A day after being diagnosed with a potentially season-ending knee injury, Ken Griffey Jr. saw improvement and expressed his intention to return ahead of schedule.

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        Reds medical director Tim Kremchek said Griffey was upbeat Monday as he began a twice-a-day schedule of rehab sessions.

        “He was feeling better; his spirits are better,” Kremchek said. “He said he was determined to get back and help this team early in the season.”

        Griffey was diagnosed with a “30- to 40-percent” tear of the patella tendon in his right knee, Kremchek said. Kremchek talked to famed orthopedist James Andrews of Birmingham, Ala., and said Andrews agreed with Kremchek's plan to try to treat Griffey without surgery, which if successful would mean he'd miss three to six weeks.

        “The swelling's down, the pain is (lesser); his motion's good,” Kremchek said of Griffey. “I'm even more optimistic today that we can do this without surgery.”

HOW IT HAPPENED

        Griffey couldn't be reached for comment Monday.

        Initial reports that his kneecap was dislocated were incorrect, Kremchek said, though he said the tendon would have been the key factor either way.

        Dr. Frank Noyes, chairman of the Cincinnati Sportsmedicine and Orthopaedic Center, said patella tendon tears and ruptures are very common sports injuries. In 1999, 130,000 tears to the patella or quadriceps tendon were diagnosed, he said.

Griffey's outlook better; no surgery for now Mateo will get chance while Griffey's out Pirates 1, Reds 0 Box, runs Reds Notebook: Larkin should be back Wednesday Pirates on best start since 1983

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