People aren’t animals. So I don’t want to go all-out Darwinian on you as we examine the physical decline of Ken Griffey Jr. and speculate on the final act of his career.
He’s not an aging wildebeest who can no longer keep up with the herd and needs to be culled by predators.
But the Seattle Mariners are struggling and Griffey is one part of a larger problem. We may only ask — the Mariners and Junior — if these are the final days, please find a way to end this gracefully.
The debate over Griffey’s continued worthiness to hold a roster spot intensified Monday when my colleague Larry LaRue reported that his days appear numbered. And also that teammates said he had fallen asleep in the clubhouse during a recent game.
Griffey’s career has been too remarkable to be minimized by just about anything in the final stages.
But the reality is that he meets neither critical criteria for any professional athlete: He’s not helping the team win now, and he’s certainly not helping them improve for the future.
When the Mariners brought him back before last season, there were criticisms that it was a public-relations move. But his value in the clubhouse was touted, and it seemed a fitting farewell to the fans of the Seattle area.
Now? Well, when we read a report of his dozing in the clubhouse during a game, it doesn’t reflect well on his leadership.
It’s understandable for fans to fall asleep when the Mariners are at bat. But not players.
Wait … I don’t even want to make jokes about this. Griffey deserves better. He’s done too much for this franchise.
All of which is another reason he needs to be spared the possibility that his amazing career ends with some sad imagery.
The report was that the team was going to have to do something with the 40-year-old designated hitter that was batting .208. And it was going to happen soon.
It seems that the Mariners have treated Griffey with respect in most cases, fully cognizant of his iconic status. We could expect them to handle this “end game” similarly.
Perhaps Junior retires to great fanfare. He should be given every chance to make an exit fitting his achievements.
This franchise will not just pink slip this guy and show him the door.
The only hang-up would be if Griffey didn’t see it coming, or was offended by being eased out. That would be a shame.
Except for a sense of alienation when he left for Cincinnati — which healed over upon his return to Seattle — this has been a harmonious relationship.
Let’s hope nobody blows it at the end.
No question, Griffey’s return provided some welcomed nostalgia.
But what we sometimes see at the end of the careers of aging athletes is the opposite of nostalgia. These situations create lingering images that nobody will look back upon with fondness.
If the Mariners were winning, it might be one thing to keep Griffey around. But this club is struggling and needs a drastic infusion of offensive help. Griffey is taking up a roster spot.
It’s not just Griffey. Most of the lineup is batting horrifically. But he’s a part of it, and he’s not going to get better. They need to find somebody who at least might grow into the role.
He’s the best they’ve ever had. He’s the best the Seattle area has ever seen.
Celebrate his career. Treat him with the greatest respect. Applaud a career that will never be duplicated here.
And allow him some graceful way to ease into retirement.
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