Griffey, Giambi comeback players
Ken Griffey Jr. would have retired this year if a hamstring injury had left him less than elite.
The Cincinnati outfielder said Thursday that he wasn’t sure he’d be able to play baseball at a high level after his major hamstring surgery in August 2004. Griffey tore his right hamstring from the bone and had it reattached with three screws – an uncommon operation for an athlete.
The 35-year-old Griffey proved he’s still one of the best when he’s healthy, batting .301 with 35 homers and 92 runs batted in this season. His return from four years of serious injuries earned him the National League’s comeback player of the year award in an online vote sponsored by baseball.
The New York Yankees’ Jason Giambi won the American League’s award for his comeback from problems including an inflamed knee, a respiratory infection, an intestinal parasite and a benign pituitary tumor.
“I didn’t really think about trying to prove to anybody that I could still play this game,” Griffey said. “It was more or less proving to myself that I could still go out and compete at a high level. … I felt if I couldn’t do that I would just go home and not waste anybody’s time.”
Macha, Tracy are Bucs candidates
Former Oakland manager Ken Macha, whose teams won 275 games the last three seasons despite one of the league’s smallest payrolls, is expected to meet in the next couple of days with Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Dave Littlefield.
Littlefield said he also expects to schedule a meeting with former Los Angeles Dodgers manager Jim Tracy, who was the clear front-runner for the Pirates’ job until Macha unexpectedly entered the picture when the A’s let him go.
Around the majors
New York investor Stuart Sternberg took control of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays from founding owner Vince Naimoli, promising better days for a franchise that’s finished last in seven of its eight seasons. The first big move was to fire general manager Chuck LaMar. … Boston closer Keith Foulke underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee.