I don't listen to talk radio, because it's pretty much a cess pool of humanity, but Junior really oughta not take it so personally:
Reds center fielder Ken Griffey Jr. decided to talk to the media again Wednesday - largely to explain why he didn't talk to reporters Monday and Tuesday.Griffey said he's angry over suggestions made by sports-talk radio show callers that he should move from center field to left field or first base.
"If I was hurting the team, (I'd move)," he said.
[...]
"For somebody who can't play this (expletive) game to sit there and criticize me ..." he said.
"What you guys fail to realize is what you guys write doesn't just stay in the clubhouse," Griffey continued. "I have to live with it. I have to go places. I have to go to the grocery store.
"The only thing I can do is hold my head high and keep walking."
[...]
But he failed to reach two balls Saturday night in Detroit's big outfield. That game was his eighth after returning from the disabled list, where he spent nearly a month with strained tendon in his knee.
"All I want to do is go out and play baseball," Griffey said. "To be judged after eight games is horse (manure).
"It's easy for people to criticize somebody and not be out in the outfield," Griffey said. "He should have caught that ball ... Like I'm not trying.
"I'm tired of it. That's all."
[...]
For radio talkers to question his effort after that thoroughly ticks him off.
"If I can get to it (in the outfield), I'll get to it," he said. "If I have to run through a wall, I will ... I play baseball at one speed. That's the only way I know how to play.
"Anybody who thinks I go out and (give half effort is crazy)," he said. "I've got 24 other guys in this locker room to deal with."
I'm someone who thinks the Reds would be better off with Griffey at a different position, and it has nothing to do with Griff's effort level. I love the guy and I know he's trying 100% on every play, it has nothing to do with that. It has to do with that fact that's 36 years old, and he's had numerous surgeries. I'd like for him to stay healthy, not to mention it's pretty clear that his range isn't what it once was.
Put Griffey in a foot race with Austin Kearns. Or Ryan Freel. Or Chris Denorfia. He'd lose, and it'd be really ugly to watch.
Now some might argue that Griffey might have better instincts, might get better jumps on the ball than these guys, and they might be right, I really don't know. But the raw speed difference would trump that I think.
After reading this article it's pretty clear that Griffey won't be moving any time soon, and it's a shame because he should. I just want to watch the guy play every day, and if he keeps playing center that probably won't happen.