Saturday, June 15, 2002
Griffey's hamstring improving, so DL out for now
Reds notebook
By John Fay, jfay@enquirer.com
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Ken Griffey Jr. was out of the Reds' lineup Friday for the sixth straight game after mildly straining his right hamstring last week.
Reds manager Bob Boone said he hoped to have his center fielder back by Tuesday's home game with Seattle, Griffey's former team.
Griffey pinch hit for catcher Jason LaRue in the ninth inning Friday after Aaron Boone's solo homer tied the Reds' game with the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-3. Griffey walked on five pitches and was lifted for pinch runner Jimmy Haynes.
Griffey underwent an MRI Thursday when the Reds returned from their six-game road trip to Anaheim, Calif., and Arlington, Texas.
“It showed a little injury in the belly of the muscle,” Reds medical director Dr. Tim Kremchek said. “He's lucky he pulled up when he did, or he could have really injured it. He has good strength.”
Griffey is able to run at 60 to 70 percent.
“The good news is he says the patella tendon is 100 percent,” Kremchek said. “That isn't bothering him at all.”
A torn patella tendon in his right knee forced Griffey to miss 41 games earlier this season.
Boone said the Reds aren't likely to put Griffey on the disabled list.
“I don't think that's going to happen,” Boone said, “unless the leg doesn't respond. And, so far, it is.”
BRANYAN IN LEFT: Russell Branyan started in left field Friday after starting at third base Wednesday.
The Reds' original lineup had Branyan at first base, a position he has never played in the big leagues.
“That was a mixup,” Boone said. “He came in (my office) sweating.”
Outfielder Adam Dunn was switched to first and Branyan to left.
“He's an adequate outfielder,” Boone said of Branyan. “He's not as fast as Adam.”
TAYLOR MADE: Boone is pleased with the way outfielder Reggie Taylor has played in his limited role. Taylor is hitting .247 with three home runs and 13 RBI in 81 at-bats.
“He's got much more power than we thought,” Boone said. “His home runs are legit. He can really jump on a pitch.”
Taylor has made himself more valuable by cutting down on his strikeouts.
“We had a session with him after a game,” Boone said. “We talked about getting in hitting position. It really clicked.”
The numbers back that up. Taylor struck out 16 times in his first 42 at-bats, but he has whiffed just five times in his last 39.
“I wish I could get him in there more,” Boone said.
STINNETT UPDATE: Catcher Kelly Stinnett's pulled groin muscle was so sore the Reds gave him the weekend off from rehab.
Stinnett injured the groin muscle while rehabbing his right elbow at Triple-A Louisville.
FARM REPORT: Right-hander Seth Etherton made his first start at Triple-A Louisville on Thursday. He went 2 1/3 innings and allowed four runs (two earned) on three hits.
UP NEXT: The Reds play the Pirates in the second game of the three-game series 7:10 p.m. Right-hander Joey Hamilton (3-4, 5.16 ERA) faces right-hander Kip Wells (8-3, 3.27)
Reds Stories
Ky: Colonels state champs
All-Stars: Kentucky 31, Tennessee 14
DAUGHERTY: Chalk up another Woods win
Flesch pleased with himself
It's not supposed to be this hard
Long Bethpage gets even longer in the rain
Tiger a mismatch on rainy Black Course
Sorenstam leads Evian Masters
U.S. team joins Korea, Japan, Belgium in second round
World Cup TV schedule
Speedway officials hope for big crowd
Polesitting Riggs happy as a father
Unser sheds weight, image
Da Matta shows rivals ad for Newman's new flick
Hewitt, Henman in semis
Jarrett continues surge by winning Michigan pole
Georgia Tech's Bakker too much for S. Carolina
Red Wings got it from Day 1
Broadnax, Team Cincinnati set for Hoop-It-Up tourney
Coming up this week
• Return to Reds front page...
Griffey's hamstring improving, so DL out for now
