Out of the blue

Note: Congratulations to all the graduates of the Class of 2010. I can still remember my graduation day 15 years ago, though it’s a bit foggy now. May you approach all your future endeavors with an ever-present smile, undying spirit and selfless determination. Also, I’m kicking myself for failing to mention our veterans last week as Memorial Day approached as my thoughts were with my late brother’s family on the anniversary of his death. I have nothing but respect and heart-felt gratitude to all those who have served and are serving this country in uniform. I hope everyone had a superb Memorial Day.

The Kid retired Wednesday. Boy, that makes me feel old. I’m speaking of course of the sublime Ken Griffey Jr., who at the age of 41 in the midst of a series with the Minnesota Twins, hung up his spikes for the final time, retiring from the team with which he started his sensational career, the Seattle Mariners.

He came to the majors shortly after graduating from high school as a fresh-faced 19-year-old, hat on backwards, his smile lighting up stadiums across America. I remember my buddy Lance emulating the young star, wearing his cap Griffey-style, his number 24 and playing center field. You couldn’t help but love The Kid, who reminded me of a young Kirby Puckett, playing the game with that same infectious joy. He was Torii Hunter before Torii Hunter in center field, making spectacular catches and crashing into fences with abandon.

Hands down, Griffey Jr. was the best player in baseball in the 1990s. From 1989 through 2000, he smacked 438 home runs and seemed a sure thing to be the one to take a run at Hank Aaron’s hallowed 755. But injuries derailed that quest as he only hit 192 dingers over the second half of his career. He still finished No. 5 on the alltime home run list with 630, and one can only wonder what might have been could he have stayed healthy.

Griffey Jr. retired exactly 75 years to the day after Babe Ruth, one of only three players ahead of him on the all-time homer list, called it quits. There is talk that Junior, like the Babe, was forced out by his team, both of their skills diminished. But the diminishing returns that defined the end of his career (as well as his supposed clubhouse nap) will ultimately be overshadowed by the brilliance of the prime of his career as well as the purity of its entirety.

He is without doubt a first-ballot Hall of Famer, and a diamond in the rough that was baseball’s Steroid Era. Junior will always be remembered for his sweet swing, untainted unlike contemporary sluggers Alex Rodriguez, Mark McGwire, Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa, Rafael Palmeiro and Jason Giambi. A-Rod could ultimately surpass Bonds to be No. 1 of all-time, but both their accomplishments will be forever fouled. Rodriguez would have been better served to emulate Griffey Jr., his mentor when he came up as a teenager with the Mariners as well.

Griffey Jr. never reached a World Series in his career, but he won an AL MVP in 1997 and single-handedly saved baseball in Seattle. His final hit was fittingly a game-winning RBI single in a pinch-hit appearance two weeks ago.

Baseball will go on without The Kid. It just won’t be as fun.

SAFE?!?

Never before in baseball’s modern era had two pitchers twirled a perfect game in the same season. That is until May, when two pitchers, Oakland’s Dallas Braden and Philadelphia’s Roy Halladay completed perfection in the same month. And against astronomical odds, Detroit’s Armando Galarraga was on his way to a perfect game of his own Wednesday when umpire Jim Joyce inexplicably blew a call at first base on the 27th batter at the game. The play wasn’t even close on a roller to the first baseman to the pitcher covering, beating the runner by a step.

The aftermath, however, shows sportsmanship still exists in sports. Galarraga smiled after the missed call, went back to the mound and finished off the shutout, and while disappointed, was diplomatic after the game. Joyce was distraught after seeing the replay. “I just cost that kid a perfect game.” The veteran ump then sought out the young pitcher and apologized. In a great gesture, the Tigers sent Galarraga out with the lineup card for Thursday’s game to give to Joyce, who was behind the plate. Joyce was visibly moved, in tears, before the first pitch.

It was just another bad call in a long line of bad calls which seemed to start in last year’s Twins-Yankees series. (The Twins were also victimized by a call in extra innings later Wednesday evening.) Umpiring seems to be at its low ebb. Already baseball has instituted instant replays to review home runs. Does Joyce’s call to cost a perfect game mean the use of replay will be expanded? It’s a touchy issue as baseball games are long-running as it is, and umpires have always been a human element in the classic game. I’m torn on this issue. But I’m happy with how both parties handled the latest fiasco.

PREDICTION

I wasn’t very spot-on with my spring sports predictions. Only one of the four teams I picked to reach the NBA Finals and Stanley Cup Finals - the Chicago Blackhawks - actually made it. But if I had picked with my heart as I usually do, I would have had my guy KG and the Celtics winning the NBA Finals. So better late than never, I’ll go with Boston over L.A. in six games in what promises to be a classic NBA Finals. The difference? The matchup problems presented by Rajon Rondo and Ray Allen (Kobe will have to guard one of them), a superior Celtics bench, and the best half court defense in the league. Bryant and the Lakers may be the popular pick to win their second straight title, but this writer disagrees. (Then again, see my previous predictions.)

Until next time…

Brian Miller is a longtime local sports writer and the co-founder of iSportsNorth. He currently resides in Eveleth and can be reached at miller24bri@gmail.com.