Ken Griffey Jr Resigns With Seattle

Glad to see Junior back with the M’s for another season.

His return is a bit of a surprise to me, although I’m not sure it’s the right move, either.

Considering that in 117 games last season his average dipped to .214, well below his career average of .285, and his defense in centerfield wasn’t much better, it’s interesting Seattle would give the 40-year-old’s tattered wheels another go-round.

At the very least, the homerun power was still there, 19 to be exact, and his 57 RBI were serviceable too. But when Griffey singled up-the-middle in his last at-bat at Safeco I figured that was the end to a most memorable career.

Apparently not, which is fine by me. The guy is definitely one of my all-time favorite ballplayers. Now, that’s not to say I’m ready to watch Griffey turn into Willie Mays with the Mets, but if he can prevent embarrassing himself the way Mays did, what the heck.

I’m sure Griffey will keep his retirement close to the vest, that’s his nature of course, but MLB should do everything in its power to give Griffey a swan song celebration worthy of one of the game’s all-time greatest players…whether that’s the upcoming season or next.