Mariners Update: A Conversation With The Legendary Dave Niehaus
Oct 29, 2009, 4:55 PM | Updated: Apr 4, 2011, 7:55 pm
Today, I had the chance to chat with greatness, in the one and only Dave Niehaus. There were a lot of things I wanted to talk to him about in the world of Major League Baseball, but first things first – I had to get to the Mariners.
I asked Dave if he thought Ken Griffey Jr. would come back next year, after this season and knee surgery, to which he replied, “I think ultimately, the decision will be left up to his wife.”
This year was an unbelievable turnaround for the Mariners, and, being a man who spent every game with the team, he would have the answer as to how they were able to do it. Simply put, he said, “Chemistry – you either have it or you don’t. This club had it this year, and last year, it did not.”
Looking ahead to next season, I also was curious as to how the M’s will fill some big gaps left this year. According to Dave, there’s a lot they to get done. “This year they’re going to have to replace Adrian Beltre at 3rd base – that’s going to be a huge hole there. You’ve got the whole left side of your infield to worry about. They’d probably want Branyan to be their DH and find another first-baseman.”
I was also curious about Kenji Johjima’s decision to leave with two years left on his contract – was he surprised? “Not really. He has a lot more stature in Japan than he ever had here. He never really blossomed into the player the Mariners thought he would be.”
On to the World Series, I wanted to know what he thought would happen in the remainder the games. “Before the series started, I picked the Yankees in 6 because of their bullpen – with a pitcher like Cliff Lee, you don’t even need a bullpen. He was unbelievable, and he looked like he was having fun. So I’ll have to change that a bit.”
Dave also appreciates the series because he gets to watch former Mariners go head-to-head, in Raul Ibanez and Alex Rodriguez. Though the Phillies are looking good right now, he said, “A-Rod will go down as the greatest baseball player that ever lived.”
What do you think happens in the remainder of the World Series? What about the Mariners next season? Leave it below!
