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Griffey in Seattle again? Bring him on

Last summer, after Ken Griffey Jr. warmed every Seattle fan's heart by saying he'd like to retire as a Mariner, I wrote a column saying he could help that team.

Nearly 11 months later, Griffey can still help the M's. I realize he's batting .238 but, as the GM types like to say, he has pop. And oh, does this team need pop. Griffey has four homers and 15 RBI this season, and unless his swing has deteriorated to the point of, say, Brad Wilkerson's, I'd suspect he would play well at Safeco Field. After all, the reachable right-field seats were built with him in mind.

Griffey said last year after his warm reception at Safeco that he'd like to end his career here. After a story today in USA Today repeated that theme, Griffey's Cincinnati-based agent, Brian Goldberg, did a little damage control by saying that could mean Junior signs a contract and plays one game whenever the end arrives, just to grant that wish.

But it also could mean Griffey would play some meaningful games for the Mariners again. I can't think of a more meaningful time than now.

Besides a jolt to the offense, the Mariners could use a bump at the turnstiles. Monday night's crowd of 16,637 was the smallest at Safeco Field this season. Griffey would put fannies in the seats and, like he did in the 1990s, force people to watch on TV (at least when he comes to bat).