CINCINNATI -- Ken Griffey Jr. went on the 15-day disabled
list Monday night after a test found inflammation in a tendon
behind his right knee.
"It's as much a precautionary thing. It's not anything serious. According to the doctor, he could be playing in a day or two, but we'd rather be safe at this time of year. "
Reds general manager Wayne Krivsky
The Cincinnati Reds center fielder missed his fifth straight
game with the injury, getting a magnetic resonance imaging test
instead. He was put on the DL after a 9-1 victory over the Florida Marlins.
"You don't want it to get worse," Dr. Timothy Kremchek said.
"The season's young. I think he's got peace of mind, and we've got
peace of mind."
Griffey ran on a treadmill for 12 minutes earlier Monday and
reported some improvement, but still felt tightness behind the
knee. He wasn't available in the clubhouse after he was placed on
the disabled list.
"It's as much a precautionary thing," general manager Wayne
Krivsky said. "It's not anything serious. According to the doctor,
he could be playing in a day or two, but we'd rather be safe at
this time of year."
The Reds are expected to activate catcher Jason LaRue before
Tuesday's game. LaRue has been on a minor league assignment while
recovering from knee surgery.
It's the latest in a series of setbacks for the 36-year-old
Griffey, who came to spring training healthy for a change and was
hoping to get through the season without a stay on the disabled
list.
Griffey didn't expect the injury to take so long to heal. He
first felt tightness behind the knee while he chased a fly ball
during batting practice last Wednesday in Chicago. He left the game
during the fourth inning because the leg was bothering him.
"It's tough," Griffey said, before Monday's game. "I hate to
not be playing, more than anything."
Griffey won the NL's comeback player of the year award last
season, when he played in 128 games and hit .301 with 35 homers and
92 RBI. He hadn't played more than 83 games in any of the three
previous seasons, when he suffered a series of major injuries --
torn knee tendon, dislocated shoulder, torn ankle tissue, torn
hamstring.
Griffey was healthy in spring training this year, and looked
sharp during the World Baseball Classic. He hit a pair of homers
before injuring the leg last week.
The series of setbacks taught Griffey the importance of being
patient while an injury heals.
"I think I understand a little more now," he said. "I still
have the same urge and desire to be out there."