PITTSBURGH — Reds medical director Dr. Tim Kremchek examined Ken Griffey Jr. again Wednesday, and his diagnosis remains: rehabilitation, no surgery, out three to six weeks.

        “Junior has a full range of motion, and after examining him today I am convinced he is right on target to return in three to six weeks,” Kremchek said. “There was vast improvement since Sunday.”

HOW IT HAPPENED

        Griffey suffered a partially torn patella tendon in his right knee when he slipped on the grass during a rundown in Sunday's game against the Montreal Expos at Cinergy Field.

        An MRI taken Sunday was sent to surgeon Dr. James Andrews, who supported Kremchek's diagnosis.

        “At this point, a return to play in three to six weeks is not unrealistic,” Andrews said.

        The critical issue is whether to treat the injury with surgery, which would cause Griffey to miss the rest of the season.

        Griffey remains in Cincinnati for rehab twice a day.

        Both Griffey's agent, Brian Goldberg, and Reds general manager Jim Bowden said there is nothing to the reports about Griffey wanting to return to the Seattle Mariners.

        Keith Olbermann reported it on foxsports.com Tuesday, and there was a column in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer on the same subject.

        “I think Olbermann's source was the same one that said Bob Huggins was going to West Virginia,” Goldberg said, referring to erroneous reports about the University of Cincinnati basketball coach.

        Bowden said he has had no discussions with Seattle about Griffey.

        “Our plan is for Junior to finish his career with the Reds,” Bowden said.

Griffey won't need surgery Reds 8, Pirates 5 Reds Notebook: Griffey injury yields new lineup Box, runs Bonds's double beat Dodgers in 9th Padres 2, Diamondbacks 1 Cardinals 6, Brewers 5 Mariners 8, Angels 1

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