Griffey Injured

This is terrible news.

For the past month, I have been like an addict, counting how many games Ken Griffey, Jr. plays for the Cincinnati Reds. Each night, I'd check ESPN to see if the Reds game was over and if Griffey played. He had a long stretch of games in early and mid-September, and he made it in all of those games. The closer he got to big numbers, the more I anticipated each game for him.

Why has this been a source of interest for me? Look at the following chart, since he joined the Reds in 2000:

Year Games Played

2000 145

2001 111

2002 70

2003 53

2004 83

2005 128

2006 109

2007 144

I have been eagerly anticipating him playing the most games this year for the Reds since joining the club. Games played is not in itself a crucial stat. But where Griffey is concerned, considering his history of injuries, the more games he racked up this year, the more it would signify, to me and others, that he has found a pace that suits him in his 37th year of life--and that he has remained injury-free all season, no simple task where he is concerned.

He was so close to breaking 145 games. He had already passed his 127 games of his rookie year (1989), 128 (2005, when he seemed on the mend), 142 (1992), and 140 (1996, when he hit 49 homers--his third-best year).

The switch to the less-demanding right field position (a move he detested) and pacing himself better have helped Griffey remain healthy all season long. Also, his pursuit of 600 home runs was a chase that people followed until the end of August, when it was clear he didn't have much of a chance of breaking that milestone.

Well, wait until next year.

Not only will Griffey not join the 600 club this season, but he is likely done for 2007. At 144 games. One shy of the most he has played since joining his hometown Reds 8 seasons ago.

He had little chance of getting close to the next series of most-games played--154 in 1991, 155 in 1990, and 156 in 1993. Given the number of games left in the season (about 10) before he was injured, coupled with the Reds' schedule against terrible teams (Houston and San Francisco), the Reds said they'd sit Griffey for several games starting today to give him rest and also see some of the young talent in the club. So, he would have likely ended 2007 with about 150 games played, which would have been the most he'd have played since 160 in 1999.

He also has not had an injury-free September since about 2000.

He has his day of rest today, but it's not the way anyone envisioned it coming about. It's just sad and disappointing for several reasons. Griffey should be a fixture of late-season baseball. He has been a marquee player before. But he'll never be a late summer/early fall phenom while with the Reds. We're entering the hottest stretch of the baseball calendar, and it's too bad that Griffey won't be making his mark along with the pennant races, single-season record chases, etc.
At least his injury wasn't to his groin or hamstring. Godspeed, Junior! I can't wait to see you in 2008. I plan on a road trip to Cincy to see you play in person.