Would Ken Griffey Jr. be a gift or burden for Mariners?

By Larry Stone | The Seattle Times • Published May 13, 2008

It’s a wonderful concept, it really is.

Ken Griffey Jr. returning to Seattle to ride out his twilight years in a wave of adulation would provide glorious closure for the greatest Mariner of them all.

Theoretically.

The problem is that the gap between concept and reality has the potential to be as gaping as the Mariners’ deficit in the AL West.

This is real life, not a fairy tale. A Griffey homecoming could end up an anti-climactic letdown just as easily as it could be a triumphant valediction for a homegrown Hall of Famer.

Mind you, I think it’s going to happen. Griffey to Seattle is starting to have the distinct feel of inevitability, if all the rumblings in the baseball world are true. The fact that the Mariners had one of Bill Bavasi’s top advisers, Duane Shaffer, in New York over the weekend to reportedly watch Griffey at Shea Stadium is just more fuel to a burgeoning fire.

The momentum started to build last June, when Griffey was bowled over by his wildly appreciative reception at Safeco Field, and it hasn’t stopped since. Griffey told FSN at the time that he wanted to retire as a Mariner. His comments on the topic since -- to The Seattle Times during spring training, and to USA Today last week -- have been along the same lines.

The Reds, understandably, want to see Griffey belt his 600th homer in a Cincinnati uniform -- he has been stuck on 597 since April 23 -- but once it happens, the wheels could start to turn quickly.

Mariners president Chuck Armstrong, as quoted in the USA Today article, certainly did nothing to quell the rumors. The organization quickly backed off a bit, but it’s hard to spin, “He was born a Mariner. And I’d like to see him finish up as a Mariner,” in too many directions.

Many, if not most, fans feel exactly the same way, and understandably so. Griffey’s return would result in tremendous initial excitement. He would undoubtedly put butts in the seats, not an insignificant consideration for a team that is tanking on the field and at the box office thus far in ’08.