Monday, May 20, 2002
Reds Notebook:
Griffey needs more time
By John Fay jfay@enquirer.com
The Cincinnati Enquirer
ST. LOUIS — Sunday marked six weeks since Ken Griffey Jr. injured his right knee. You don't have to check the box score to know if he was in the lineup against the St. Louis Cardinals.
When Griffey tore his patella tendon on April 7, the prognosis was that he would be out three to six weeks. One reason he has gone beyond that is because the Reds are being extra cautious. Another reason is that while Griffey continues to progress, he still has some soreness in his knee.
“He's still got some tenderness,” Reds medical director Dr. Tim Kremchek said. “We upped his jumping. He's running, jumping, doing all the things he has to. But it's a little sore.”
Kremchek said the earliest Griffey could return is for the three-game series in Atlanta, which begins Friday.
“But that's not definite,” Kremchek said.
HAMILTON THROWS: Right-hander Joey Hamilton threw off the mound Sunday for the first time since he pulled his left hamstring on May 7. If Hamilton has no ill effects from the session, he'll throw for Reds pitching coach Don Gullett during the team's three-game homestand, which begins Tuesday.
“I talked to (general manager) Jim (Bowden) and he said Joey did well,” Boone said.
Hamilton is eligible to come off the 15-day disabled list on Wednesday.
“We'll see how he feels after throwing,” Kremchek said. “But his hamstring is healing up real nice.”
Hamilton's next turn in the rotation is Friday. Right-hander Jose Acevedo has been starting in Hamilton's spot, but Acevedo's performance Sunday — 4 1/3innings, five runs, six hits — indicates he is probably not long for the rotation.
“I don't know,” Boone said. “We'll take a couple days to digest it.”
KEARNS RESTS: Outfielder Austin Kearns was given Sunday off after going 0-for-5 with three strikeouts Saturday.
“His first tough day,” Boone said. “I'm going to let him think about it.”
Boone was kidding. He's trying to rest all his regulars during the current 17-day stretch without a day off.
FIRST IN SECOND: Adam Dunn batted second for the first time this year Sunday. With Kearns out of the lineup, Juan Encarnacion hit fourth, instead of second.
It was Encarnacion's first time hitting fourth, and it was Corky Miller's first time hitting seventh.
REPAIR WORK: Miller spent a lot of time in the clubhouse before Sunday's game with a sewing kit out. He was trying to rescue his catcher's mitt, which is rapidly falling apart.
“It'll be all right,” he said.
MORE MILLER: Miller has a fan in Jose Rijo. Miller has been Rijo's personal catcher since the right-hander joined the rotation on April 21.
“All that time, I've only had to check him three times,” Rijo said. “That was a forkball for a slider.”
Miller's scoop and dive to retire Edgar Renteria on a suicide-squeeze play was pivotal in Saturday's 7-3 win.
Said Rijo: “All he cares about is winning. You've got to love his attitude.”
The Reds are 11-4 when Miller starts.
FARM REPORT: At Single-A Dayton on Saturday, right-hander Seth Etherton pitched in his first game since 2000. Etherton, who has been rehabbing his shoulder since surgery in March 2001, threw one shutout inning, striking out two.
KNIGHT OUT: Reds bench coach Ray Knight was not at Sunday's game. He returned to Albany, Ga., to attend the high school graduation of his daughter Ashley.
Reds Stories
Tiger aims for fourth straight Memorial title
Memorial Field
Local U.S. Open qualifier today
U.S. Open Qualifier Tee Times
Indy field fastest ever
Mack second African-American in 500
Indianapolis 500 Lineup
Nets 104, Celtics 97
Ohio State to play Marshall in 2004
Coming Up This Week
Cincinnati High School Week
Cincinnati High School Schedule
N.Ky. High School Week Ahead
N.Ky. High School Schedule
• Return to Reds front page...
Reds Notebook: Griffey needs more time
