Saturday, September 23, 2000
Griffey couldn't match the hype
Fans, turf, media, expectations took toll
By Chris Haft
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Even the best relationships aren't easy. They're just worth the trouble. Ken Griffey Jr.'s first season with the Reds has been a lot like that.
This was a learning year for Griffey, who had to adjust to a new league and new teammates after a Feb. 10 trade with the Seattle Mariners brought him back to his hometown.
The All-Century Team center fielder signed a $116.5 million, nine-year deal with the Reds. Ticket lines were long. Cincinnati was positively giddy.
But after a slow start at the plate and unflattering portrayals by some media, the glow that arrived with Griffey was diminished.
Likewise, Griffey's impact at the gate mirrored his year overall: pretty good, but could have been better.
Dented by public criticism, Griffey recently has discussed little beyond day-to-day issues. He politely declined to assess his first year with the Reds for this article.
But those surrounding Griffey characterize the season as promising, even successful, despite the Reds' underwhelming second-place finish in the National League Central.
“I'd make the same trade 10,000 more times and not even blink,” Reds general manager Jim Bowden said.
According to Ken Griffey Sr., his son enjoyed returning to Cincinnati, where he grew up, and relished the opportunity to spend more time around his family.
“He always did like the city,” said Griffey, Reds bench coach. “That's why he came here. That was the positive side of it.”
John Allen, the Reds' chief operating officer, is pleased with the enthusiasm that Griffey's arrival generated in Cincinnati.
“The magic that Junior brought to the Reds and the city was phenomenal,” Allen said. “I don't think the city has seen too many periods where the same subject was on everybody's mind, from a sports standpoint. Not that the excitement of baseball ever completely left. But he certainly revived it. We got kids talking baseball again who might not have done so had Junior not come.”
Reds management had hoped that he would help the team — thought to be on the rise after last year's 96-win campaign — break the 1976 franchise attendance record of 2,629,708. With total attendance of 2,476,845 before Friday's game, the Reds will fall just short of that mark.
But, said Allen, “we're going to end up with the second-largest attendance in franchise history. Anytime you come close to 2.6 million, that's a pretty successful year.”
Asked whether Griffey “paid for” himself, Allen said, “He came close.”
As the season progressed, so did Griffey improve.
He took 40 home runs and 118 RBI into the final home series of the year against Houston, production consistent with his previous 11 major-league seasons.
Detractors have dwelled on his batting average, which has lingered below his .299 career average. He has hit .335 (61-for-182) since July 22, raising his average to a respectable .270.
Even with his struggles — he was batting .209 through June 2 — Griffey managed to become only the fourth player to hit at least 40 home runs for five consecutive years and in seven different seasons. Eighteen of his homers have tied the score or put the Reds ahead.
Certainly without Griffey, the Reds still would be searching for the dynamic hitter in the middle of the lineup that every decent team needs.
“We're very blessed to have one of the best players in the game here,” Bowden said. “It's great to be able to build a team around a Gold Glove center fielder who can hit 40 home runs and drive in more than 100 runs.”
Griffey's second-half batting surge indicates that better days await him.
Said Ken Griffey Sr., “Next year is going to be a totally different scenario ... He learned to be one of 25 men.”
This year, Reds players had to adapt to having a megastar in their midst. Griffey attempted to blend in with a group that was renowned for its camaraderie a season earlier. In 2001 and beyond, Griffey already will know most of his teammates, and he them.
The comfort level in the clubhouse rose as the season wore on. Though Griffey's much-publicized verbal confrontation with broadcaster Marty Brennaman last month seemed unpleasant at the time, it might have helped release tension.
“He was learning all of them,” Ken Griffey Sr. said. “It's not easy, trying to fit in and be yourself.”
Left fielder Dmitri Young said the spirit of 1999 might not have been replicated anyway, even without Griffey. “A lot of people were expecting this to be like last year,” he said. “But it wasn't the same 25 guys.”
Criticism may always follow Griffey. He could continue to be dogged by unsubstantiated reports, such as the one that insisted he telephoned ESPN to complain the cable network was showing too many highlights of St. Louis center fielder Jim Edmonds.
More anonymous critics may assail him, such as the general manager, coach and player quoted in a recent CNN-Sports Illustrated story.
“It was a rough year,” Ken Griffey Sr. said. “He never could get anything positive said about him.”
Sometimes, said Young, even the field didn't offer Griffey a sanctuary.
“He had to deal with downright ruthless fans all over the place ... ,” Young said. “He had to play on that god-awful turf (at Cinergy Field). His body took a serious beating.”
So did his image and his batting average. But Ken Griffey Jr. appears to have weathered this first season in Cincinnati.
The relationship has just begun.
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Griffey couldn't match the hype
