A couple Atlanta journalists have been getting ripped apart for prematurely leaking the Griffey-to-Braves rumor, a leak that many feel led in part to Junior changing his mind. Turns out that, yeah, that's just a pile of poop.
Sources have indicated that Griffey's tide turned shortly after he became upset with the fact that The Atlanta Journal-Constitution was reporting that he'd already decided to play for the Braves.
But Wren said the fact that the silence came after this report was published was purely coincidental. Griffey's decision was based on the lifetime opportunities that Seattle will provide him.
In other words, David O'Brien and Mark Bowman deserve none of the credit for saving Atlanta from a giant mistake. So much for living the dream. Influencing Griffey's decision were his history in Seattle, heavy lobbying by Chuck Armstrong, input from his family, Willie Mays, and Hank Aaron, and apparently a lifetime personal services contract that would keep Griffey on the Mariner payroll after he retires. I'm not sure what he'd do, exactly, but Aaron got the same deal with the Braves and currently works as a senior VP, so I wouldn't be surprised if there's the chance for Junior to get pretty high up if he desires. Alternatively he might just fill the pull-me-out-of-my-coffin-whenever-you-need-people-to-forget-about-the-present-for-a-little-while spot currently occupied by Jay Buhner, but now I'm just guessing. In the end, all that really matters here is that, with the lifetime contract, 1995 fever promises to be alive in Seattle longer than many of us. Here's to change, and never having to experience it.
0 recs | 45 comments
It’s not them, it’s you.
JI - February 19, 2009
Three's a trend.
Faux - February 19, 2009
Well yeah there was Derek Lowe too.
Eyebrows - February 19, 2009
Alluding
Jeff Sullivan - February 19, 2009
Grammar nazi
Dewey N - February 19, 2009
The chance to point out Chipper Jones being butthurt over his friend's "betrayal is too good to pass up.
JI - February 19, 2009
Oh now I see it,
JI - February 19, 2009
It's possible that Chipper's just very good at bobbing and weaving his way to facts
ningwers - February 20, 2009
Chipper?!
Possibly not the best at facing the facts of his life, and one to dissemble?
No……
msb - February 20, 2009
Your name is Chipper, you douche.
kevin_ess - February 20, 2009
Actually it's Larry.
But come on, whatever else you think of Chipper, you have to admire the man for naming his son Shea because that’s where he enjoyed hitting (and sticking it to the Mets) most of all. It’s both a name and sweet, sweet insult.
esoteric - February 20, 2009
I ogled a stripper named Shea
on many occasions. She was a hot female Calilfornian though.
hairofthedawg - February 20, 2009
This comment confuses me.
Is there something wrong with being a hot girl from California?
appleshampoo - February 20, 2009
I think the implication is that that made up for her being a stripper?
Mariner John - February 21, 2009
"the pull-me-out-of-my-coffin-whenever-you-need-people-to-forget-about-the-present-for-a-little-while spot "
It’s a sweet gig.
msb - February 19, 2009
I had thought Edgar had that spot
Or is he too recently retired?
Ezzra - February 19, 2009
Busy.
Much, much too busy.
msb - February 19, 2009
I think that's what I am for my current band.
kevin_ess - February 20, 2009
Griffey to Chipper:
It’s not you, it’s me.
Gihyou - February 19, 2009
oh my
I just realized the first commenter already did this joke. I’m sorry.
Gihyou - February 19, 2009
Seriously...
This is a no-brainer offering that I’m nevertheless happy Armstrong offered. No matter what the on-tield metrics were, this was something I think the team was correct in offering.
rtang - February 19, 2009
Anyone know what the heck a "lifetime opportunity" is?
That just makes it sounds like Griffey is going to a retirement community, and not a city.
Actually…
Grady Clapp - February 19, 2009
Oh god
There is a great Game of Life/Griffey photoshop opportunity here.
CURSE THESE STUPID FINGERS
OlSalty - February 19, 2009
I am guessing in his game of Life..
He’ll be retiring to Millionaire Estates even though he skipped college at the beginning.
seamariners85 - February 20, 2009
I believe it's a cameo on the Lifetime network.
Likely as an extra in a coffee shop wherein Sandra gets sexually harassed on the glass of a pinball machine, but luckily John is there to protect her and call the cops. Sandra sadly has to live with this for the rest of her life. She no longer can muster her strength to play pinball, either. Pretty hard hitting script.
kevin_ess - February 20, 2009
What the hell kind of coffee shop
Has a pinball machine!?
seattlecougar - February 21, 2009
SureShot Expresso!
Kermit. - February 21, 2009
Or Espresso
Kermit. - February 21, 2009
DID I MENTION THAT I FUCKING LOVE GRIFFEY
OlSalty - February 19, 2009
Tim Hudson is not pleased with these chain of events
Link
Goose - February 20, 2009
Oh, Timmy.
msb - February 20, 2009
From what I can tell
Hudson was more upset about speculation on who would be removed from the 40-man to make room.
Jeff Sullivan - February 20, 2009
Well, thank god for Tom Glavine.
He won’t go breaking their hearts.
msb - February 20, 2009
You have no idea.
To me, him signing is breaking my heart. Has broken my heart.
Can’t disagree with any of you guys here, really. A beat-writer doesn’t have the influence or power to completely scare off a free-agent. It’s a little silly blame-game that’s being played, with fans and players overreacting-much, and Chipper Jones mouthing off his typical candid opinion, that gets quoted nationally because he’s Chipper Jones (douchey-name-or-not). I just don’t see the point; and in a week, all of this will have been washed over, anyway.
royhobbs - February 20, 2009
FWIW...
Chipper Jones is probably the most criminally underrated player in history, followed closely by Bert Blyleven and (gaining ground quickly) Adrian Beltre. I don’t care if he’s being a fool here, he’s still a freakin’ awesome player…
PositivePaul - February 20, 2009
Larrrrrrryyyyyyy! Larrrrrrrryyyyyyy!
seamariners85 - February 20, 2009
So, when the new 6'2" batboy runs the rosin bag out
will the jersey say “George”, ’Ken", or “Trey”?
msb - February 20, 2009
Just as long as it doesn't say Guardado, we should be fine...
PositivePaul - February 20, 2009
per Goldberg on KJR.
He says he wanted to get something done at the start of the off-season, but that Zduriencik told them that if the Ms were interested in Jr, it wouldn’t be until the end of the off-season, as they were a new FO and had to get their team set., which Goldberg says he understood. He also says one other NL team was a little interested.
He claims that Chuck did not push Zduriencik at all, though Chuck did keep in contact with Goldberg.
Just before the ProAm, they talked to Ms, and then the next day the Braves called.
He stopped in Phoenix, talked & took a physical. Monday met with Wren & Cox, and then the emotional back & forth started, making lists and trying to decide where to go. Goldberg says that Jr never made a decision one way or the other, until Tues when his daughter said, I’m the one whose games will be most affected, but I say go to Seattle
msb - February 20, 2009
She needs to come and throw out the first pitch for Opening Day.
kentroyals5 - February 20, 2009
Well....
since she is 12-13 and already playing heavy-duty AAU ball, she might well throw better than some pitchers we could name…
msb - February 20, 2009
Sign Her! Sign Her!
Then sign Senior to a 1-day contract. Call ’em both up, let Jr. play LF, Sr. DH, and she can pitch in relief! 3 generations!!!
PositivePaul - February 20, 2009
I think we all can enjoy
some deadspin article about Griffey.
Edgar for Pres - February 20, 2009
The HOF is full of guys who weren't cuddly with the media.
Narcissistic media folks never seem to grasp this.
Big Jared - February 20, 2009
This is why it was a bad deal
I know that the Mariners have stunk the past few years…but I don’t want to relive ’95 or any other Griffey year, or any other year in the past anymore. Time to just roll with the present and hope for the best in the future.
PatLagreid - February 21, 2009
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