think moving to right is the best option for him at this stage of his career. Ryan Freel is a very capable centerfielder and will take over nicely. With a hopefully healthy Griffey and a true leadoff hitter in Freel the Reds I truly believe will be have a chance of making the playoffs. As for the Cubs i don’t think Ted Lily and Jason Marquis are solving your problems.
By sparky2
January 18, 2007 12:15 PM | Link to this
I doubt that moving griffey to first is a solution. to much movement in short bursts that would injury his legs even more. right or left(preferably)would be in his best interest
By Grant in Troy, MI
January 18, 2007 11:27 AM | Link to this
Ryan Freel is a much better centerfielder right now then Ken Griffey Jr. Jr. still has a cannon out there and its accurate so i think we will see alot of plays at the plate with Griffey in right field. As for the Cubs i dont think players like Ted Lily and Jason Marquis are going to solve your problems.
By Dave
January 18, 2007 09:30 AM | Link to this
When Jim Blowden acquired Ken Griffey Jr. from Seatle, it was one of the greatest setbacks in Cincinnati Reds history.
By tim
January 18, 2007 07:22 AM | Link to this
Griffey is an overpaid .260 hitter that will miss 35 games do to “injury”. The time to get rid of this guy has passed. He is of no value and no other team would take on that salary for the production & injuries he produces. His act is old.
By kevin
January 18, 2007 12:32 AM | Link to this
griff said he wants to make sure the person playing CF is better than him… i dont believe he thinks freel or deno is better than him..if he were to move to RF we would need to see a trade happen
By Nate
January 17, 2007 10:01 PM | Link to this
Father time my expletive. The only reason Griffey can’t still run like he used to is because his legs have been RAVAGED. Griffey will prolly be a very good rightfielder he still has very good ball skills and above average athleticism.
By Dave in Oceanside Ca.
January 17, 2007 09:51 PM | Link to this
This City and alot of these Moronic fans that love to make stupid comments about Jr. should be ashamed of themselves. this man is by far the greatest Centerfielder of our generation and these fools have been after him to leave almost as soon as he arrived.Hopefully someday they will look back and see how truly blessed they were to see one of the all time greats play for the hometeam. As far as the best platoon for Ryan and Dino,How about the bench for those to part time players?
By BubbaFan
January 17, 2007 09:12 PM | Link to this
Griffey was not the worst defensive CFer in the majors last year. That would be Bernie Williams. :-P
By Buckfan69
January 17, 2007 09:12 PM | Link to this
I’ve been wishing Griffey would move to first base for about 5 years now. The strain of covering centerfield has been the main reason he’s gotten injured so often. When the Reds were loaded with outfielders and needed pitching so badly it would have made a lot of sense to trade Casey for a front line pitcher and move Junior there. Or put Dunn there and move Griffey to left field. But first base was my first choice, primarily because it would have been a lot less strain on his body.
By Shawn
January 17, 2007 06:59 PM | Link to this
Griffey was probably the worst CF in the majors defensively last year, so moving him to RF would be a good move, a platoon of Dino and Freel would do fine in CF. Sorry but Freel isn’t a every day player, his style just wears him out to much to sustain it.
The best position for Griffey would probably be LF or DH. The Reds already have a better offensive LF and DH isn’t a option. Though I wouldn’t mind trading him back to a AL team so he could DH and have a shot at 140 games a year
By Chuck
January 17, 2007 06:55 PM | Link to this
I think that Ken should start and stay in right field until he is injured, say what you want he is not as quick as he was and you want the fastest player on the team to be in center. Ken’s days are numbered until he moves to the American League to be a designated hitter somewhere. If Ken could play close to full season he could hit over 300, 30 or more HR and around 110 RBI’s. His bat is still potent but his health, a question mark.
By J
January 17, 2007 05:04 PM | Link to this
It has been an unfortunate turn of events for Griffey. It seems like his homecoming to Cincy has been nothing but injuries. Last year was different. Griffey is solid and will have another productive year. As far as Go Cubs comments…well, it just displays what Cub fans are all about! They think this is a sprint and it turns out to be a marathon. Cub fans just have a lot of emotions built up because none of them have lived to see them when the World Series in their lifetime!
By Dave
January 17, 2007 04:33 PM | Link to this
At least Griffey is open to this unlike Larkin was towards the end of his career. To Go Cubs…as Marty says, the Cubs are still the Cubs. Maybe you should go out and buy a shirt that says, “Back to back champs 07 and 08.” That would be 1907 and 1908.
By myspace.com/15keys
January 17, 2007 04:19 PM | Link to this
Griffey is another Ernie Banks all these great personal accomplishments and no ring. I do give him credit though, If Barry Bonds was truly at Jr’s house the day Bonds decided to start juicing I am glad Griffey did not go along with him. Let him play rightfield. Having someone of Ken Griffey Jr’s current skills in right is alot better than having someone of Ken Griffey Jr’s current skills in center. YANKEES ALL THE WAY BABY!!!!!
By Laurie
January 17, 2007 03:19 PM | Link to this
Ken Griffey Jr. has nothing but class. He’s a role model for kids on & off the field. He’s always been a team player & shows that again by changing positions. We’ve been cheering Ken on since my son was 3 and got his first set of baseball cards. The first card he saw was Griffey & he’s been a fan ever since. Good luck to you Ken we’ll be rooting for you!
By Bob
January 17, 2007 01:42 PM | Link to this
Griffey was All-Century. Was is the key word here. The worst of all the bad I saw last year was against the Cards. Jr. on first, Encanarcion (sp) playing right for the Cards, Hatteberg hit a low, hard line drive to right. Edwin is not a good fielder and lets a lot of balls get by him. Griffey basically walked to second. If the ball goes through it’s a run on a hustle play. On the same day, Griffey told Freel his beautiful catch might make his top ten. The tail wagging the dog, as I see it.
By Terry in Celina,Ohio
January 17, 2007 12:26 PM | Link to this
To GOcubs, you are a dreamer. The Cubs might be even worse than last year which was worse than terrible.
By mike in reminderville
January 17, 2007 12:19 PM | Link to this
I am tired of these silly fans who want Jr to retire. This team is bad enough. we need his stick and glove. he’s an all century player along with Rose, morgan, bench etc. He is ours. talk about fans who hate players with no loyality and jump ship for the Yankees or the DODOgers. Jr came to us. he is loyal and a RED from birth. he can play center field using a walker for all i care. We arent going to win any pennants this year. let JR play and let the rest shut up and watch the cubs.
By Kenny
January 17, 2007 11:24 AM | Link to this
With the personnel we have, I think moving Griff to RF and Freel to CF is the best possible scenario. This gives both players a chance to stay healthy the whole season, Griffey because he won’t be running around as much, and Freel because he is less likely to break his neck by running/diving into a wall chasing a foul ball!! Also, getting Freel in there everyday finally gives us a legitimate lead-off hitter, which can only help, with the havok he can cause on the basepaths.
By Tired in Cincy
January 17, 2007 11:05 AM | Link to this
How about RETIREMENT for Griffey???
By tired in Cincy
January 17, 2007 11:03 AM | Link to this
Good position would be RETIREMENT…..for Griffey.
By Chase Sattler
January 17, 2007 10:52 AM | Link to this
The reds will need a good year out of a lot of guys to contend; However, as a lifelong reds fan I can’t recall when we had two good starters like we have now. Also, how could anyone be so stupid as to think that Adam Dunn is not awesome. He is one of the reasons you go to a reds game, to see a homerun hit the river. As far as the cubs go, you have got to be kidding me. The reds may not win the division, but the cubs will definately not win as usual. Teams need to do more than spend money.
By Brett
January 17, 2007 10:44 AM | Link to this
I think moving Junior to Right field and put Freel in Center is the best lineup possible. That gets you a leadoff guy and the lineup will be set. I think we are going to be a good team this year.
By Jon
January 17, 2007 10:23 AM | Link to this
Everyone seems to act as though this is a demotion or something. Right field is better suited to his skills at this point in his career. The guy has 2 bum hamstrings, of course he can’t cover as much ground as he used to, he still can read the ball off the bat with the best of outfielders. Not to mention that he still has a great arm which is a requirement for right field. The guy didn’t win all those gold gloves because he hits homeruns…
By Josh
January 17, 2007 10:08 AM | Link to this
Ryan Freel is a great defensive player and would definitely be better in center than Griffey. Griffey will be solid in right field for the 100 games he plays this year. I just hope that the person who plays the other 62 games can be a factor offensively and defensively. I hate to say stuff like that, but facts are facts and he just cant stay healthy for a whole season. Now only if we could get someone who could play a good left field and hit more than .250, then the Reds might contend?
By GOcubs
January 17, 2007 09:40 AM | Link to this
i am a die hard Cubs fan…and you know what!? the reds aren’t going to do anything this year they are awful anymove won’t be enough to stop the Cubs this season so stop complaining about Griffey because he won’t make a difference anyway…he is a hasbeen!
GO CUBS!
By G-Lee
January 17, 2007 09:34 AM | Link to this
I see Junior as the ultimate professional. He’ll do what has to be done to help the club.
Just as Pete Rose did in his time (2B-RF-LF-3B-1B-PH-Mgr), and just like loads of other people have done. Even Willie Mays and Mickey Mantle played 1B at the end of their careers. I really don’t know what the problem is. Good luck, Ken.
By justin
January 17, 2007 09:15 AM | Link to this
Jim—people like you make me sick. Junior has busted this butt all the time, and what do you do, bash him. Classless.
By Jim
January 17, 2007 08:52 AM | Link to this
He will end up injured (hangnail or something major?) and on the bench so what does it matter what position he plays in Spring Training or his limited regular season?
By Jon
January 16, 2007 10:11 PM | Link to this
Like all players father time is now catching up with Griffey. By him moving to left or right field it’s not as if he is concieding that he is a lesser player but simply a player who realizes that he can’t do the things that he use to do. Unfortunately, I don’t think that a change in position is going to be that big of a factor in him being healthy all season.
By Terry in Celina,Ohio
January 16, 2007 10:05 PM | Link to this
If the Reds can find someone that can play center field better(or even as good)as Griffey(and I doubt that there are more than 4 or 5 players in the whole major league that can) then he should move to right field if that is what the Reds want.