Not Now Kids, Grandpa's Trying To Nap

Poor Junior.

There's a lot of speculation these days about how much longer future hall-of-famer Ken Griffey, Jr. is going to be playing. Nevermind the fact that he's 40 years old. Or that this is his 22nd season in the big leagues. Or that he's only hitting .208 this season. Or that he has yet to hit a homerun this year. Or that he doesn't play in the outfield these days because he's got all sorts of aches and pains.

None of that really made us sit up and take notice of the fact that he's at the end of his career like the latest Griffey headline: Junior was unable to pinch hit the other night because he FELL ASLEEP IN THE CLUBHOUSE.

Apparently, during a game last week Griffey went back into the clubhouse sometime around the 5th inning to "get a jacket." He didn't come back. Instead, he was found snoozing like a baby in his chair during the 7th. Rather than wake him up to come in and pinch hit, his teammates let him sleep. At least they didn't try to draw on his face with permanent markers or stick his hand in warm water to make him pee himself. (Although, I'm starting to wonder if he's sporting Depends these days??)

Now, most people caught napping on the job would get a stern warning, or even get canned. But this is KEN GRIFFEY JUNIOR we're talking about here, people. Most of us in our early thirties late twenties grew up idolizing him. He survived the Steroid Era without being named in any juicing scandals. He is fifth on the list of the all time home run leaders - without cheating! He is the epitome of a baseball legend! So, had the press not gotten word of this incident, the Mariners may have let this slide. But now, people are talking, and they're wondering... When's he going to hang it up?

I, for one, had been holding on to the hopes that he might tie Willie Mays and hit 660 bombs before he retired. Or maybe he'd get to play in at least one more All-Star game. Or finally get to win (or at least play in) a World Series. Let's face it, the Mariners had beefed up their roster pretty good this year, and we all thought maybe they were seriously trying to be contenders... that is, until the season started and they're (as of today) dead last in the AL West with a record of 12-19. Sigh.

Maybe, just maybe, he can turn it around and not be forced into retirement. Maybe he can stay awake long enough to finally knock a few out of the park. Or at least bring up his average... I'd love to have him end his career on a high note. It would be terribly sad if he went out like this - a tired old mad who should have hung it up at the end of last year. Someone, please get the man some coffee so he can finish out the season.. or at least make it to the All-Star break.