MLB - Sports Rumors

Mon Jun 29, 2009 6:14 am EDT

Griffey says he has made no decision about future

By Joe Zedalis

Speculation is, Ken Griffey Jr.(notes), 39, could be playing his final season in the major leagues, according to a report in the Los Angeles Times. Griffey has 620 home runs.

But Griffey said, "I haven't made any decision" about retiring "and won't until the off-season, until we have time to decide what we want to do."

Griffey mainly has been Seattle's designated hitter, but played left field in the Dodgers series.

Griffey said he also has tried to be a teacher for the Mariners, "a guy the younger kids can talk to" about opposing pitchers, playing defense in different ballparks and overall strategy.

"They ask me questions, and I give them an honest answer," he said.

Source: Los Angeles TimesNew Window

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28 Comments

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  1. Ryan B.
    1. Posted by Ryan B. Mon Jun 29, 2009 6:45 am EDT

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    Lame.
  2. Teddy P
    2. Posted by Teddy P Mon Jun 29, 2009 7:26 am EDT

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    It's sad to see a real good player who doesn't resort to steroids retire. This is what the path of a career SHOULD look like. Griffey was the best clean player of the steroid era
  3. str A's hooter
    3. Posted by str A's hooter Mon Jun 29, 2009 7:39 am EDT

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    If it wasnt for all of his injurys in Cincinati, he would have over 750 homeruns by now, and we would have forgotton all about Barry Bonds. Its too bad. He'll be remembered as one of the greatest steroid-free players of all times.
  4. Jeff F
    4. Posted by Jeff F Mon Jun 29, 2009 8:31 am EDT

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    Griffey is a class act. Best player by far free of the Riods. Put 2 statues of this guy in the hall.
  5. Linus V
    5. Posted by Linus V Mon Jun 29, 2009 9:04 am EDT

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    God, how I always loved Griffey. A throwback to the players of yesteryear.
  6. PATS52
    6. Posted by PATS52 Mon Jun 29, 2009 9:18 am EDT

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    Just add 25% to the existing stats,clearly that's conservative,no telling what his stats could've been had he not been injury prone...Jr. a good clean and well brought up player had raw talent that we see once a generation or so will go down as the epitome of what ball players should be,something in the roid era that we'll rarely see again..
  7. Pure Evil
    7. Posted by Pure Evil Mon Jun 29, 2009 9:30 am EDT

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    I like Griff, but who's to say that he was clean? Maybe he was so frequently hurt because of the PED's. I don't think there's too many guys from that era that you could say without a doubt were clean. There still are 102 names on that list we haven't heard yet.
  8. PATS52
    8. Posted by PATS52 Mon Jun 29, 2009 9:54 am EDT

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    #7, That would just about deflate most fans faith of any clean player being out there at all....If Jr. falls then who else is worth mentioning....
  9. Anthony C
    9. Posted by Anthony C Mon Jun 29, 2009 10:17 am EDT

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    griffey IS baseball...a class act and one of the best players we will all have the pleasure of watching in our lifetime..
    -a yankee fan
  10. Vicki
    10. Posted by Vicki Mon Jun 29, 2009 11:34 am EDT

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    I hope Griffey plays for as long as he is physically able. Since he's never juiced, that could be a good long while. He's always been a class act and one that parents would let their kids look up to. Even when his playing days come to an end, he'd make a good coach or manager.
  11. eight inches
    11. Posted by eight inches Mon Jun 29, 2009 11:39 am EDT

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    Even if he doesn't play much, just having him in the duggout is worth his salary. What a great mentor for the young players coming up. He makes all those steroid-era players look like crap.
  12. glenn
    12. Posted by glenn Mon Jun 29, 2009 11:46 am EDT

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    no news is news? i guess only in baseball
  13. doug k
    13. Posted by doug k Mon Jun 29, 2009 12:06 pm EDT

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    please retire. its sad to watch.
  14. Chubby Chaser
    14. Posted by Chubby Chaser Mon Jun 29, 2009 12:42 pm EDT

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    Griffey is a credit to the game, would be shocked if it turned out he was on the Juice. To bad some of these "stars" can't be more like good old Ken (A-Roid*, Manny, Clemmens to name a few)
  15. Kent
    15. Posted by Kent Mon Jun 29, 2009 12:49 pm EDT

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    No Pure Evil, your argument doesn't hold up. Steroids speed up recovery time from injuries, they don't cause injuries. I think it is extremely unlikely that he ever juiced. I also feel he has done nothing but good for the game. Doug K, ask the young Mariners players if he is sad to watch. Your statement is ignorant. I was fortunate enough, having lived in a minor league market, to see Jr. take one at-bat (this was during his first stint with Seattle); even though he didn't get a hit, that swing was pure magic to watch. Any team that does not recruit him as a batting coach when he retires is nuts. Keep going Jr. - you're one of the greats!
  16. svtowner96
    16. Posted by svtowner96 Mon Jun 29, 2009 1:00 pm EDT

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    Well, he has 9 HR's... could finish with 20+. Its not the 45-50 he was hitting in his prime but he is still Ken Griffey Jr. Keep Playing man! Just work on the hand/eye coordination. Griffey can still play for at least a year or two... if he wants to. Still one of my All time Favorite players!!
  17. James
    17. Posted by James Mon Jun 29, 2009 1:43 pm EDT

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    Actually, Kent, steroids speed up muscle recovery after workouts, allowing muscles to be built faster because players can work out for longer, at higher intensity, and more frequently. This tends to cause injuries because in some cases the muscles gain strength at an unnatural rate, putting greater stress on tendons that haven't had enough time to adapt. I'm sure modern cheating science has found ways around this by now, though.
  18. Jay
    18. Posted by Jay Mon Jun 29, 2009 6:12 pm EDT

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    Actually I grew up in Seattle and the only knock on Jr was that he never worked out in the gym, it made his managers nuts. Jr. just liked to come out to the ballpark and have fun and play the game like noone had seen in quite some time.
  19. DOMINICAN NBA BEST
    19. Posted by DOMINICAN NBA BEST Mon Jun 29, 2009 9:02 pm EDT

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    I wonder if Ken Griffey Jr is on the 103 steroid list.
  20. Eric J
    20. Posted by Eric J Mon Jun 29, 2009 10:06 pm EDT

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    One of the greatest outfielder ever plays the game and Roid free, MLB should follow Griffey path and live like how he did, he didnt play for the money, he play for the love of the game. he is my all time favorite player
  21. gangbuster
    21. Posted by gangbuster Mon Jun 29, 2009 11:18 pm EDT

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    He's a legend.......stop playa hating. Real recognizes real.
  22. dragon43078
    22. Posted by dragon43078 Mon Jun 29, 2009 11:46 pm EDT

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    If he can get his average up to .265 he could consider playing another year. At his current pace though, it doesn't look good. I hope he gives it a lot of thought during the off season on retirement. If the Mariners look like they are going too really suck next year, they may be tempted to sign JR for another year to help with ticket sales.
    It is just sad to think of what could have been without his Reds injuries.
  23. don
    23. Posted by don Tue Jun 30, 2009 12:55 am EDT

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    Dont get me wrong the kid is my all time favorite player but please dont be fooled in being so sure that he was for sure so clean , I have always personally thought the juice ruined his career , look at the stats look at the weight gain the fact of the matter is steroids saved baseball anyone remember 1995 when teams were averaging less than 15,000 in attendance and the mariners almost moved. Sorry to break hearts but being the best means using the juice amongst other things . It is impossible to test for all of the 1600 plus versions of testosterone created in the 50's and 60's. they only test for about the best 45 steriod products (hence THG) that are commercially manufactured. In my personal opinion failing a drug test means your dummer than a goat, fact is yes it is that easy to pass any drug test.
  24. Dave K
    24. Posted by Dave K Tue Jun 30, 2009 1:31 am EDT

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    Griffey was indeed a great player and even at this point in his career still pretty good. He brings a lot to a team that has nothing to do with stats, but we cannot say for sure he was clean. Personally I think Jr. was indeed clean, but none of us can say for sure, but as long as he isn't linked to steroids we have to assume he was indeed clean.
  25. pedrod
    25. Posted by pedrod Tue Jun 30, 2009 5:39 pm EDT

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    Keep playing Griff, at least until you pass Bonds HR numbers so there won't be any "what if's"

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