Baseball Guru
08-31-2001, 04:27 PM
By R.B. FALLSTROM
AP Sports Writer
August 30, 2001, 6:12 PM EDT
ST. LOUIS -- Tony Gwynn will have surgery after the season _ his last as a player -- to repair torn cartilage in his right knee.
"All the years, it's my left knee that bothered me," the eight-time NL batting champion said Thursday. "This year, it's my right knee. I'm going to have surgery in October so I can coach pain-free."
The San Diego Padres outfielder wants to become head baseball coach at San Diego State after he retires next month.
Gwynn likely will be limited to pinch-hitting for the remainder of the season. He hit a broken-bat grounder to the mound in the fourth on Thursday and is 10-for-25 in that role with five doubles and seven RBIs.
"Right now, the way it feels, I'm not expecting to start anymore," Gwynn said. "Pinch hit and finish it out. But, miracles happen. Right now, I don't see it, but anything can happen."
Gwynn, who played in his final game at Busch Stadium, got a standing ovation before and after his pinch-hit appearance. He tipped his helmet on his way off the field and waved to the crowd.
He also got a standing ovation before grounding out to first as a pinch hitter on Wednesday. And the fans booed when he was on the on-deck circle and then pulled back earlier in that game.
"These people have treated me great," Gwynn said. "But it's got to end sometime.
"You'd love to go out with a hit, but (Matt) Morris got in my kitchen, broke my bat."
Copyright © 2001, The Associated Press
AP Sports Writer
August 30, 2001, 6:12 PM EDT
ST. LOUIS -- Tony Gwynn will have surgery after the season _ his last as a player -- to repair torn cartilage in his right knee.
"All the years, it's my left knee that bothered me," the eight-time NL batting champion said Thursday. "This year, it's my right knee. I'm going to have surgery in October so I can coach pain-free."
The San Diego Padres outfielder wants to become head baseball coach at San Diego State after he retires next month.
Gwynn likely will be limited to pinch-hitting for the remainder of the season. He hit a broken-bat grounder to the mound in the fourth on Thursday and is 10-for-25 in that role with five doubles and seven RBIs.
"Right now, the way it feels, I'm not expecting to start anymore," Gwynn said. "Pinch hit and finish it out. But, miracles happen. Right now, I don't see it, but anything can happen."
Gwynn, who played in his final game at Busch Stadium, got a standing ovation before and after his pinch-hit appearance. He tipped his helmet on his way off the field and waved to the crowd.
He also got a standing ovation before grounding out to first as a pinch hitter on Wednesday. And the fans booed when he was on the on-deck circle and then pulled back earlier in that game.
"These people have treated me great," Gwynn said. "But it's got to end sometime.
"You'd love to go out with a hit, but (Matt) Morris got in my kitchen, broke my bat."
Copyright © 2001, The Associated Press