Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Morneau's Back Injury Ends His Season

By Carl Pidgess

The Minnesota Twins' fading playoff chances took another hit this week when it was announced that All-Star 1st baseman Justin Morneau will sit out the rest of the season.

Morneau has been dealing with back pain for weeks, although a CT scan as well as an MRI on Monday confirmed that he has a crack in his lower back.

The condition shouldn't figure to require surgery. Doctors have told Morneau to relax the back for the coming three month|fall season.

Morneau hurt himself on a diving slide into first base on Friday and hasn't played ever since.

Before this past week's incident, the slugging 1st baseman had already been playing with pain off and on for quite some time. Accordingly, his performance has suffered mightily; Morneau was batting just .077 in the current month to descend his 2009 average to .274. Prior to this slide, he had been batting over the .300 figure. Having gotten only nine hits over a period of 22 games, it was unambiguous that something was amiss.

"You can play through the discomfort if you feel as if you are helping the franchise or doing something to help your teammates out and victory games," Morneau stated. "When you go out there and you do not feel as if you're helping your team, that is when you have to take a step back and go, 'All right, perhaps I'm doing more damage than good.' "

In spite of his struggles lately, Morneau ends the 2009 season with 30 home runs and one hundred runs batted in. The home run total is higher than his '08 total of 23.

Michael Cuddyer figures to become the primary 1st baseman in Morneau's lack.

In spite of the injury, Morneau happens to be positive regarding the Twins' opportunities the rest of the year.

"Hopefully I'll see the guys embark on a run here and play cheerleader and that is about it," Morneau claimed.

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