Short Hops
–Ken Griffey, Jr., made a “death gesture” at broadcaster Jeff Brantley after hitting a home run recently. It’s awesome that Junior doesn’t like Brantley, because Jeff Brantley is, by far, the worst broadcaster the Reds have ever had (at least, during my lifetime). He’s just awful. (And this isn’t the first time Brantley has had issues like this.)
I loved the guy as a pitcher, but if I ever have to listen to his stupid cowboy shtick again, I’m going to explode.
–Aaron Harang is starting to feel better:
Aaron Harang felt a little too good for his own good.
“It felt really, really good,” he said, “so good that I got in the rapid-fire mode. I had to stop myself.”
Harang gave his strained right forearm its toughest test so far - throwing 31 pitches in a bullpen session.
“Ten punchouts,” Harang joked. “I threw one ball, a little low. It was border line. Could have gone either way.”
It looks like Harang is at least two weeks away from returning, though. Jerry Hairston, Jr., meanwhile, is starting a rehab assignment, and Jared Burton hopes to be back by the end of the week.
–Jay Bruce is excited to play in Houston. This article reminds me of similar pieces about Adam Dunn when he arrived on the scene.
–The Reds have released the player whose hard slide preceded the recent brawl in Dayton. Still no word on suspensions arising from that melee.
July 29th, 2008 at 9:43 am
I didn’t see it, but reportedly the other thing Griffey did was face the tv camera in the dugout and say, “*uck you, Brantley”.
Griffey was wrong..period, no matter what Brantley said. I can’t stand Brantley on the air either, but that does not excuse Griffey’s actions on the field and on the airways. IF he’s got a problem with Brantley, be a professional and take it up with him.
IMO, Reds management should either fine or suspend Griffey.
When Graves did something along the same lines, he was released.
July 29th, 2008 at 9:46 am
This team is held hostage by Griffey. If the team does indeed pick up his option, they’re nuts. They can take half that money and go out and buy a few more RBI’s and a little more excitement.
I’ve been hoping that they have an announcement about Dunn - I suppose they are trying, hope they are anyway. He’s valuable and still young.
July 29th, 2008 at 11:35 am
I have to disagree with you about Brantley. I absolutely love listening to him on the radio or the TV. He tells it like it is, and doesn’t sugar coat EVERYTHING the Reds do like George Grande and Chris Welsh do. They are professional homers. At least Brantley looks at this team objectively. Griffey needs to be dealt with. I cannot wait for him to be gone next year.
July 29th, 2008 at 11:39 am
Brantley is living proof that there will never be another Marty and Joe. He talks too much, says too little when he’s not saying something stupid, makes zero sense, and exaggerates his “cowboy” accent. Isn’t he from Alabama? I didn’t know they had cowboys there. I’m not buying it.
This organization consistently finds some of the worst announcers in baseball.
July 29th, 2008 at 11:43 am
and exaggerates his “cowboy” accent.
That’s the part that drives me insane.
July 29th, 2008 at 11:48 am
Griffey was way out of line. That type of behavior should not be tolerated. He is last in every category for a three hole hitter in the majors, so whatever criticism comes his way on the production front is definitely warranted. No doubt he is one of the best players to ever set foot on a baseball field but he is part of the culture that has not helped the reds win. The 162nd game the reds play this year will be Jr’s last as a red. Lets enjoy one more half season of a first ballot hall of famer in a reds uniform (As painful as it probably will be) Oh and on Brantley, no question listening to him do play by play next to marty is awful. But he does the best analysis of a game of all the announcers. After over a decade of listening to Grande and Welch he is definitely a breath of fresh air.
July 29th, 2008 at 11:49 am
He doesn’t know what it is, how can he tell it like it is?
July 29th, 2008 at 11:51 am
Hmmm. No mention of the two dropped balls that led to Brantley calling Junior out. That’s an equally important piece of this story, and on that account I side w/ the Cowboy. I agree w/ Mark, this team is being held hostage. Mentally, his ‘I’d rather be in the Bahamas’ attitude trickles down to everyone and his lack of effort at everything except hitting speaks volume about how little he values his role as a leader. Nice guy or not, 600 homers or not, he in no way embodies the qualities we need on a young team that has intentions on breaking into the upper division. For that reason alone, he needs to be kicked to the curb.
July 29th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
Don’t get me wrong. I know Griffey’s lost more than one step in the outfield and is an offensive liability. He should be called out more often for not being a team player. Shifting to RF late in his career is one of only a few examples of team play from him…but I don’t think Brantley’s the guy to call Jr. out. From Brantley everything just sounds ridiculous.
July 29th, 2008 at 12:13 pm
Ken Griffey Jr. and Jeff Brantley spoke. So is everything good between them? “No,” Brantley said. “How can it be when someone gives you a death signal from the dugout?” Said Griffey: “I’m not going to talk about it.” Griffey made the gesture after hitting a home run in Saturday’s game. He ran his finger along his throat. “You can’t do that in the NFL or the NBA,” Brantley said. Griffey was upset about Brantley saying Griffey has been pouting because the Reds have not picked up his option for next year. Brantley denied saying that. “The only thing I said is the ball in right field should have been caught,” Brantley said. A fly ball fell in front of Griffey in the first inning of Saturday’s game. Brantley - and all broadcasters - have been asked to stay out of the players lounge and dining room.
How is running your finger along your throat considered a “death threat?” Is Junior a terrorist or gangbanger? Don’t get me wrong. Junior’s behavior was inexcusable and should be dealt with my both management and MLB but calling it a “death threat” is a bit of an exaggeration.
July 29th, 2008 at 12:14 pm
“and all broadcasters - have been asked to stay out of the players lounge and dining room”
What this say about the atmosphere of this club?
July 29th, 2008 at 12:24 pm
He didn’t say “death threat” he said “death signal”. I don’t see anywhere where Brantley says he’s fearing for his life. Still, that’s a very aggressive gesture. If someone I worked with made that gesture at me, and then said ‘f*** you, Ben”, I wouldn’t kiss and make up the next day. Brantley was just doing his job in (justifiably) criticizing Junior’s play. Junior was completely out of line.
July 29th, 2008 at 12:35 pm
To go to the other side for a moment, some sources are saying that Griffey was mad that Brantley said he was pouting b/c the Reds hadn\’t picked up his option, which Brantley denies saying on the air.
But yesterday, Lance McAlister said on his show that he remembers hearing Brantley say that on the air during a banana phone segment.
IMO, whether Junior dogged it (or didn\’t) on those fly balls or what Brantley said is irrelevant.
What is at issue here is Junior\’s actions, and they are inexcusable. Lance spoke to Brian Goldberg (Griffey\’s agent) yesterday and even Goldberg said that Griffey was wrong and should apologize (for his actions).
But an apology at this point, IMO, means nothing b/c it\’ll be forced at the point of a gun (so to speak). If he had said after the game on Saturday, \”I let my emotions get the best of me and am embarrassed by my actions. I apologize to the the Reds, my teammates, and the fans.\” it would have meant something.
But to apologize days later doesn\’t mean much.
And, fwiw, I don\’t think Chris Welsh is a homer at all, I think Chris is a very good color guy, mixing in his experience on the field with his knowledge of baseball stats. I think it\’s tough to look good when you\’re stuck in the booth with George Grande.
July 29th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
Indicate the difference between a “death signal” and a “death threat.”
As I said before, Junior should have been reprimanded by both Reds management and MLB.
The fact that he wasn’t reprimanded and the ban of broadcaster from the Reds lounge and dining room indicates to me that there is way too much babying of the players. Should the players have some place to their own away from the media? Yes but not everyplace but the locker room and dugout.
July 29th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
Is Junior a terrorist or gangbanger?
well he DID brag about having a house full of guns, a room full of ammo,enough that the police could come to him if they ever ran out. I can see that kind of talk coming from a gangbanger
July 29th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
Is Junior a terrorist or gangbanger?
well he DID brag about having a house full of guns, a room full of ammo,enough that the police could come to him if they ever ran out. I can see that kind of talk coming from a gangbanger
I had forgotten about that!! He must have taken Volquex and Phillips into the fold seeing how they wear their hats. This is very much like “The Lost Boys” except gangbangers rather than vampires. Could Dusty be the “Head Gangbanger?”
July 29th, 2008 at 2:03 pm
Griffey is killing the club in the field (the 2 balls Saturday were Bush League efforts), in the three hole of the line-up, and by example. It is no wonder Dunn has not improved more since his mentor is Griffey. Hopefully they remove him from the team before he does the same for Jay Bruce.
This inappropriate gesture isn’t his first as he once flipped off Sparky Anderson in Detroit as he rounded the bases on a home run as a Mariner. I don’t think he got a consequences then either.
With the character issues he is showing maybe Marvin Lewis can find a place for him.
July 29th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
Everyone says this team shows no emotion and now that Junior shows one everyone hates him!!
A lot of guys swear. You can see it when a guy strikes out and drops an F-bomb. Whenever Homer Bailey is taken out of a game and he walks off the mound he is cursing like a sailor and every time the camera is there to watch him do it.
The gesture isn’t good but why is that something to punish? When your boss comes into work and criticizes how poorly you did multiple times you get angry.
For the record I like Brantley and think he is justified in what he said about Junior, I just think the whole thing is really a non-issue.
Anyone remember when ballplayers were allowed to be ballplayers?
July 29th, 2008 at 3:04 pm
Griffey was out of line
Brantley is not a good announcer, he was a better analyst on ESPN
but this whole situation is stupid and meaningless.
Griffey holding the team hostage!? how do you come up with that?
As for Griffey having character issues, forgive me as I laugh out loud. This incident and the Sparky thing, is that everything? in what nearly 20 years of playing baseball? Ridiculous. He was out of line here yes but to even suggest he might have character issues is an overreaction.
I honestly don’t understand the venom Reds fans have for Griffey.
July 29th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
I have no “venom”, but I also think that it’s inappropriate to make gestures at someone from on the field and to drop the F-bomb at someone right into the tv camera.
July 29th, 2008 at 4:27 pm
When your boss comes into work and criticizes how poorly you did multiple times you get angry.
And if you stand up in the middle of your work floor and yell f**k you at him, I’m sure an example will be made of you.
July 29th, 2008 at 4:34 pm
I was at that game Saturday. Brantley is 100% full of crap, at least about the second ball. It fell between Bruce and Griffey, which Brantley still hasn’t mentioned. It may have been a mistake, but it wasn’t a “dogging it” mistake.
Brantley is a gasbag. He wants to be Marty so bad, but he has idea that there’s a difference between “telling it like it is” and “ripping everyone.”
His latest Drama Queen act is especially funny. He’s all chapped because he’s not “one of the guys” anymore, when all he’s done for two years now is pretend that major league baseball is easy as pie, and the only reason anyone ever fails is because they’re a bad person who doesn’t try hard. “Jay Bruce should be able to fall out of bed and hit .300 against left-handers.” etc. etc.
July 29th, 2008 at 5:05 pm
No character isn’t two incidents. To name a few more.
100% Effort.
Its home run trotting out of the box and ending up on first when the ball hits the fence instead of hustling and being on second. Several times.
Its letting balls fall in front of you that should have been caught.
Its Ego.
It is calling ESPN complaining that Jim Edmunds is getting too many highlights.
Its Team First.
Its asking to miss the last game of the season so you can go home early.
Its example:
Slashing you throat or other inappropriate jestures and using vulgur language when in a public setting or in front of the people paying your wages.
Nothing here nor other exmaples that could be made constitutes grounds for execution, but from a character standpoint they are not the example of what I want my young players to see.
If any of us showed such character we would be fired or at least reprimanded and since his actions were in a public setting any reprimand should be in that same forum.
As far as Brantley/Griffey goes, if it is about entertainment, then I would have to say The Cowboy is currently providing more entertainment than Griff.
July 29th, 2008 at 6:22 pm
I’ll join the minority and say that I like Brandtley’s ananysis and his play by play isn’t bad. I often get a better word picture of the action from Brandtley than from Marty. Brandtley, more like Kelch than Marty, may tell me that the line drive to left was below the outstretched glove of the 3rd baseman (over the leaping shortstop’s head, etc.)than Marty. He conveys what is going on between pitchers and hitters in a way that few announcers for any team does. (I am out here in Cubs-Cards-White Sox country.) I only know about Griffey’s part in this from what I read here. IMO, he has been a drag on this team from more than this year.
July 29th, 2008 at 6:40 pm
The fact is balls will continue to drop in front of Jr. because he knows full well that his range is limited. He goes for it and has to dive and can’t catch it people will hate him. Of course he doesn’t do it and people hate him.
Almost every player on the team and any other team can be seen cursing. You can hear it all throughout the stands at the ballpark.
Ken Griffey Jr. is paid to be a baseball player. I know someone is gonna crack the joke of “well then he shouldn’t be getting paid” but that’s the truth. He isn’t playing the game to be an upstanding model to everyone watching. It’s up to parents to say what so and so did was wrong and explain why. Griffey doesn’t owe an apology to anyone. Why would a guy owe an apolgy to a fanbase that night after night shouts verbal abuse at him? Or makes claims that he is ruining the team? Or boos him? If I was Griffey I’d be out there flicking people off every single time I took the field. The same thing goes for Adam Dunn. I wouldn’t be shocked to see Adam Dunn leave the Reds considering how awful the local media and the fans treat him.
July 29th, 2008 at 7:13 pm
ummmm.. because they are paying him maybe? And because if he doesn’t like it he can just quit and go home?
July 29th, 2008 at 9:22 pm
Unfortunately Phil, I wouldn’t be surprised if Dunn left too. I don’t think fans in Cincinnati will ever be happy with their ballplayers.
I read somewhere (don’t remember where) that it seems that Cincinnati fans will never be happy about a player unless they play like Pete.
July 29th, 2008 at 11:04 pm
Why all the Griffey bashing? I’m going to list all of his great moments in a Reds uniform. First, we have Opening Day 2000. Undoubtedly one of the most anticipated Opening Day’s in Reds’ history. After that we have, ummmm let me think uhh geez it’ll come to me….. oh yeah his 500th homer on Father’s Day in 2004 and of course his 600th homer earlier this year.
After those momentous homers we have…..let’s see…..how bout some help?………man, this is killing me….could it have been that throw he made Saturday?……..arrgghhh…I’ll have to think some more……
July 30th, 2008 at 7:56 am
I can’t believe people are making excuses for Griffey’s classless actions…I’m completely astounded.
July 30th, 2008 at 9:44 am
The reason Griffey gets dogged is about winning. Being the superstar is like being President. Whatever happens on your watch you get the credit or the blame.
Take all the great moments Griffey has had as a Red and tell many how many winning Reds teams he has played on. The answer is 1.
In fact in 20 years in the big leagues he has played on 6 teams with winning records.
He is the superstar, he gets the credit or blame. It goes with the territory or the pay.
July 30th, 2008 at 10:33 am
I think Griffey should definitey serve some sort of suspension or fine for his actions. I’m a Griffey fan, but you can’t do things like that.
At the same time, I was listening to WLW yesterday and I think it was Cunningham who was blowing this WAY out of proportion. He was saying that Griffey was signaling that he was out to kill Brantley, etc. :roll:
I think the difference between a death threat and a death gesture is that:
A threat, you intend to follow through with it and perhaps have intention of killing the said person. A death gesture is that said person is dead to you because of some sort of animosity you may feel, but you have no intent of killing said person.
To say Griffey wants to kill Jeff Brantley, or even wants Jeff Brantley dead, is completely insane! Nonetheless, you can’t make those actions in front of thousands of people, including children, and not face some sort of punishment.
July 30th, 2008 at 4:28 pm
And if you don’t want those kind of threats to be taken seriously then don’t brag about having a house full of guns. Some people just get carried away with running their mouth and don’t know when to shut up.