Feb
18
2009
90. 90 is the number of RBI Ken Griffey Jr. had in 1994. At the age of 24 Junior set a major league record for fewest RBI while hitting 40 home runs in a season. He hit .323 and finished second in the Most Valuable Player voting to the Big Hurt - Frank Thomas. Griffey also posted a career high .674 slugging percentage.
Junior set his record in just 111 games, thanks to the strike. Projected over a full 162 game season Griffey would have reached 58 - a career high. He also would have had 131 RBI.
Griffey is currently unsigned - the future hall of famer is having trouble finding a team after a tough 2008 season that saw him hit just .249. Expect to see him sign a deal sometime during spring training for a part time OF and DH role - it’s too soon for Junior to retire.
Feb
02
2009
1. Greg Halman - B+ - 29 HR in 492 AB’s, Halman should be a regular in Seattle in no time. Could see him in a late season call up in 09, a powerful spring training could see him in Seattle even earlier. Comp - Shane Victorino
2. Phillipe Aumont - A- - Raw but powerful righty should join Brandon Morrow, Felix Hernandez and Erik Bedard in Seattle by 2011. Comp - John Lackey
3. Michael Saunders - B - Toolsy Saunders was strong in AA but scuffled a bit on AAA, he and Halman should be in the Seattle outfield by 2010. Comp - Matt Kemp
4. Carlos Triunfel - A- - Another young prospect, Truinfel had some youthful indiscretions but is a speed and offensive threat at a premium position. He should start the season in AA and reach the major leagues in 2011 - possibly sooner. Comp - Alcides Escobar
5. Michael Pineda - A- - He’s young and turned 20 this month. He went 8-6 with a 1.95 ERA with 128 strikeouts in 138 innings. Seattle should monitor his workload as there is no rush with Pineda, who walked just 35. He’ll start in High A but could move quick and reach AA in 2009. Comp - Kevin Slowey
Jan
18
2009
Braun’s powerful swing and the grand slam you see in the commercials gets him to the top of our re-draft.
Original Picks
1 Justin Upton Arizona Diamondbacks
2 Alex Gordon Kansas City Royals
3 Jeff Clement Seattle Mariners
4 Ryan Zimmerman Washington Nationals
5 Ryan Braun Milwaukee Brewers
New Picks
1 Arizona Diamondbacks - Ryan Braun, OF - Arizona loves Upton’s superstar potential, but Braun is already the superstar run producer that every team wants.
2 Kansas City Royals - Justin Upton, OF - Upton still has the greatest potential of any player in this draft, and in a year or two he could be back at the top.
3 Seattle Mariners - Troy Tulowitzki, SS - Tulo is a franchise shortstop and Clement was unable to secure the job for a lousy Seattle team.
4 Washington Nationals - Matt Garza, RHP - The hard throwing Garza was 2-0 in the ALCS against Boston and would be the ace of the Nationals weak staff.
5 Milwaukee Brewers - Jay Bruce, OF - Sure losing Braun would be a huge blow to the Brewers, but Bruce, whose power is equally enticing, would be a nice consolation with the fifth overall pick.
