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Griffey thinks fans understood his rant Posted: Wednesday May 08, 2002 8:05 PM
CINCINNATI (AP) -- Ken Griffey Jr. had another ache Wednesday -- a sore calf that turned purple after he got plunked in batting practice. He also had peace of mind about how his angry comments this week have been received by hometown fans. The Cincinnati Reds outfielder criticized fans and the media in a diatribe Monday about how he's been treated since his homecoming in 2000. He cited a television station's poll and negative comments his family has heard at games. There were several pro-Griffey banners at Cinergy Field the next night, and radio talk-show callers took up his cause during two days of rehashing his comments. "I think a lot of people understand where I was coming from," Griffey said after taking batting practice. "It wasn't like I was ripping every fan." Griffey directed most of his criticism at a television station's unscientific poll asking which player should be benched when he's healthy enough to play again. Griffey was one of the four choices and was picked by 74 percent of those voting. He hasn't played since he tore the patella tendon in his right knee on April 7. The Reds are hoping he'll be back sometime in the next few weeks. "The timing of the poll is what set me off more than anything," he said. "If I was playing and not doing anything, then I could see it. But not having the chance to defend myself and prove to people that I can play, that makes it tough. "I haven't played in a month and here's a poll that says if he comes back, he should be sitting. My thing is, if it was Barry Bonds, would they do a poll? No." After Griffey was hurt, the Reds surged into first place in the NL Central. Griffey said the focus should be on how well the team is doing, not on who should sit when he returns. "I don't think anybody should be negative when you're in first place," Griffey said. Unlike on Monday, when his words spilled out with an angry edge, Griffey was in a playful mood Wednesday. He even had fun with his latest setback -- a nasty bruise on his calf. Griffey was among the Reds hitters taking batting practice Tuesday against reliever Jose Silva, who is recovering from elbow surgery. One of Silva's fastballs hit him in the left calf, causing a bruise that made him forget about the right knee. He had the calf wrapped Wednesday. "The pain's gone from my right leg. It transferred to my left leg," he joked. Griffey can run, but the right knee bothers him when he slows down. He was supposed to run in the outfield during a three-game series against the Brewers, but three days of heavy rain made the grass slick and made him wait. "I'm going to run as soon as the field dries up a little bit," he said. "Every time I get a date to run, it rains -- or I get hit by a pitch." Weather permitting, he'll run on the field during a weekend series against St. Louis at Cinergy Field. If the knee feels good, he'll accompany the team on an eight-game trip to Milwaukee and St. Louis and could be activated at some point. "I would like to take him," manager Bob Boone said. "I would hope he's close enough." |
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