I always thought that if Griffey had stayed with Seattle and stayed healthy in the AL where he could play DH when he was aching, he would have been the guy to break Aaron's record. I don't think he ever would have mashed more than 50 homers or whatever, like McGwire did, but I always thought he had the longevity to break the big record.
Thoughts?
2007-02-22 10:21:20 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Sports ➔ Baseball
I've always thought the same thing. Griffey's entire career was riding hot and he had things on their way to the top until he moved to the NL. I don't know what exactly the difference was, if maybe he put to much pressure on himself performing in his hometown and that led to injuries or if it was just age or if it would have happened in Seattle too...
I do think Griffey would be approaching or would have already surpassed Aaron if he had stayed healthy. I don't want to say that he'd have done it if he'd stayed in Seattle because anything could have happened, however, if he'd have stayed in Seattle there's a chance A-Rod would have stuck around b/c the team would have appeared to be a contender and Griff would have had the benefit of A-Rod protecting him in the lineup too.
I guess it's great to think about it and there's still a chance that if he can stay healthy for another five to seven years and keep rocking the long ball, he might still crack 600. Great player, great potential. Definitely Hall of Famer.
2007-02-22 15:12:06 · answer #1 · answered by tkatt00 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm not sure that location has much to do with injury.
One of Jr's issues was that he was so stinking talented so young that he didn't need to work out and strengthen his body to compete. He was able to wakeup, go to the park and dominate. Well, now that he's older, his tendons bones haven't benifited from the conditioning of a typical major leaguer and his body can't hold up. That and he is really unlucky.
I do think that if Jr. stayed healthy through his prime, there is no doubt that he would have beaten Hank's record. He was the fastest in history to 100, 200, 300 and 400 home runs. After that, it took him another 5 seasons to hit the 500 mark.
The other thing people forget about Jr is that he used to tear it up on the basepaths too. Up until 2000, he was the prototypical 5 tool player. He will be in the Hall of Fame for sure, and few players were as dominent as he was in his prime...
2007-02-22 11:56:56 · answer #2 · answered by Kilroy 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If anyone was going to break the record legit, it would have been Griffey. I don't know if he would of embraced the role as DH, but if he had and stayed healthy, who knows. It would definately be a close race, he lost a lot of years to those plaguing injuries.
Health is definately the key here.
2007-02-22 11:18:10 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
No. The thing about Griffey is he is a center fielder. A great one in his prime to boot. He played much like Dwayne Wade plays basketball, with reckless abandone. His passion and drive, along with his recklessness have caused him to be injury proned in the later years of his career. He is definately a hall of famer and underrated now.
2007-02-22 12:02:30 · answer #4 · answered by josh_huth 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know. He would still have to run the bases as a DH. I know he injured himself at least once, maybe twice, doing that. I think wherever he played; Seatlle, Cincinnatti or anywhere else, he still would have had the injury problems. And its hard to keep a salary and a glove like that on the bench as a DH if your the team manager.
2007-02-22 10:39:06 · answer #5 · answered by DoReidos 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Talk about a player who was on a rising rocket! Jr. in my opinion was the best player for several years out there. No doubt, wanting to come home to Cincinatti was a bad call. No doubt he's be up there with that cheater Bonds if he stayed healthy.
2007-02-22 10:30:35 · answer #6 · answered by mjasfvpld 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
not necessarily in seattle. i think griffey could have been the best HR hitter of all time if he were healthy. it was his constant injuries that kept him down. i think griffey was elected to the team of the century and that is saying something.
2007-02-22 10:24:56 · answer #7 · answered by what? 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think he would still have injury problems because he pulls his hamstring eating toast. If he had stayed healthy then he would have been the one to break the record.
2007-02-22 10:25:25 · answer #8 · answered by OGallagher13 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Not even if stayed there it was because he was on the Injured list allot he would be real close to Aaron's record...and he would be there with little conterversy
2007-02-22 11:28:05 · answer #9 · answered by nas88car300 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
did you hear that he broke his hand wrestling with his kids?...that shows you that nothing could save this guy from injury...he is so fragile that he would need to be a full-time DH, and at that time edgar martinez was busy taking that slot...also, the guy is just star-crossed, let's face it, he's just had terrible luck no matter where he's gone
2007-02-22 11:04:47 · answer #10 · answered by sabes99 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋