By John Fay
Enquirer staff writer

Dr. Tim Kremchek has been the Reds' team doctor since 1997. But it has been since Ken Griffey Jr. arrived in 2000 that Kremchek has become a household name - at least with Reds fans.

When Griffey gets hurt, Kremchek gets blamed - at least by fans.

"When you treat high-profile people, you're in the spotlight," Kremchek said. "Sometimes, it's pretty hot."

But Kremchek is confident he has done everything he can to prevent Griffey's injuries and get him back strong from them.

"I take the criticism head-on," Kremchek said. "Is it my fault he gets hurt? No. Have we done everything we can to prevent his injuries? Yes. Junior has worked with people from Nike and people who deal with Olympic sprinters since he had his first hamstring injury (in 2001)."

By the time this year is over, Griffey will have spent 275 days on the disabled list in his Reds tenure.

But Kremchek points out that the injuries have been different.

"If it had been the same injury and I wasn't getting him back on the field, then point the finger at me," Kremchek said.

Griffey's agent, Brian Goldberg, said Griffey has no problem with the treatment Kremchek has provided.

"Heck, no," Goldberg said. "Kenny has total confidence in Tim's procedure and rehab programs. That's never been an issue. If people are questioning Tim, that's unfortunate."

The Reds are also happy with Kremchek.

"Absolutely," chief operating officer John Allen said. "We're very pleased. He's the hardest-working guy around. He's always here."

Part of the reason Kremchek gets heat is the episode from 2001 when then-general manager Jim Bowden said Kremchek "misdiagnosed" Griffey's hamstring injury. Bowden later apologized.

"We elected not to do surgery then, and knock on wood, he hasn't had a problem with the left hamstring again," Kremchek said.

The Reds have a contract with Kremchek - Allen would not say how long it runs - but players are free to get second opinions from other doctors. Few do.

"When I first got here, everyone was running to (Dr.) Jim Andrews in Birmingham," Kremchek said. "You don't see that happening anymore."