The Griffeys
Ken Griffey, Sr. was a career .296 hitter in his 19 MLB seasons, many during his 2 stints with the Cincinnati Reds.  He hit 152 home runs and was selected to 3 All Star games, while winning 2 World Series rings.  Son, Ken Jr., is widely regarded as the player with the sweetest pure swing in baseball history.  Griffey, Jr. may have ended his career as the all-time leader in home runs had he not been worn down by injuries.  He finished with 630 home runs (6th all time), 2,781 hits, and 1,836 RBIs (15th all time).  "Junior" was a 13-time All Star, 10-time Gold Glove winner, 7-time Silver Slugger, 1997 AL MVP, 3-time Home Run Derby champ, and a member of the MLB All-Century team for the 1900s. 

Here's a good flashback of the Griffeys that most people forgot about:

COMPLETE ARTICLE (ThePostGame.com)

MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL sports, greatest father son combos, ken griffey, ken griffey jr

The Reds are likely to make a move or two before Spring Training starts, but beat writer John Fay says these are move they won't make:

• The Reds won't move Edwin Encarnacion to left field.
• The Reds aren't going to trade for or sign a veteran shortstop
• The Reds aren't going to trade Joey Votto
• The Reds aren't going to move Micah Owings to left field.
• The Reds aren't going to sign a veteran outfielder to a long-term deal. 
• The Redsaren't going to bring back Ken Griffey Jr. or Adam Dunn.  

MLB reds, edwin encarnacion, joey votto, micah owings, ken griffey, adam dunn

from the Tacoma News-Tribune:

Ken Griffey Jr., a 13-time All-Star whose 611 career home runs rank fifth in Major League Baseball history, was named a U.S. envoy today as part of a program to help burnish America’s image abroad.

Griffey, who turns 39 in three days, has played 20 seasons in the major leagues since being selected with the first overall pick in the sport’s 1987 draft. His father, Ken Griffey, spent 19 years in Major League Baseball.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice announced Griffey’s public diplomacy role today in Washington and praised him for agreeing to share “the story of America, the culture of America and the values of America.” Griffey becomes the third U.S. athlete to hold such a position, joining Hall-of-Fame baseball player Cal Ripken Jr. and five-time world champion figure skater Michelle Kwan.

“When Ken Griffey travels overseas, one of his greatest objectives will be to talk to young people and to spark their interest in America and in our culture,” Rice said during a media briefing.

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This article took a vacation over the last two weeks because, quite honestly, it is not easy being a Reds fan.  I try not to be completely negative when it comes to the Reds, but they do not help me out much.  But then, Ken Griffey Jr. was traded and I can write an article again...

THE GOOD

• It is a miracle that someone took Griffey off of the Reds' hands and actually agreed to pay part of his salary.  The Chicago White Sox made one of the dumbest moves of the season (I call it "substraction by addition") when they traded living, breathing ballplayers for Griffey.  In his first game, the Chicago fans gave him a polite standing ovation.  Things changed quickly: the radio talk shows, the newspapers and the fans have hammered Griffey for his lack of hustle, his poor defense, his sulking, and his slow bat.  And he only has only played ten games.  If he continues his current pace with the White Sox (7-32, no extra base hits), who is going to sign him this off-season?
  
  
• The Reds have come to realize that they need to get a lot faster.  For years, Griffey and Adam Dunn have clogged up the bases, rarely taking an extra base on any single.  They could not run down any balls in the gap on defense.  They set the tone for the rest of the team by being as non- agressive as possible.  They were there to hit home runs, defy shifts, and loaf to first.  That attitude is gone and that cannot be underestimated.  The promotion to the Majors of Chris Dickerson, one of the most athletic players in their whole system, is a sign that management does not want the old attitude to linger.
  
  
• Keeping David Weathers and Jeremy Affeldt instead of trading them was not a bad idea IF the Reds can sign them to extentions.  If they both walk, then this line item falls a few inches downward in this article.

The Bad

• The Reds got zero for Dunn from the Diamondbacks.  We know they got minor league pitcher Dallas Buck.  It has also been reported that they got pitcher Micah Owings and minor league catcher Wilkin Castillo.  The best of three is probably Buck.  He was considered a first round pick for the 2006 draft until he hurt his arm pitching Oregon State to the College World Series title.  He dropped to the third round and immediately opted for arm rehab instead of surgery when doctors found a partial ligament tear in his elbow after the draft.  He has continued to try to pitch through the injury and has had few positive results.  That is the best prospect of the three.  Major league hitters' bats have told us that Owings is a fifth starter at best.  His numbers this year in Arizona:  104.66 IP, 104 HA, 41 BB, 87 Ks, 14 HR, and a 5.93 E.R.A.  And he may be hurt.  Castillo is considered the best catching prospect that Arizona has.  That is like saying that Curly was the smartest of the Three Stooges.  Castillo has no plus tools- he is very average at everything.  His Triple A line is worrisome: .254/ .305/ .358 in 358 at bats with 54 Ks and 24 BBs.  He is nowhere near a big league hitter because 1.  his strikeouts are double his walks- a consistent sign of failure for minor leaguers when they promoted to the highest level.  2.  A .305 on base percentage indicates a poor approach at the plate and no game plan at the plate.  3.  A .358 slugging percentage at any level is pathedic.  Even Griffey is higher than that this year.
  
  
• Jeff Keppinger is playing hurt and his numbers show it.  Since his return from the DL in mid June, his batting average has dropped from .324 to .262 and he rarely hits any extra base hits.  He broke his kneecap and this is probably preventing him from driving the ball.  My bet is that we hear about this during the off- season.
  
  
• Josh Fogg was terrible when the Reds signed him and he may be worse now.  It is amazing that he is still on the roster.  He will not be on anyone's roster a year from now.

The Ugly

• Dusty Baker's comments that the 2008 Reds are, "Wayne Krivsky's team, not Walt Jocketty's and not mine" are shameful.  Krivsky does deserve a lot of the blame for the Reds' poor performance, but so too does Baker.  Did Krivsky bat Corey Patterson 245 times, many times in the leadoff spot?  Did Krivsky hit Griffey third despite the statistics, the loafing, and the stubbornness to defy any shift?  Did Krivsky ruin Aaron Harang's arm in San Diego?  Did Krivsky try to start Matt Belisle, Scott Hatteberg and Fogg?  Or how about the appalling lack of energy that the Reds played with until the trade of Dunn this week?  Baker's inability to see his faults just makes matters worse and leaves very little hope for him in the future.  He needs to go ASAP.
  
  
• The Reds have gone down to the deadline with their 2008 first round pick, first baseman Yonder Alonso.  Viewed as a reach with the overall seventh pick, Alonso is wanting much more that last year's number seven pick (Matt LaPorta got just over $2 million from the Brewers).  Everyone knew Alonso's contract demands BEFORE the draft ($7 million signing bonus and a major league contract) so why did the Reds draft him?  Consensus had better players than Alonso on the board, players who had reasonable contract demands.  If the Reds do not sign him, this will be the third straight terrible first round draft pick for Reds Scouting Director Chris Buckley.  The Reds farm system has gone from stocked to below average under his watch.  Yes, some of it is natural with the graduation to the Majors of Jay Bruce, Johnny Cueto, and Joey Votto, but he has not replaced any of that talent.

MLB reds, ken griffey, adam dunn, chris dickerson, david weathers, jeremy affeldt, dallas buck, micah owings, wilkin castillo, jeff keppinger, josh fogg, dusty baker, corey patterson, aaron harang, matt belisle, scott hatteber, yonder alonso, jay bruce, johnny cueto, joey votto, chris buckley

The trading deadline didn't come without its fair share of deals:

MANNY OF TO L.A; BAY HEADING TO BOSTON (from Boston Globe)
In a deadline day blockbuster reminiscent of the Nomar Garciaparra deal in 2004, left fielder Manny Ramirez was dealt this afternoon to the Los Angeles Dodgers as part of the three-team trade that will send Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Jason Bay to the Red Sox. The Red Sox will also lose Craig Hansen and Brandon Moss as part of the deal. Here are the names involved:

To Red Sox
Jason Bay

To Dodgers
Manny Ramirez

To Pirates
Craig Hansen (Relief pitcher, from Red Sox)
Brandon Moss (Outfielder, from Red Sox)
Andy LaRoche (Third baseman, from Dodgers)
Bryan Morris (Double-A pitcher, from Dodgers)

GRIFFEY JOINS WHITE SOX (from Chicago Sun-Times)
White Sox general manager Ken Williams has been on the prowl for lefty-swinging slugger Ken Griffey Jr. several times in recent years before the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline, and apparently he has landed the future Hall of Famer. The Sox are sending relief pitcher Nick Masset and second baseman Danny Richar to the Reds.

MARLINS ADD RHODES (from MLBTradeRumors.com)
The Marlins have acquired lefty reliever Arthur Rhodes for 22 year-old righty Gaby Hernandez.  The Fish acquired Hernandez in '05 for Paul Lo Duca.  Hernandez is a solid return for Rhodes, even if he struggled in a Triple A stint this year.  He spent some time on the DL this year with a left intercostal strain. Rhodes, 38, has a 2.86 ERA in 22 innings this year after missing '07 due to Tommy John surgery.

Tune into GetSportsRadio.com for your Trade Deadline Talk:
WIRE TO WIRE: Reds Deal Griffey
FANTASY FASTBALL: Wheeling and Dealing

Fantasy Baseball, MLB red sox, dodgers, pirates, reds, white sox, marlins, mariners, jason bay, manny ramirez, craig hansen, brandon moss, andy laroche, bryan morris, ken griffey, nick masset, danny richar, arthur rhodes, gaby hernandez

Well, unless it's Roy Oswalt pitching against the Cincinnati Reds.  Oswalt, for whatever reason, "O"wns the Reds. 

Last Monday night, in a 5-4 victory, Oswalt worked his magic again against the Reds in Minute Maid park (aka The Juicebox).  Oswalt came off the DL, where he was recovering from a hip flexor, and beat the Reds again.  He went five innings, gave up four runs and struck out five.  But that box score doesn't tell the whole truth.  Oswalt only threw one bad pitch, which Adam Dunn smartly deposited over the right field fence for a Grand Slam.  It was only the second Grand Slam that Oswalt has allowed in his career.  If Roy O. doesn't miss with that fastball, he gives up nothing.

Oswalt's career record versus the Reds is now 20-1.  20-1!  His record versus Cincinnati is better than any other team he faces.

Why do I bring this up?

Oswalt faces the Reds in Great American Ballpark-a Reds team that will be without Ken Griffey, Jr, and could be without Adam Dunn-on Thursday August 7th.  To borrow a phrase from T.O., "getcha popcorn ready".  And start Oswalt.  It's a sure thing.

Fantasy Baseball reds, roy oswalt, ken griffey, adam dunn, astros

According to Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com, Ken Griffey, Jr. has accepted the trade to the Chicago White Sox.  As a 10/5 player, Griffey had the right to veto any trade.  Early reports are that the Reds are getting back relief pitcher Nick Massett and Triple-A 2B/SS prospect Danny Richar.

In addition, the Reds will be picking up half the tab, approximately $4 million, on the remainder of Griffey's contract for this season.  Neither Masset, nor Richar are listed by Baseball America as one of the Top 10 prospects in the White Sox farm system.  Sound like the Reds decided it was just time to cut bait and move on, no matter the haul they were able to get in return.

FULL STORY

Next order of business...Dunn to the Rays?

MLB ken griffey, nick masset, danny richar, white sox, reds

In an effort to try to be less negative about the Cincinnati Reds, I am going to break up Reds Musings into two segments:  Positives and Negatives.  That way, I do not bring everyone down like I have the previous few posts.  With that said, let's start the experiment:

POSITIVES

• Dusty Baker's in-game managing has actually been pretty good.  Some people are always critical of moves (stolen base attempts, bunt attempts and hit and runs) that do not work, but those failures are part of the game.  Not every call he makes is going to work during the course of a season.  More impartantly, he rarely calls for a position player to bunt before the seventh inning, he is yanking pitchers at appropiate times, and is creating decent matchups both offensively and with his pitchers.  Again, this statement only applies to IN- GAME managing.
  
  
• With Colorado already out of the playoff picture, Matt Holliday is rumored to be on the trade market.  He is not a free agent until the end of the 2009 and is looking for a mega deal probably in the $16 - $18 million a year range.  He is a perfect replacement for Adam Dunn who seems to be heading out of town by August.  He is a better runner, defender and even a more productive hitter than Dunn and his cost is not a lot more.  He would answer the question, "Who, besides Jay Bruce, is going to play outfield for the Reds next year?"
  
  
• Speaking of Bruce, do not lose faith in him after his month long slump in June.  He is the Reds best player right now because he can hurt opposing teams in so many different ways and at any time.  Only Brandon Phillips comes close to Bruce.  If Phillips had better plate discipline (22 BBs in 322 ABs is awful), then he might be better than Bruce.
  
  
• John Feinstein's new book, Living on the Black, is an must read for any baseball fan who likes to know what goes on behind the scenes.
  
  
• I have been by readers to write Reds Musings on a more consistent basis.  Instead of posting it on Friday one week and Tuesday the next week, I'll just consistently do it on Thursdays from now on.  Is this a positive or a negative?

NEGATIVES

• George Grande gets constantly ripped because he is so bland, but that is not his worst quality as a broadcaster.  His worst trait is that he adds nothing to the broadcast.  It is as if he shows up at gametime, tells you what you see and no more, and then leaves as quickly as possible.  He may be a great guy, but he seems to be just collecting a paycheck.
  
  
• Speaking of Reds broadcasts, the pre game and post game radio shows are commercial fests.  The pre game is uniformative and repetitive and therefore, worthless.
  
  
• Baker's in game moves may be smart, but his lineups have cost the Reds many games.  It is hard to measure how many games his lineups actually have cost the Reds but there is some statistical evidence to this.  Any stat from Corey Patterson tells you that he should not EVER stand next to home plate.  His current line, .189/ .220/ .340, is one of the worst performances by a Red of all-time, particularly with all of the at bats he has had.  Secondly, Reds hitting in the third slot are last in the National League in OPS.  This, of course, points to Ken Griffey Jr. who sadly is having a terrible year (.240/ .345/ .399).  Nobody has come out and publically stated this, so I will be the first:  with Jeff Keppinger and Jerry Hairston Jr. now healthy, it is Griffey who should be riding the bench.  Lastly, Dunn's worst position in the lineup by far is the third slot.  Historically, he has hit in the low .200s when he has hit third... DO NOT BAT HIM THERE!
  
  
• With every game that Patterson attempts to hit and/ or Griffey bats third, Baker loses more credibility with Reds fans and his own players.
  
  
• Hal McCoy of the Dayton Daily News recently quoted a NL scout as saying, "(the Reds) are a very low- energy team."  We have also heard from radio and television broadcasters all season about how there is a lack of leadership in the clubhouse.  Without naming any players, these media members have basically said the veterans on the Reds do not care enough about winning and are not a great influence.  The scout's quote does not reflect well on the coaching staff, especially when Baker continues to insist how hard his players are trying.

MLB reds, dusty baker, adam dunn, jay bruce, matt holliday, brandon phillips.john feinstein, george grande, corey patterson, jeff keppinger, jerry hairston, ken griffey, hal mccoy

The radio media is coming around.  It took two and half months for them to realize what most of us on the internet have been preaching since October:  Dusty Baker is the worst manager the Reds could have hired and is the worst manager in the Major Leagues including the two brand new interim managers.  The local print media still drool and fawn over Baker, but the rest of us are clued in.  No rational baseball person ignores statistics and plays Corey Patterson at all (much less bats him leadoff), bats Paul Janish or Jolbert Cabrera second, and bats Ken Griffey Jr. third. 

How do we know he ignores statistics?  After Tuesday night's game, a game in which he left Patterson in to bat in a one run game with runners at second and third and a left handed pitcher on the mound, he was asked why he let Patterson stay in and, predictably, ground out.  He said that, "Corey historically has had better success against left handed pitching."  This is a lie or is and example of a manager who does no preparation.  In his career, he is batting .240 against lefties and .264 against righties.  This year, he is batting .167 against lefties and .197 against righties. 

More Reds thoughts...

• I am going to disagree with Marty Brennaman and Jeff Brantley (this is a rare occurance) and state that Joey Votto is just what the scouts say he is- a below average defensive first baseman.  When receiving a throw from an infielder, he bends at the knees  and catches the balls at his chest instead of stretching properly.  His arm is inaccurate and he rarely make any scoops in the dirt.
  
  
• It is time to start worrying about the long term future of Homer Bailey.  His low 90s straight fastball can blow most minor leaguers away, but that cannot carry him in the big leagues.  He needs much better off speed stuff to keep hitters off of his hittable fastball.  He has also developed a nasty reputation that he is stubborn and uncoachable.  We may have to start hoping he develops into a #4 or #5 starter instead of an ace.
  
  
• What do you think Griffey's reaction would be to a move to the number six or seven slot in the lineup?  If management has the guts to do it, I applaud them because I bet that does not go over well.
  
  
• There is a sabermetric theory in baseball that you never give a large contract to a reliever.  They are a dime a dozen and do not appear on the field in enough innings compared to the rest of the team.  Francisco Cordero is proving theory to be correct.  He has barely pitched over 30 innings.  The Reds' fifth starters will combine for around 200 innings.
  
  
• There is nothing left at Triple A Louisville except pitchers Darryl Thompson, Daniel Herrera, and Josh Roenicke.  There is no more position player help on the way for at least a year, maybe more.  By the way, Matt Maloney cannot help the Reds.
  
  
• The Reds need to look into why they play so poorly on Sundays.  They seem to be just going through the motions while they get smoked each Sunday.
  
  
• Coco Crisp would look nice in a Reds uniform.  He is a switch hitter, can bat leadoff, is fast, has some pop (as shown last weekend at GABP) and can cover a lot of ground in centerfield.  The Reds badly need all of those qualities- he is a great fit.
  
  
• Speaking of looking good in a uniform... have you seen ex- Red Dmitri Young lately?  He looks anyting but good because he is resembling Cecil Fielder.
  
  
• The Austin Kearns, Felipe Lopez and Ryan Wagner trade to Washington back in 2006 is not looking so bad for the Reds.  Those three players have turned out below average production while Kearns and Lopez have collected big paychecks.  Meanwhile, Bill Bray and Gary Majewski are having solid 2008 seasons and Darryl Thompson has become the Reds' #1 pitching prospect.
  
  
• Have you seen the seven picks Jim Bowden and Reds took in the 2001 amatuer draft before the Red Sox took Cincinnati product Kevin Youkilis in the 8th round?  Here they are in order:  1.  Jeremy Sowers (went unsigned, just like he promised before the draft)  2.  Justin Gilman  3.  Alan Moye  4.  Steve Kelly  5.  Daylan Childress  6.  Scott Light  7.  Bobby Basham.  Pathedic.  Jim Bowden actually caused more harm to the franchise than anyone else with the exceptions of the ex- owners Marge Schott and Carl Lindner.  Give Dusty Baker some more time though and he may catch him.

More next week...

MLB reds, dusty baker, corey patterson, paul janish, jolbert cabrera, ken griffey, marty brennaman, jeff brantley, joey votto, homer bailey, francisco cordero, darryl thompson, daniel herrera, josh roenicke, matt maloney, bill bray, gary majewski, darryl thompson

The 2-4 start to this critical nine-game homestand has left the Reds in a big hole in the NL Central as they start the week 12.5 games back of the Chicago Cubs at 33-38. While there is a great, young nucleus in place, veterans could be shopped and soon. 

Adam Dunn's no-trade protection has gone from all teams to ten teams. Dunn told FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal he'd like a resolution soon rather than another round of rumors. He'd be open to an extension with the Reds, but the team has not made contact.

Peter Gammons reported on ESPN.com that the Red Sox are scared off by Dunn's strikeouts, and likely would not be interested even if David Ortiz does has to have surgery.  

There were reports last week that Ken Griffey Jr. had told friends that he welcome a trade to the Tampa Rays. It would put Junior really close to his family and his home in Orlando and allow him an opportunity to DH if needed to finish out his career. However, his agent -- Brian Goldberg -- told SI.com Sunday that is not sure where this story is coming from. "Nobody has mentioned anything to Junior or I," Goldberg said. "It's got to be a media member thinking out loud." Goldberg added that no trade proposals have been brought to Griffey, who has a no-trade clause in his contract since he has at least 10 years of MLB service.

There's no doubt that Reds' GM Walt Jocketty is a busy man right now. He has told counterparts he wants to clean house, notably of free-agent-to-be outfielders Ken Griffey Jr. and Adam Dunn, plus Ryan Freel and - in the right deal - starter Bronson Arroyo, according to the NY Post.

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