Author Topic: Griffey Jr. Done for Season (Read 139 times)

Perfection · « **on:** July 18, 2003, 07:06:54 AM »

Thursday, July 17
Updated: July 18, 9:41 AM ET

Oft-injured Reds center fielder hurt again
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Associated Press

CINCINNATI -- Ken Griffey Jr.'s season is over, cut short by another major injury.

The 11-time All-Star ruptured a tendon in his right ankle Thursday night while running out a double after pausing at the plate as if he thought his drive to left field would be a home run.

Junior's Injury File
Cincinnati
2003
July 17 -- Ruptured right ankle tendon.
April 5-May 15 -- Dislocated right shoulder.

2002
June 24-July 22 -- Strained right hamstring.
April 6-May 25 -- Partial tear of patella tendon in right knee and partially dislocated right kneecap.

2001
April 29-June 15 -- Partial tear of left hamstring.

2000
Sept. 11-end of season -- Partial tear of left hamstring.

Seattle
1996
June 19-July 13 -- Broken hamate bone in right wrist.
1995
May 26-Aug. 15 -- Two broken bones in left wrist.
1992
June 9-25 -- Sprained ligament in right wrist.
1989
July 24-Aug. 20 -- Broken bone in right hand.
-- The Associated Press

Griffey had to speed up and was hurt just after rounding first base in the sixth inning of the Cincinnati Reds' 5-4 loss to the Houston Astros. The center fielder will have surgery Friday.

"Obviously, it's devastating. It's a shame. He's heartbroken," Reds general manager Jim Bowden said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press. "I talked to Junior earlier, and I told him that we're all praying for him."

Once thought to be a threat to break Hank Aaron's record of 755 career homers, Griffey has dropped from the game's elite because of injuries. He hit .247 with 26 RBI in 53 games this season.

Griffey had been bothered by a sore tendon for about a week and was getting treatment before games.

"The MRI was very clear. The tendon was torn," Bowden said. "There was no alternative but to surgically repair it."

Griffey, 33, hit 13 home runs this year, raising his career total to 481. He had 438 homers through 2000, hitting 40 or more in seven of his previous eight seasons.

But since then, he has hit just 43 and has gone on the disabled list six times.

After 11 seasons with Seattle, he forced a trade in February 2000 to his hometown Reds -- the team his father helped win World Series titles in 1975 and 1976.

Griffey hit 40 homers during his first season in Cincinnati, but his production worsened along with his health.

"With all the work he's put in to be healthy and play for his teammates and the fans of Cincinnati -- obviously, it's very disappointing," Bowden said.

Going into Thursday's game, Griffey had homered in the last five games in which he had an at-bat.

"It's a shame," Cincinnati manager Bob Boone said before the extent of the injury was known. "He was just starting to get his swing back. He was ready to take off."

Reached later, Boone said he wouldn't comment until Friday.

Reds assistant trainer Mark Mann said Griffey told him "as he was rounding first, he felt it pop."

Griffey will have surgery Friday at The Good Samaritan Hospital, the Reds said, with team physician Dr. Timothy Kremchek and foot and ankle specialist Dr. James Amis operating. Griffey formally will go on the 15-day disabled list Friday.

Cincinnati said he also will have arthroscopic reconstructive surgery on his right shoulder in about two weeks. He dislocated the shoulder April 5 while diving for a ball and was on the disabled list until May 12.

Injuries to both legs and his right shoulder have caused Griffey to miss 140 games since the 2000 season, including 33 this year.

Earlier Thursday, Reds outfielder Austin Kearns went on the DL, retroactive to July 9, because of an inflamed right rotator cuff, an injury that has bothered him since a May 21 collision at the plate with Atlanta's Ray King.

Cincinnati said it planned to recall right-hander Jose Acevedo and outfielder Ruben Mateo from Triple-A Louisville on Friday. The Reds also scheduled right-hander Scott Sullivan to have an MRI of his sore right shoulder.

"It's tough to take Kearns and Griffey, our 3 and 4 hitters, out of the lineup," Bowden said. "They'd been our two best hitters, but they'd both been playing with injuries all year. Mateo has been playing well. I can tell by all the GMs who have called wanting to trade for him."

pappy · « **Reply #1 on:** July 18, 2003, 12:51:23 PM »

i was goin post this last night. i feel bad for him now. he gets injured an everytime he starts to get back to griff of old he gets injured. atleast he veoted that trade to the mets back when he was on the M's

Mr.Pac-Man · « **Reply #2 on:** July 18, 2003, 04:53:01 PM »

poor griffey.....he starts up then he gets injured every damn time!!!

Perfection · « **Reply #3 on:** July 18, 2003, 05:04:45 PM »

The Reds will trade him in the offseaon.

pappy · « **Reply #4 on:** July 18, 2003, 06:51:02 PM »

Quote from: The French Dibbler on July 18, 2003, 05:04:45 PM

The Reds will trade him in the offseaon.

only way the reds unload griffey is if they eat a LARGE portion on his contract

Perfection · « **Reply #5 on:** July 18, 2003, 07:14:11 PM »

Quote from: Read my fuckin topics you moderchod on July 18, 2003, 06:51:02 PM

Quote from: The French Dibbler on July 18, 2003, 05:04:45 PM
The Reds will trade him in the offseaon.
only way the reds unload griffey is if they eat a LARGE portion on his contract

The almost traded him to the Padres during the offseason, but Phil Nevin the guy who the Reds wanted, rejected the deal. So Griffey stayed with the Reds instead of going to San Diego.