Fred McGriff - Free Agent

[Wolf Hopper]

I truly feel that, if he does not get a job by March 15th, he's done. For that reason, if he really wants the 500th HR, he should take a job in an Indy league, like Rickey did last year. But, based on all his "I want to be with my family" talk at the time of the Cubs trade, that's doubtful. Of course, being 3000 miles away did not hurt when only LA offered him a job...........

[Crash Course]

TB it is: http://www.netshrine.com/vbulletin2/...023#post169023

Wonder how/where they will use him? Or, if this is just like Boggs and 3000 - - TB will just use is chase to 500 to sell some tickets?

[gyb13]

Tino Martinez, Rob Fick, AND Fred McGriff?

[sweaver]

At least Fick can play OF....McGriff must be for bench "strength;" and he might make a good PH, at that.

[pepper]

Originally Posted by sweaver

At least Fick can play OF....McGriff must be for bench "strength;" and he might make a good PH, at that.

This article implies McGriff was signed to get his 500 HR. Pretty sure he'll get substantial chance at DH.

http://www.ajc.com/braves/content/sp...22bbnotes.html

[Golden Bear]

I think if McGriff shows he's got anything left, he'll be aggressively shopped by Tampa. If last year was a fluke (a big if, admittedly), someone in baseball can surely use a guy who's a near lock for 30/100.

Meanwhile, he can't hurt them; if he's truly finished, he's an easy release by the terms of his contract. This was an easy favor to grant.

[gyb13]

i dunno about calling a 40-yr old coming off a career-worst season a near lock for 30/100....

[Skip]

Originally Posted by gyb13

i dunno about calling a 40-yr old coming off a career-worst season a near lock for 30/100....

Maybe that's his vision?

[Golden Bear]

Originally Posted by gyb13

i dunno about calling a 40-yr old coming off a career-worst season a near lock for 30/100....

I said, "if last year was a fluke (a big if, admittedly), someone in baseball can surely use a guy who's a near lock for 30/100."

Gyb, come on man, don't quote me incompletely to set up a diss. You're not Maureen Dowd.

Still, perhaps that was a little strong, but prior to last season, McGriff had put up 30/100 the previous four years (OK, one year he hit only 27). Further, his career average (162 games) is 33/103. (Granted, he plays 140 max.)

So, let me amend myself. If last season's poor production was primarily caused by injury, and if McGriff has recovered from said injury and not suffered any other injuries or bat speed loss, as 40 year old players are often wont to do, McGriff is fully capable of putting up numbers of the 30/100 variety, depending on playing time -- probably more like 25/85.

That's actually perhaps a bit below average for an everyday 1b/DH in this era, but it's not chopped liver, especially if it comes cheap.

[SmedIndy]

I don't think he'll play enough to get 70 RBI, much less 85 or so.

[manny tortolero]

More realistic is think about 15-20 hrs and 50-70 rbi if he has enough playing time thinking in Tino Martinez as full time 1B and Aubrey Huff DH. Anyway, if he can do that, he will pass the 500 hrs mark that must be his holy grial search to enhance his chances of getting into the Hall of Fame.

[Golden Bear]

The 25/85 is contingent on playing 140 games. If McGriff plays less, naturally he'll produce less, and as of now it's uncertain where his at-bats will come from for the Rays.

I still maintain that if McGriff has a good spring he'll be on another team by mid-May. If McGriff goes to a team that needs him where he'll get regular PT in exchange for a prospect or two, everyone wins.

[Skip]

I hope it works out for McGriff. He's been a good/v. good/great player (choose your label) for a long time, and it's always nice to see those guys earn their career milestones if they can stick. Whether he makes the HOF, or is worthy (different thread), it's still a feel-good thing when a guy can retire 'happy'.

[gyb13]

Originally Posted by Golden Bear

I said, "if last year was a fluke (a big if, admittedly), someone in baseball can surely use a guy who's a near lock for 30/100."

Gyb, come on man, don't quote me incompletely to set up a diss. You're not Maureen Dowd.

he he, not my intention, even if i dunno who M.Dowd is.

my point is that you can't just look at a guy who's 40 and say "disregarding last year, he had 4 seasons of 30/100, so he's likely to get another one next year" - age has a part in this. injuries have a part in this. playing time too.

[Golden Bear]

Originally Posted by gyb13

he he, not my intention, even if i dunno who M.Dowd is.

my point is that you can't just look at a guy who's 40 and say "disregarding last year, he had 4 seasons of 30/100, so he's likely to get another one next year" - age has a part in this. injuries have a part in this. playing time too.

Dowd is a prominent op-ed columnist for the New York Times.

Sometime last year, I think, she got caught using ellipses to change a quote from President Bush (I think, or someone from his administration) from a fairly reasonable one into something rather provocative. I forget the details now; had to do with Iraq, I think.

It was along the lines of changing "Saddam Hussein is making a mockery of the United Nations resolutions and that is unacceptable to me," to "Saddam Hussein is making a mockery of...me."

That wasn't it, but it was along those lines, using the ellipses to completely obscure the plain meaning of the quote.

I'm not trying to introduce politics or go off topic here; just filling in the blank for Gyb. Also, I understand that was not your intention; I was just ribbing you a bit.