ESPN.com: MLB – Pokey rips Griffey: Junior hurt team chemistry
It’s hard to blame Griffey for the Reds’ lack of success his two years in Cincinnati, given his physical problems. But Pokey does.
Extra batting practice for Junior? No stretching? Heck, Junior even forced Pokey to play shortstop which is why the Pokester hit just .224 last year.
Oh, not really.
Well, I have a few things to say about all of this:
Griffey left Seattle and the Mariners got better and the Reds got worse.
A-Rod left Seattle and the Mariners got better and the Rangers got worse.
The Big Unit left Seattle and the Mariners got better and the Astros got better and the Diamondbacks got better.
Greg Vaughn left the Reds and the Reds got worse and the Devil Rays didn’t really get better, did they?
Now, Pokey has left the Reds and we’ll just have to see. My suspicion is that if Pokey manages to get on base more than 29 percent of the time he might help the Pirates. Well, maybe if he gets on base 33 percent of the time.