Ken Griffey Jr. signing is a scam

Our new friends over at Tailgate 365.com have an interesting commentary over the Ken Griffey Signing in Seattle. This should be a nice change of pace over the absolute oogling the local media has been doing for the past two weeks. 

Mike Whaley gives the skinny on the reality about the Griffey signing.

Griffey will not be in Seattle to lead this team to the playoffs in 2009. As much as I love this future Hall of Famer his production has fallen off way too much for that to happen. 

And let's face reality here, when you get past the age of 37, 38 or 39 your production IS suppose to decline. All steroids users please take note of this fact. The simple truth of the matter is that the Seattle Mariners signed Griffey because they are too cheap to go out and sign some good free  agents to try to get back to the post season. 

Seattle's signing of Griffey was no more than a scam to sell tickets. 

Yeah it's a feel good story as well, but this team will make millions from this signing and still be on the outside looking in come October. If Seattle fans just want to feel good they get their wish with this signing. If they are hungry to get back to the playoffs they should feel insulted and used by the management of the Mariners.

I think Mike just nailed this one out of the ballpark. FLY FLY AWAY! And after hearing nothing but Griffey! Griffey! Griffey! for a while, I've got to say that I agree with him.

Problem is, I don't think Northwest fans care. They know they're getting used, but they appreciate that Jr. put this team on the map back in the mid-nineties and is now coming back for one more ride. Some are being realistic. 

Some are not.

I was listening to ESPN Radio 700 AM in Spokane the other day and "Patchin and the Wingmen" had a discussion about Griffey and how much of an excellent clubhouse leader he'll be.

And I have to disagree, since when has Griffey been a clubhouse leader? He's been a prankster, he's been a guy that lightens the mood but Griffey has never been a clubhouse "leader". Ever hear of the story of how he gets two lockers, a recliner and Nintendo in the clubhouse? Sounds somewhat Bondish.

He's going to do his own thing, like he always does. That's not going to change.

Junior certainly commands respect, but I don't think he'll quite be the mentoring father that some fans expect him to be. And why would he? When has he ever been a mentoring figure. Never! His nickname is "The kid!"

So thanks Mike! I wish the Northwest media had as much sense as Reds fans do.