Griffey moves to RF

by Havok1517 on Mar 18, 2007 8:59 PM EDT Comment 18 comments

Ken Griffey Jr. will play right field when he eventually makes his spring debut, FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal reports.

Ryan Freel should be a substantial upgrade over Griffey in center, and Josh Hamilton will also show more range than Griffey when he's asked to fill in. At this point, it's reasonable to wonder whether Griffey can even be a capable right fielder. With Adam Dunn over in left, the Reds still figure to have as weak of an outfield defense as there is in the game.
Source: FOXSports.com

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And there was much rejoicing

by Brendanukkah on Mar 18, 2007 10:17 PM EDT reply actions

Yaaaaaaaay...

In accordance to the prophecy

by crolfer on Mar 18, 2007 10:36 PM EDT up reply actions

But...but...

He's missed all of spring training so far. Is he going to have time to adjust to a new position?

All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named "Bubba"?

by BubbaFan on Mar 18, 2007 10:36 PM EDT reply actions

Here's the link....

Griffey to start in right

It sounds like the decision was made before spring training, and just leaked now:

When the Reds' Ken Griffey Jr. makes his Grapefruit League debut, it will be in right field, according to a source with knowledge of his situation. Griffey, recovering from a broken left hand, does not mind shifting from center to right, the source said. However, Griffey was under the impression that the Reds would delay their decision until midway through spring training while attempting to acquire a legitimate center fielder. Instead, he learned at the start of camp that he would be in right.

At this point, I'll be happy if he actually makes a Grapefruit League debut, even at DH...

All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named "Bubba"?

by BubbaFan on Mar 18, 2007 10:39 PM EDT up reply actions

I hope so...

Otherwise... well... there wont be much rejoicing...

In accordance to the prophecy

by crolfer on Mar 18, 2007 10:39 PM EDT up reply actions

thought

[quote="thedude"]The Reds really should move Dunn to First, Griffey to left, Freel to center, and put Hamilton in right.[/quote]

I agree with that since Dunn is horrible in LF and Hamilton has the strongest arm by far. But that would only work until Votto gets called up (predicted to be sometime in 2007) or Dunn gets traded (he does have a 13 mill option for 2008).

by Havok1517 on Mar 18, 2007 11:38 PM EDT reply actions

Dunn's option

A trade of Dunn is unlikely this season as his option gets voided if he gets traded. So, anybody that trades for Dunn is going to be getting a rental player for the remainder of the year. Also, if his option gets picked up for 2008, then he has a no trade clause for that season.

2007 Reds Threat Level is Blue

by Slyde on Mar 19, 2007 8:33 AM EDT up reply actions

C. Trent just reported....

that Narron says if Griffey starts opening day, it will be in Right Field.

www.redsminorleagues.com

by dougdirt on Mar 19, 2007 3:49 PM EDT reply actions

Must be the peanut butter

Or the Levi Garrett, but I can't make head or tail of what Trent says Jerry Narron said.

Some of the statements that don't quite add up:

"We would have loved for him to be available Opening Day to play center field, it just didn't work out."
"I've got to do everything I can do to put our best club out there. My feeling is that with Ryan Freel out there it gives us strong defense up the middle with Gonzalez and Phillips and Freel."
"I would have loved for him to come in Day One and we could have played him in center field and it just didn't work out. I had to make a decision on limited spring training and that's the decision I made."

So let me get this straight. Apparently, this is how Jerry thinks: You want to put the best team out there, and that is with Freel in center, but if Griffey had showed up earlier in Spring Training, the best team would have been with Griffey in center? And that best team has Griffey in right field, where he hasn't played and won't get a chance to practice because he has been absent from Spring Training?

Come on, Jerry. Admit it. Griffey wasn't going to play center field no matter when he showed up for Spring Training. Then I might give you credit for a really ballsy managerial move.

Don't mind me...just thinking positive and pitching to contact, that's all...

by Paul Householder on Mar 19, 2007 4:14 PM EDT up reply actions

This sounds like the Reds are tyring to back in...

To be clear, Narron is announcing that Griffey will not be in CF on Opening Day. It doesn't automatically mean he won't return to CF once he's healthy and played a few weeks. However, I imagine the hope is that once Griff plays a few weeks in RF as a "rehab stint", he'll be more likely to just stay there.

That is my interpretation of Naron's comments. If Grif were healthy and preparing all spring, he'd be the Opening Day CF. But now, he'll need a few weeks in RF to get ready.

by TheC on Mar 19, 2007 5:31 PM EDT up reply actions

I didn't understand that, either

Is he saying Griffey won't be starting on opening day at all?

All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named "Bubba"?

by BubbaFan on Mar 19, 2007 7:20 PM EDT up reply actions

now it makes sense...

This article at DDN explains it. They told him he was playing RF. He wanted a chance to win the CF position in spring training, and they agreed. But since he hasn't been able to play, he's not in the running for CF.

All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named "Bubba"?

by BubbaFan on Mar 19, 2007 8:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Oh. Okay.

That makes sense.

Don't mind me...just thinking positive and pitching to contact, that's all...

by Paul Householder on Mar 19, 2007 9:42 PM EDT up reply actions

this needs to be bumped up, methinks

am i the only one who is a little upset that Hamilton isn't being considered as the starting center fielder?

And in the end the love you take is equal to the love you make.

by boobs on Mar 19, 2007 9:15 PM EDT reply actions

No

Your pal John Fay wants Hamilton to be the starting CFer. ;-)

All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named "Bubba"?

by BubbaFan on Mar 19, 2007 9:19 PM EDT up reply actions

I load

John fay.

Don't mind me...just thinking positive and pitching to contact, that's all...

by Paul Householder on Mar 19, 2007 9:30 PM EDT up reply actions

if Hamilton hits 300

in AAA then he can be our center fielder, imo.

GO REDS!

by ewquinn on Mar 20, 2007 12:25 PM EDT reply actions

well...

Unfortunately he can't hit .300 in AAA, cause he was a rule 5 pickup, he has to stay on the big ball club.

He will probably be the opening day RF as Griffey won't be ready, then when Griffey gets back, he will get plenty of playing time in center resting Freel.

by FritzMW on Mar 20, 2007 6:03 PM EDT up reply actions