Lazy, Forgetful Or Devious?

2009 Finest #17 - Ken Griffey Jr.

On February 18, 2009, Ken Griffey became a Mariner again. His career came full circle and everyone seems happy about that. A handful of 2009 cards depict Griffey in a White Sox uniform. Early ones show him in the Sox uniform and list him as being on the White Sox.

Since Griffey didn't sign with anyone officially until February 18th, the card companies had no choice than to let their early product reflect the last team he played for. This is fine in my book. This is why there are releases throughout the year. Players of a Hall of Fame caliber tend to make it into almost every release. It's the natural order of things. Very few people want to collect a set with nothing but mop up guys from the middle relief.

It's the star power that drives most releases. Trying to keep the card releases as current as possible, many card companies slap on a semi recent picture and list the player as being on their current team. Some go a step further and airbrush the player into their new uniform. There are numerous examples of this in most of the flagship releases.

Until I ran across this 2009 card of Ken Griffey Jr., I thought I had seen every possible combination of transition card. Yes, this was a later release. It was current enough to either get a picture of Griffey in his new uniform or airbrush it on. Logic tells me that this would be the hardest option for a first half product. This is why we see so many players in their previous uniform. So, if Griffey is in his new uniform, why is he listed as being on his previous team?

I could tell that Topps was planning a vanity number for Griffey. The card number is 17, which was his number on the White Sox. This was the only time that he wore the uniform number 17 in his Major League career. I can see that Topps was planning on making him part of the White Sox team set, until Griffey inked a deal with his original club.

Was Topps too lazy to do the simplest change of the team name? Did Topps just forget to change the team name? Or did Topps want to create an intentional error, which they are famous for lately? We may never know the reasoning behind the White Sox name and the Mariner uniform, but it does reek of suspicion. Everything about this card seems backwards. Maybe that's the way Topps planned it.

Something To Chase For 2009

I hope that this card isn't a "preview" card. One where the images are likely to change before the actual product is released. I like the card and I hope to obtain it in 2009.

Thanks to Wax Heaven for the image. Like Mario, I am not wowed by the design for the 2009 SPx. This card did stand out. Maybe it wouldn't if there wasn't a player in a White Sox uniform. Maybe it would.

The colors almost seem complimentary to each other. The swatches of material seem to balance each other. This may mark the first time that Griffey will have a White Sox relic. I'm a bit surprised that there would be one, but I am grateful for the opportunity.

Nudiustertian!

Yes, the image is mututatial from Cincy Reds Cards, but something happened nudiustertian that is a bit odd.

By entering the game played on Monday, starting at 6 PM Eastern, Ken Griffey Jr. has officially played for the Cincinnati Reds and the Chicago White Sox on April 28, 2008. This would be almost three months before Griffey was traded to the White Sox.

This smells of phenakism!

It gets better.

Lou Montanez, who knocked in the winning run, played in a MLB game that was officially three months before his MLB debut!

Horacio Ramirez, Alberto Castillo, and reliever Rocky Cherry, were all in the minor leagues when this game began. Horacio Ramirez wasn't even in the White Sox minor league organization on April 28!

All of this because someone "up there" thought pulviculture was fun!

Just because this game was geason, doesn't mean we needed this barla-fumble. Even though both teams baithed to playing in Baltimore, it just turned out badot.

I feel ziraleet that I just blew up the spell checker with this post of obsolete words. It shouldn't be too difficult to figure out, but a quick google search should help with any lingering doubts.

Introducing Number 17

Ken Griffey Jr. in his debut White Sox game.
2 for 3, 2 RBI, 1 walk, 1 run

Most importantly, two 2-out RBI.

Junior Flying Under The Radar

It seems that a deal has been approved that would bring Ken Griffey Jr. to the White Sox. I've learned that when Kenny Williams says there is nothing going on, there's something big cooking.

Ken Griffey Jr. signed off on this deal. The Sox have been trying to get him for years. I can remember a few half-hearted stabs when he was with the Mariners, but it really started to heat up in 2005.

My sources tell me that Danny Richar and Nick Masset are being shipped out to Cincinnati for Griffey and that the deal has been approved by both teams.

My concern, and you know there had to be one, is where exactly is Junior going to play? The outfield seems set. Quentin is going nowhere. Neither is Dye. That leaves Swisher in center field. The Sox could move Swish to first base and platoon Thome and Konerko as the DH. Or platoon Griffey and Thome at DH. Or (gulp) play Thome at first and put Griffey in the DH spot. It kind of boggles the mind.

Through 102 games this year, Griffey is hitting .245 with 15 home runs. Not exactly setting the world on fire numbers, but leaps above Konerko. I would expect another trade soon. There is a logjam of major league talent now, so my guess is that Konerko or Thome will get moved.

The Sox have played in the past with a logjam at positions, but it's not likely to stay this way for too long. Ozzie has expressed that he wants to keep as many pitchers on the roster as possible, so there is essentially no room for an extra bat.

Then again, Brain Anderson could be expendable with Griffey in Chicago. I would think that Anderson would stay within the organization, with Junior's contract status up in the air after 2008.

Orlando Cabrera - SS

A.J. Pierzynski - C

Carlos Quentin - LF

Jermaine Dye - RF

Jim Thome - DH

Ken Griffey Jr. - CF

Nick Swisher - 1B

Alexei Ramirez - 2B

Juan Uribe - 3B

If Griffey were inserted into the lineup today, with Crede still on the DL, I could see this lineup being realistic. With Crede back in the lineup, move the 3B spot up to seventh or eighth place. Depending on how solid Griffey is hitting-wise, I could see him and Thome switching places.

If the Sox don't move another position player, or hitter, I could see Konerko developing into a pinch hitting specialist for the remainder of the season. That's probably not going to happen. The Sox are looking for another top of the line starter for their rotation, so I would expect Thome or Konerko to be moved to make that happen.

With a player of Griffey's caliber, it looks like I'll have a lot more to collect the rest of the season. I'm not about to have a heart attack, but I welcome Junior with open arms. You'll love it here Junior, and you'll wonder why you didn't come to Chicago sooner.