Griffey limping on familiar ground
Ken Griffey Jr. walked slowly and carefully on Tuesday, a day after he dislocated a toe on his right foot while trying to make a catch. He was out of the Cincinnati Reds’ lineup, and had no guess about when he might be back.
Asked if this injury could linger, Griffey said, “It shouldn’t.”
“Right now, we’re just waiting for the swelling to go down,” he said. “That’s it.”
It’s the first time that the 36-year-old outfielder has dislocated a toe. He jammed his cleats into the padded outfield wall as he reached for Barry Bonds’ two-run homer in the eighth inning Monday night.
He limped off the field, and a doctor popped the toe back into place.
The injury was the latest in a series of setbacks for the Reds, who were less than a percentage point out of first place in the N.L. Central before going into a 1-8 slump on a West Coast trip.
Griffey had been on a tear heading into that trip, hitting safely in 15 consecutive games. Overall, Griffey is batting .251 with 26 homers and 69 RBIs.
Wilson eases loss of key players
The extended absences of Jim Edmonds and David Eckstein could have been a lot more painful for the St. Louis Cardinals if not for Preston Wilson.
He’s supplied a dose of power while the Cardinals wait for Edmonds to return from post-concussion syndrome. Wilson’s combination of speed and pop has also made for a compelling leadoff option while Eckstein recuperates from a strained side muscle.
“I like the way he’s going about it,” Tony La Russa said. “He’s into it. That’s kind of what you’re looking for.”
Signed by St. Louis after he was released by Houston, Wilson has helped the Cardinals rebuild a comfortable lead in the N.L. Central without two of their All-Stars.
The Cardinals got Wilson, 32, for a bargain-basement price – while hoping he can regain the form that produced an N.L. RBIs title in 2003. Given the uncertainty surrounding Edmonds – he didn’t accompany the team on its seven-game trip while hoping rest will clear up his symptoms – they’ll be counting on Wilson.
The free-swinging Wilson had eight RBIs in his first 13 games with the Cardinals.
Johjima named to MLB squad
New York Mets infielders David Wright and Jose Reyes will lead a team of major leaguers on an exhibition tour of Japan in November, MLB officials said.
Ryan Howard of the Philadelphia Phillies was also named as a member of the select team that will play five games in Japan from Nov. 3-8 against players from Japanese baseball.
Kenji Johjima of the Seattle Mariners and Tadahito Iguchi of the Chicago White Sox were also among the list of eight players named.
The remainder of the major league squad will be announced at a later date.
Reds pursue pitching help
The Cincinnati Reds acquired right-handed pitcher Sun-Woo Kim and cash from the Colorado Rockies for future considerations.
Kim, 29, was 0-0 with a 19.29 ERA in six relief appearances for Colorado this season. In 2005, he was a combined 6-3, with a 4.90 ERA in 24 games with Washington and Colorado. Kim continues the Reds’ relentless quest for pitching help, as they slide back in the N.L. wild card and Central Division races. In two months, they have traded for seven pitchers on the current roster, along with an eighth, closer Eddie Guardado, who’s now on the disabled list.