All Things Bubba: Griffey to move to right field?

Tuesday, January 16, 2007

The Dayton Daily News is reporting that Griffey may be moving to right field.

"Griffey is very open to doing what he can do to be on the field more," Narron said. "He realizes that Kirby Puckett moved (to right field) and that Cal Ripken, Jr. moved to third base.

"He wants to do what is best for the Cincinnati Reds," Narron added. "He realizes that to be on the field more he has to change positions."

Before moving, Griffey wants to be certain somebody better can play center field, the position Griffey has played since signing his first major-league contract in 1987.

I know someone...

Labels: Reds

posted by BubbaFan, 9:07 PM

2 Comments:

sitting in the bleachers @ rice's 1st CWS game ever, i heard some LSU fans critiqueing the owls. after the seventh inning stretch, one says to the other "that #8 is the best natural centerfielder i've ever seen in college ball."
of course i had to turn around and shake his hand!
turns out he knows talent, as his brother was a retired scout for baltimore. he was explaining to his friend how quickly bubba was getting into position. "reading" the ball in the field , right off the bat,was a talent one can enhance, but hard to teach, according to him.

That's a really neat story.

I'd heard that, too - that there are two kinds of center fielders, the ones who have the instinct to read the ball off the bat and take good routes to it, and the ones who don't, but get by on sheer athleticism.

Bernie Williams is of the latter type, which is why his decline has been so precipitous. He never had the instincts, and now that he no longer has the speed, he can't compensate. And no, you really can't teach that.