This poor guy has the worst luck with injuries. Reds: Griffey Out for Season With Injury CINCINNATI - Ken Griffey Jr. (news) will miss the rest of the season after hurting his right ankle Thursday night, the latest in a string of major injuries for the former All-Star. The center fielder ruptured a tendon while running out a double in the sixth inning of the Cincinnati Reds (news)' 5-4 loss to the Houston Astros (news). Griffey stood at the plate for a moment, as if he thought his drive to left-center field would be a home run, and then he had to speed up. Griffey appeared to hurt himself as he rounded first base. He had been bothered by a sore tendon for about a week and had been getting treatment before games. The 33-year-old Griffey hit 13 home runs this year, raising his career total to 481 homers. He had 438 homers through 2000, hitting 40 or more in seven of his previous eight seasons and averaging 50 homers during a five-year span. But since then, he's hit just 43 homers and has gone on the disabled list seven times. 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. "He was just starting to get his swing back. He was ready to take off." 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 RBIs in 53 games for the Reds this season. 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 was placed on the 15-day disabled list. 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.
With Griffey's perpetual injury problems, it reminds me of Boselli's and Grant Hill's troubles. All of these guys, when healthy, are at the top of their respective positions. Who do you guys think has had the worst time trying to come back from injury ... Griffey, Boselli, Hill, or another elite player that cannot get a good break?
I think Hill and Griffey have had the hardest times comeing back because as soon as they begin to show improvement, something else happens. With Boselli it was one major injury that caused him to retire. No doubt Boselli is one of the greatest ever at his position but I would love to see what Hill or Griffey could've been if healthy for all these years.
I think clearly Griffey. Hill, prior to the injuries, was on his way to establishing himself as one of the better all around players in the NBA. Griffey was on his way to establishing himself as possibly the best all around player in the history of the game. And baseball's history is a much bigger mountain to climb than basketball's...really sad. Was never particularly a fan, but what a waste.
Terrible, hes been showing signs of his olds self lately also. I think the wisest thing he should is move over to the AL and become an DH and a occasional starter in centerfield. True, that this injury was on the base paths, but he needs to find ways to reduce the chance of a injury this wold help. I doubt well ever see the griffey of old, its really a shame too I believe if Griffey was not injury prone over the past 4 years than everything we're saying about Bonds, we would also be saying it about Griffey BTW Ken Griffey baseball on SNES was by far the funnest baseball game ever
That's a damn shame. Couldn't have happened to a better guy. It's funny that it happened as he show-boated to first thinking he hit a home run then once he realized he didn't he speed up an put himself out for the year. A classic way to go out for a true a-hole to the game. The Cinci fans did it right by booing him when he left the field.
did you all hear the boos when he started hobbling?? bill brown said that many reds fans believe his problems are mostly mental...and that he's never really worked at preparing his body for a 162 game season, particularly knowing his tendency to get hurt.
actually, brownie was quoting a reporter's opinion that had been in the paper that day. I think its more a case of bad luck for the guy. He's got the Penny Hardaway/Grant Hill syndrome. You think those guy's injuries were all mental? At least Griffey had a HOF career before this happened. I feel worse for the other two who were on the cusp of greateness, and never got there.
no...i don't think that. and you're right...i think it was a reporter he was quoting...but he certainly hears the boo-birds in his hometown, Cincy. question: if his career ended today, would Ken Griffey, Jr. make the Hall of Fame?
Call it karma, perhaps? Griffey was notorious for neglecting proper weight training and fitness regimens throughout his career in Seattle. Many coaches and teammates just couldn't believe how much he could do without any type of diet or exercise. Perhaps age has caught up to this lackadaisical approach to body maintenance? Either way, its just sad.
Very sad. I wish Griffey, Hill, and Boselli were all well and able to play their games. Not only were/are they great players but I have never heard anything bad on any of them so they're pretty good guys as well.
I think it's starting to get to the point where it actually deserves debate, but I still say yes. The fact that he's an 11 time all-star, the fact that he, at one time, was the best player possibly in baseball for a couple of years, and the fact that people thought he had a legit chance at catching Aaron at 755...I think these things won't be lost on the voters. Even he makes it, at this point, he'll be remembered as a player who had it all, and then it all seemed to slip away. Someone who was at the door of all-time greatness, and just like that, the door seemed to shut on him. I still think he's in, though.
i guess i'd have to compare his career numbers to date to other outfielders who are already in the hall.
Yeah real class act to boo someone who just got injured. I suppose the Philadelphia crowd was correct to cheer the injury that put an end to Michael Irvin's career also just because his on and off field antics. I'm a Philadelphia Eagle fan but I never wish bad luck, injury, or death on anybody and I certainly would not boo an injured player let alone Michael Irvin and I don't think anybody else should either.
lil pun -- i don't think they're were hoping he would be injured..i think they were booing because of his effort prior to coming up limping. jim deshaies talked about players not giving full effort and then hobbling around the basepaths acting as if they're injured. i think they were booing because they either suspected he was faking and using it an excuse for not hustling down the basepath...or because they felt his injury was brought on by his lack of hustle.
Well if that is the case then yeah I could understand them booing but Shady sitting there saying that it is good that he got injured is just wrong.
Damn this really sucks.... Dude has had the worst luck since coming over from Seatlle. I love to watch Griffey play, and really wanted to catch a 'stros game where I could watch him. He has the most natural sweet swing in baseball, and its a damn shame that we dont get to see it more often. There's always next year.... but he's getting into his mid 30's. His 1989 Upper Deck card is still worth $$$ though...
I wasn't aware of his poor conditioning. That would explain all the hamstring problems, back problems, and ruptured tendons. If Griffey was just a little bit more flexible and stretched more often, these injuries could easily have been avoided. I mean, they're mostly non-contact injuries.
