Junior and Pujols

[Guacarock]

I'm as guilty as the next Redszoner in wondering aloud whether KGJ still has the range to roam CF. Even so, you have to be impressed by Junior's studly performance this year at the plate. In a sure sign of his productivity, he has now parlayed 22 hits into 25 RBI.

Check out the NL leader boards. No one else among the top 75 batters matches KGJ on that score, except the Cards' Pujols, leading the pack with 54 RBI coming off of 47 hits. All of the other big dogs have fewer RBI than hits.

This suggests: KGJ might have lost a step or two in the outfield, but his offensive skills haven't diminished one iota. He remains among the most elite clutch hitters who deliver consistently when it counts.

It behooves us to find a way to keep him healthy and not have his bat sidelined.

The mantra we should all adopt: Griffey to LF, Dunn to 1B. I know that's probably braying against the wind, but it's a better option than a Redszoner uprising on behalf of instituting the DH in the National League. Heaven forbid!

[RedLegSuperStar]

Good post.. I think as long as Junior is in the NL though he will be a CF'er. I like to see the numbers on him since his return off the DL. He has been red hot with 9 RBI's in the last 2 games, and 3 HR's in the last 4 games. Reason enough why he was comeback player of the year last year.

[REDREAD]

Actually, Jr might be willing to move for Defonira or Freel. I think the bigger roadblock to the position shift is Dunn. I have the feeling he wants no part of 1b. He's repeatedly said stuff about how he prefers LF.

Years ago, when Jr was rumored to go to Atlanta, Jr openingly said that he'd move to a corner position for Andruw Jones. I believe he repeated fairly recently that he'd move to a corner position to accomodate a better glove in CF.

Therefore, my theory is that Dunn is a bigger holdup to the shift than Jr is.

[Red Heeler]

Actually, Jr might be willing to move for Defonira or Freel. I think the bigger roadblock to the position shift is Dunn. I have the feeling he wants no part of 1b. He's repeatedly said stuff about how he prefers LF.

Years ago, when Jr was rumored to go to Atlanta, Jr openingly said that he'd move to a corner position for Andruw Jones. I believe he repeated fairly recently that he'd move to a corner position to accomodate a better glove in CF.

Therefore, my theory is that Dunn is a bigger holdup to the shift than Jr is.

The easy work-around for this problem...move Griffey to 1B.

[boognish]

The easy work-around for this problem...move Griffey to 1B.

Every time I hear this, I think of the collision Cliff Floyd was part of in the late '90s with the Expos...the wrist/forearm injuries cost him the better part of 2 seasons. Griffey has not played 1B...IMO, potential for collisions is a real variable. I also do not believe making stretches at first will be easier on Griffey's legs than stopping and starting in the OF, but I do not have any way to quantify this statement.

I'd like to see him in a corner OF position to avoid injury; I guess we'll see what happens as the season goes on.

[registerthis]

I think you deserve credit for working the word "behooves" into your post. nicely done, mate.

[billy117]

i heard in an interview that jr said that when he feels he can't play cf the way he wants to play it then he will change positions but until then he'll be in center

[registerthis]

i heard in an interview that jr said that when he feels he can't play cf the way he wants to play it then he will change positions but until then he'll be in center

Sounds like many quotes of aging bands that i've read over the years:

"The day we release a crap album, that's when we'll hang it up." (Generally spoken after the band has just released a crap album.)

[billy117]

Sounds like many quotes of aging bands that i've read over the years:

"The day we release a crap album, that's when we'll hang it up." (Generally spoken after the band has just released a crap album.)

that's very funny and true, i don't know if pearl jam ever said that but they should have hung it up after the last one.