Impatient rookie owners and even some grizzled veterans get edgy this time of year as slumping stars test their owners patience. That frustration often prompts owners to make irrational decisions based on a small sampling of at-bats.
Wise owners are there to pick up the remains.
Among those slumping veterans, Ken Griffey Jr. is the most volatile and valuable. The Reds centerfielder tore a hamstring during spring training and hasn t played in the field since. The Reds put Griffey on the 15-day DL last week, though he isn t expected to return until at least early June. Griffey, who s hit 438 home runs during his 12-year career, has plenty of faults. His strike-zone judgment seems to deteriorate over time and he no longer is a threat to steal more than 10 bases a year.