9-News: 36.058 – Will Ginn Stick This Time?

[RonCo]

Youthful outfielder John Ginn came to the Nine last season is a three-way deal with Louisville and Des Moines, but he never really got comfortable. A brief stint on the opening day roster concluded when it became obvious the 22-year-old wasn’t hitting.

A few injuries later, the kid was brought up this week, and had a solid day, beating out an infield hit, and roping a pair of line drive to right for a second and third hit. His perfect 3-for-3 day raised his major league average to .218 (which says something for how bad the first stint was all by itself).

His glove has been solid, though, and some are wondering whether this is his moment—has the young hot-head had enough time to mature into the hitter everyone thinks he can be.

“That would be great,” said manager Bret Richards. “We all know he can do it, and we really need a guy who can mash lefties like he could. We’ll see what happens.”

Richards had no comment when asked if tensions between Ginn and hitting coach William Campbell had anything to do with the outfielder’s difficulties. Rumor have been flying that Ginn’s propensity for brash outbursts rub the more traditional Campbell the wrong way. “It’s a culture clash,” said faux podcaster Melissa Lester in the latest edition of Nine-Talk. “Ginn is probably a couple years younger between the ears than he is on his birth certificate, and Campbell is one of those guys who likes their players to be quiet and let their bats talk for them. To Campbell, you don’t get to brag until you’ve got something to brag about.”

“I just need to be respected,” Ginn has said at several times.

Still, the team has an investment in Ginn, and as Richards said, they need a right handed bat to step up and play.

Now’s the time, it seems. Respect or none, Ginn needs to show what he can do.

[Lane]

If Mike Manning can be a useful player, Ginn should have no problem.

[ae37jr]

Is there any truth to the rumor that Mike Manning and Mikki Manning-McNeil are siblings?