Three Strikes: Bradley, Mariners both need help
Article By smcneal.tsn on 6th May, 2010
Stan McNeal analyzes three hot topics in Major League Baseball:
Ken Griffey has struggled mightily at the plate this year. STRIKE 1: Mariners have been offensive
Milton Bradley needs help to deal with emotional issues. His team needs help, too. And soon.
The Mariners entered the season as a media favorite following a 24-game turnaround in 2009 and after making big move after big move in the offseason. All of those moves were made with a focus on pitching and defense. Now the Mariners find themselves in desperate need of offense. They need a slugger, or their next big turnaround will be one in the wrong direction.
Seattle isn't interested in dealing prospects, partly because it doesn't have many. The team's best chance is to trade for a highly paid thumper from a team going nowhere that is looking to cut its losses.
Paul Konerko would be a great choice, though the White Sox probably think they still can get in the AL Central race. Kansas City's Jose Guillen is another option, though his ability to maintain his early production is no certainty. Same goes for the Orioles' Ty Wigginton, whose salary is reasonable enough ($3.5 million) that he might cost too much in terms of prospects. That likely would be the case with the Marlins' Dan Uggla also.
Obtaining the bat is the first challenge. The next would be even more difficult: What would the Mariners do with Ken Griffey? If MVP awards were given for clubhouse presence, Junior would be a shoo-in. But as a DH, he is hurting his team as much as Bradley.
Griffey is hitting like he is every bit of 40: .212/.268/.242 with no homers. Time soon will be up on the "it's early" excuse, and the club insists the knee problems that limited Griffey last season aren't an issue. But he has about as much chance as hitting 19 homers -- which he did last season in what was considered a mildly disappointing output -- as Cliff Lee.
What can ...
Read Complete Article at Latest Sporting News Articles for MLB
Ken Griffey has struggled mightily at the plate this year. STRIKE 1: Mariners have been offensive
Milton Bradley needs help to deal with emotional issues. His team needs help, too. And soon.
The Mariners entered the season as a media favorite following a 24-game turnaround in 2009 and after making big move after big move in the offseason. All of those moves were made with a focus on pitching and defense. Now the Mariners find themselves in desperate need of offense. They need a slugger, or their next big turnaround will be one in the wrong direction.
Seattle isn't interested in dealing prospects, partly because it doesn't have many. The team's best chance is to trade for a highly paid thumper from a team going nowhere that is looking to cut its losses.
Paul Konerko would be a great choice, though the White Sox probably think they still can get in the AL Central race. Kansas City's Jose Guillen is another option, though his ability to maintain his early production is no certainty. Same goes for the Orioles' Ty Wigginton, whose salary is reasonable enough ($3.5 million) that he might cost too much in terms of prospects. That likely would be the case with the Marlins' Dan Uggla also.
Obtaining the bat is the first challenge. The next would be even more difficult: What would the Mariners do with Ken Griffey? If MVP awards were given for clubhouse presence, Junior would be a shoo-in. But as a DH, he is hurting his team as much as Bradley.
Griffey is hitting like he is every bit of 40: .212/.268/.242 with no homers. Time soon will be up on the "it's early" excuse, and the club insists the knee problems that limited Griffey last season aren't an issue. But he has about as much chance as hitting 19 homers -- which he did last season in what was considered a mildly disappointing output -- as Cliff Lee.
What can ...
Read Complete Article at Latest Sporting News Articles for MLB
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