Junior joking is a good sign

[missionhockey21]

Junior joking is a good sign
Outfielder may return Friday
By John Erardi
Enquirer staff writer

Ken Griffey Jr. was kidding around - that's the first good sign the injury of his right foot may not be too serious - with teammate Sean Casey before Monday's game.

"Hey, I can out-run you, 'Case,' " Griffey chirped.

"You're playin' then?" Casey asked.

"No, I can run, but I can't stop," Griffey answered, grinning.

Which, in fact, is a pretty good description of the nature of the injury Griffey suffered in Sunday's game in Atlanta when he strained a tendon in his foot coming around second base.

Once Griffey gets going, he can run, but it's getting started and turning a corner - and, yes, stopping - that are the problems. No. 30 was out of the lineup Monday, and likely will be out of it again today, but maybe after that he can give it a try, said Reds medical director Dr. Tim Kremchek. That, though, is up to Reds management. It might wait until Friday, just to give Griffey two more games off and the regular off day Thursday.

These type injuries can be kind of touchy, Kremchek said. Nobody's going to run Griffey back out there unless they're sure.

But one thing is sure: There aren't many Griffey critics out there. Not given the year he's had following season-ending surgery on August 16, 2004, to repair a complete tear of his right hamstring. Kremchek re-attached the tendon to the bone with three screws.

All Griffey has done so far - including a slow April - is hit 35 home runs, knock in 92 runs and hit .301, to re-establish himself as one of the game's elite players. Monday's game was the first one he has missed this season because of injury.

Turns out Griffey must have had a premonition he was going to have a good year, despite the uncertainty of his surgery.

During spring training, Griffey made Kremchek promise him that if Griffey hit 50 home runs, the good doctor would shave his head right down to the skin and go with the bald head-and-sideburns look made famous by NBA star Shaquille O'Neal.

Kremchek thought it over a moment or two and then told Griffey, "OK, you're on."

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[Geki Ace]

Kremchek would look awesome like that. I've met him a few times since my grandpa was a pharmaceutical consultant for Searle/Pfizer, so he dealt with Kremchek a lot and got some nice tickets. The good 'ole yellow seats at Cinergy. Those were my favorite anyways, since they were always in the shade.

[theFatty]

I remember the yellow seats. They were the only padded seats I believe. Also my favorite.

[CincyRedsFan30]

Yellow seats: where I sat for my first Reds game back at the beginning of the 1990 season.

Little did I know that later in the season I would experience not only my first World Series game ever, but one of the best games ever.

[redsrbetter]

That would be hilarious. Kremcheck would look ridiculous like that. Too bad its not likely Griffey will get to 50 though. Otherwise, we would be picture hunting the day he got it.