Reds SS Gonzalez undergoes season-ending knee surgery

[_Sir_Charles_]

CINCINNATI -- Reds shortstop Alex Gonzalez had surgery on his left knee Monday, ending his season before he got to play a single game.



Team medical director Dr. Timothy Kremcheck performed the one-hour surgery and said Gonzalez could be ready for spring training next year.
The 31-year-old Gonzalez sustained a compression fracture at the start of spring training in February.
Cincinnati signed Gonzalez to a $14 million, three-year deal before last season. He missed 28 games in 2007 while attending to his ailing son and ended up batting .272 with 16 homers and 55 RBIs.
Reds outfielder Norris Hopper is scheduled for surgery on Tuesday to repair a torn ligament in his right elbow.


~for those of you who didn't see the news. Kinda expected, but still unfortunate.

[redsmetz]

I suspect Hopper will ultimately join Gonzalez on the 60 day DL, opening up one more spot on the 40 man roster. We're currently at 39.

[AmarilloRed]

Norris Hopper has probably played his last game this season:

CINCINNATI -- Norris Hopper's right elbow never got any better, and now his season is over.

The Reds outfielder will undergo season-ending reconstructive surgery on his right elbow on Tuesday after an MRI revealed a torn ulnar collateral ligament.

[WVRedsFan]

Sure hope the club had insurance on Gonzalez. What a waste of resources, whcih is always a danger.

[klw]

Team medical director Dr. Timothy Kremcheck performed the one-hour surgery and said Gonzalez could be ready for spring training next year.
e.

Interesting that they don't say "will be ready" or "is expected to be ready", "just could be ready." And where is the mandatory language that the operation was a success. (The medical story equivalent of a pitcher helping his own cause.)

[Highlifeman21]

So if Hopper's done for the year, does this mean we now have an excuse to not trade Freel?

I'm hoping we still trade Freel, FWIW.

[REDREAD]

So if Hopper's done for the year, does this mean we now have an excuse to not trade Freel?

I'm hoping we still trade Freel, FWIW.

I think Freel is pretty much toast for the entire year as well.

Didn't he have a setback where he completely tore the hamstring..

This is why the club has little choice but to keep Patterson around. We're awfully thin due to injuries.

[Always Red]

Norris Hopper has probably played his last game this season:

Hopper might be out until next All Star break. This injury usually takes a full year for a position player to recover from- and more for a pitcher. Remember when our old buddy Denorfia had this done last ST- and he was out until this ST.

Realistically, Norris Hopper may have played his last game of his Reds career.

[WVRedsFan]

Hopper might be out until next All Star break. This injury usually takes a full year for a position player to recover from- and more for a pitcher. Remember when our old buddy Denorfia had this done last ST- and he was out until this ST.

Realistically, Norris Hopper may have played his last game of his Reds career.

I agree. The odds are that Gonzo will never done a Reds uniform again. It's probably the same for Freel. I fully expect him to not make it back this season and to be traded over the winter. Maybe I'm just being optimistic for my own selfish reasons?

That means our outfield options are the starters, Dunn, Griffey, and Bruce, and the others--Patterson, Hairston, and maybe Votto. That means if we do trade Dunn and Griffey (or let them walk) the outfield is going to either be rookie city or we'll need to sign a free agent if the rooks are ready.

I can't imagine how awful this team will be offensively without a couple of powerful outfielders, but I fear we are about to find out.

[Blitz Dorsey]

"Could" be ready for spring training??? Nice job of misdiagnosing him when he was initially injured, Dr. Kremhack. Gonzalez should've had this surgery three months ago.

And yet another reminder of why Wayne Krivsky is no longer here. Even when healthy, Gonzalez was pretty bad (and clearly overpaid).