Besides for Randy Johnson who we still all love here. Look what happens to sports stars who leave the great Northwest. They either have careers go down or the team they go to becomes horrible.
-Griffey, Now I feel sorry for him, He's blaming the fans in Cincy for all his problems, The Reds have had a better record when he is out of the line-up
-ARod, On the psycho Rangers with the strangest chemistry in sports, Still putting up good numbers for himself
-Shawn Kemp, Leaves Seattle gets fat and has a million kids and drug problems, this was the most dissapointing because Seattle got the Softy slacker Baker in return so nobody won on this one but Kemp was one of the most exciting players in history his years here in Seattle. Could only wonder what could have been if he stayed in shape and in Seattle.
-Joey Galloway, Walrus couldnt get his way with him, he is now with a lousy Cowboy team, but I dont blame him for not wanting to stay.

The difference between the Big Unit and the other 4 was that Randy wanted to stay the other four wanted to leave.

[ May 07, 2002: Message edited by: gp43 ]

Griffey is pissing and moaning to the press again about his treatment by the fans. He really needs to shut up. The Reds are playing their best ball since Griff arrived and he's been hurt. I'm no psychic, but I have a funny feeling the Reds are headed south as soon as Griffey gets back in the lineup.

While it's hard to muster up much sympathy for Griffey--he makes more in one game than I do in a year--the fact that he and his family have received untold numbers of death threats in Cincy makes me feel the situation is bad for all concerned. And what about Seattle having a record-breaking 2001 after he left? That's gotta hurt.

Sometimes the grass isn't greener on the other side; it's brown and patchy and barren. At one point, I thought he was lock to beat Hammerin' Hank's HR record; now, I'd be surprised if he was still playing in 3 years.

[quote]Originally posted by George_vikingfan:
I have a funny feeling the Reds are headed south as soon as Griffey gets back in the lineup.

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I griped as much as anyone when Griffey made the silly All-Century Team and Bonds didn't -- does that look like anything but a joke now? -- but I'd let up on him. To think Cincy is better with him off the field than on is ridiculous til his play proves otherwise. The Reds are planning on Griffey/Kearns/Dunn in the OF for some years to come, I think.

I agree Griffey is a great talent. But sometimes the chemistry isn't right. The chemistry seems to be right in Cincy right now. Look at the Toronto Raptors and Vince Carter. Carter is undoubtedly one of the great talents in the NBA. But somehow the Raptors played better without him. They reeld off 10 or 11 in a row to make the palyoffs. His teammates don't like him. I just wonder if the situation with Griffey and the Reds is parallel. There have been a few reports of former teammates who feel he's a prima donna. Obviously when Griffey (and Carter) are healthy enough to play, they will. But is that necessarily the best thing for the TEAM?

As for the death threats, obviously that crap should not go on. But the bottom line is there are nuts out there and Griffey is far from the only guy receiving such threats. Certainly doesn't make it right, it just is. And his statements to the media just come across like he's got this persecution complex. He just seems to me to be a pretty unhappy person.

"Chemistry" or lack of it is often a space-filler invented by sportswriters. In his full 2000 season and his two-thirds of an injury-shortened 2001, Griffey slugged well over .500 and had a nice .350+ OBP -- not up to his Seattle years, but way better than a media darling like Garret Anderson. If the Reds want to win, I don't see how Junior's a problem when healthy.

I disagree, "chemistry" is very important, and after jr's crazy comments I think it's becoming more obvious that he is a chemistry killer. His comments are depressing to me and I dont care about the Reds, think what they do to his team-mates. A team needs to have a mix of players that can somewhat get along and feel good about playing together to win. Best example of team with good chemistry- The New England Patriots, not much talent but all working towards the same goal, and a team with bad chemistry- The Portland Trail Blazers, a team with as much if not more total talent on the team than any other in the NBA but still always end up imploding.

I dont think Vince Carter is such a good example though, Toronto's winning streak was against horrible teams and I think the problem with them when Carter was in the line-up is that their game was dependant on a Carter who was at 100% and he still wasnt complete from his injury. I havent followed the Raptors very closely but I think they would have got deeper into the playoffs with a healthy Carter.

[quote]Originally posted by gp43:
I dont think Vince Carter is such a good example though, Toronto's winning streak was against horrible teams

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The Raptors actually won 9 staright and 12 of their last 14. In today's NBA that's an accomplishment. Would a 9 game losing streak be more palatable becasue it came against all good teams? And while there were mostly weak sisters that the Raptors beat, four of those 12 wins came against playoff teams (Sixers, Pacers, Hornets, Nets). Plus back to back wins over the Bulls! (Don't laugh-they beta the Lakers TWICE!) And WITH Carter, they had a 13 game losing streak. Yikes!

Anyway, I've played team sports at various levels my whole life and chemistry is definitely a factor. And there wasn't any media around covering my intramural flag football team!

Great line by Joe Sheehan of Baseball Prospectus on the poll that says Junior should be benched: "No one in Cincinnati should be allowed to manage a baseball team."

Give me talent and good health from a roster, and the chemistry should be good enough... I just don't think the *public image* of what a team's chemistry is can be trusted, and that's all we have to go on.

I don't know how this baseball topic turned to basketball, but anyways...

The Raptors actually were playing quite well in the first half of the season with Vince in the lineup. There was a time when we were seriously looking at home court advantage in the playoffs.

Carter's bum knee hurt an offense that was run through him. Aside from Antonio Davis, the Raptors don't have players who play consistently (and even Davis was struggling during the slump). Mo Pete, Alvin Willimas, Keon Clark, Chris Childs... all wildly inconsistant. Lenny Wilkins' lack of managing didn't help either.

As mentioned by gp above, teams like the Portland Trail Blazers have had tons of talent, but due to some bad seeds (Rod Strickland, Isaiah Rider) in the past and bad chemistry, they have underperformed.

Look at San Antonio. On paper they are not as good as they play. Orlando has played well without Grant Hill, Charlotte without Mashburn. Detroit is quite a weak team on paper. It's chemistry, it's coaching. It's about having the right mix.

I think it's horrible that he is receiving death threats. I mean, the guy was BORN in Cincinnati!!!
That said, Griffey Jr. really should be playing for another team where his declining fielding skills and slowing bat will still have some punch. If he went back to the AL and another strong bat behind him he'd certainly become more dangerous. He's only 32 and has 461 HRs, and can easily get to 525 or so if he can stay semi-healthy for the next five years. Remember, Bonds had his breakout year in his late 30s, and while McGwire did hit 49 in his rookie year (Griffey has already had two 50 HR seasons), he lifted teh lid in his mid-late-30s too. So there's hope for Griffey Jr. His current situation is toxic, for him, for his teammates....

Griffey is off the DL and will start tonight. Don't know which outfielder will sit, but I figure the Reds may be looking to trade one of these guys to pick up some pitching.

Griffey is back on the DL. When he came off the DL in late May, the Reds were in first place by at least a couple of games. A month later, they are 3 games out, having lost 8 straight. Hate to say I told you so, but...

Yes it sucks, this is my last day in Chicago and I would have wanted to see Griffey again with the Reds at Wrigley. Its been over 3 years now with no Griffey. But theres some scary thunder and lightning outside right now anyway.

Man, it's all gone wrong for Junior, hasn't it? At one point, I thought he was lock to beat Hammerin' Hanks HR record--now I wonder if he'll ever play a full season again. It's been suggested that all those years of playing on the cement, er, the carpet, at the Kingdome are catching up with him.