Injuries may force Sweeney to retire
 

Injuries may force Sweeney to retire
But captain hopes to get healthy soon, return to lineup
By BOB DUTTON
The Kansas City Star
Twins party with Royals in town
Huber isn’t getting much work yet
MINNEAPOLIS — Royals captain Mike Sweeney might be doing nothing more than venting frustration over his latest injury, but he now acknowledges a willingness to think about retirement at the end of the season.

“If this thing lingers on through the summer,” he admitted, “it’s something I’d probably consider. But right now, I owe it to my teammates and ownership to make every effort to get healthy and get back in the lineup.”

Sweeney, 33, is expected to miss several weeks after being diagnosed Tuesday with another bulging cervical disk in his upper back. A similar injury caused him to miss 45 games in 2003 and 40 games in 2004 when he was forced to the disabled list.

“Don’t get me wrong,” he said. “I still have some fight left in me. Hopefully, it will be only a couple of weeks, and I can get back and help my teammates turn this thing around.”

The current problem involves a disk two levels higher than the one that troubled him in 2003-04.

Sweeney suffered the injury Monday night on a swing that produced a grounder to third in the seventh inning of a 3-2 loss to the Detroit Tigers. He described the feeling as “a lightning bolt going through my shoulder and down my (left) arm.”

Confirmation of the bulging disk came Tuesday morning after Sweeney returned to Kansas City for an examination by Steve Joyce, the club’s head physician. Sweeney then received a cortisone epidural as the first step in his treatment.

Tentative plans call for him to receive another epidural injection in two weeks.

The injury is the latest blow in a miserable season for Sweeney, who missed much of spring training because of a foot injury and is batting just .176 with two homers and six RBIs in 21 games.

His on-field struggles also made him a focal point for criticism by fans during the club’s disappointing start.

“It wouldn’t be human,” he admitted recently, “to say that being booed in my home stadium doesn’t hurt. But I understand.”

The Royals officially placed Sweeney on the 15-day disabled list before Wednesday’s series opener against the Minnesota Twins at the Metrodome. They filled his place on the roster by recalling first baseman Justin Huber from Class AAA Omaha.

Sweeney is in the fourth season of a five-year contract that pays him $11 million a year. He previously indicated he might consider retirement after next season.

“You know what’s most frustrating?” he asked. “I’ve done everything in my power to be healthy. I’ve worked so hard. I’ve changed my lifestyle and my diet. I’m in the best shape I’ve been in for at least seven years.”

Buh-Bye!

ALRIGHT!!!!!!!! CYA LATER DICKHEAD!!!!

Should have traded him 2 years ago when he still had some value

good. Sweeney is a pussy. I find it hard to root for a guy when the strongest word to express his anger is "Dangit!" Don't let the door hit you in your pussy ass mikey.

Ive heard sweeney say far worse when striking out, i still like sweeney but man he isnt worth the money he is making at all.

Yeah, he's a real jerk. :stupid:

I think he will come back if we up his salary to say 65% of the Royals payroll. We got to have Sweeny or we will lose 12 road games in a row.

He could just give back all the money that he stole

No big surprise here. Sweeney is soft and a total waste of money for the Royals. I personally would cut him today and spend all of his salary on scouting and the farm systme.

I thought he retired 3 years ago......

5 years to late. Damn he sure stuck it to KC and the Royals. What losers!!

Glass won't have to use the I can't afford him speech now.

You ever played baseball through a bulging disk? Soft my ass

:LOL:

Thanks for being a nice guy for the community, and don't tear anything on the way out.

the pussification of america continues

um...I don't think it works that way.

Without a doubt..he was the most productive player in the KC lineup over the last three years...even with the injuries...The Royals HAD to sign ONE of their players to a long-term deal to survive their long line of bad drafts and farm management...It should have been BELTRAN without a doubt...but Sweeney has gotten alot out of a body and draft pick that was mediocre at best...PEOPLE ARE HATERS on here...GET OUT OF KC and maybe your outlook will improve...

He was not resigning here at any price. His agent said that publically.

So injuries may finally do what sucking never did.

Yeah cause sweeney has always sucked, man some fans really forget how he good he was before getting hurt.

Did he ever have a good year AND play the entire season?

Sweeney bashing is so tiresome. Even better is the "we should have spent that money on Damon or Beltran!" junk, like either of them were going to spend one more minute than they had to with this pathetic team. But Sweeney did and this is what he gets for it? He should have gotten out while the getting was good.

Actually, yes. It has been a few years, but he put together a few solid years.

That being said I have also heard (on 610) talks about him and making him sound like one of the greatest ball players in the game when he was in his prime. He was not that either. He was average maybe slightly above average... nothing more. A solid player and a solid citizen... something to try to build a young franchise around, but the Royals organization failed to do that.

Neither Damon or Beltran would've stayed....it's too bad for sweeney that he has health issues, he was a solid .300 hitter and 100rbi guy. Too many haters blaming him for what the management or lack there of has done. He gets ripped cause he makes the most money. I just hope we don't treat all our future stars like this, the guy was being called the next brett of the royals. I sure as hell hope that if brett played in this era and broke down like this he wouldn't be treated with such hate. Not like the guy can prevent his back failing him.

I just hope we HAVE future stars

I wonder if we could trade him for the Brat, Polish Sausage and Hot Dog from Miller Park? Those dudes get lots of cheers, probably more than any Royals player.

I am hoping Billy Butler, Alex Gordon and Chris Lubanski are those stars....they should make 2007 more fun, i guess watching cars drive by can too.

True, but how long do you think they will be around to be stars if we do not improve management?

To retire because of injuries must really suck.

Who will be the new captain? Can we talk Reggie Sanders into to staying?

Never really understood the whole captain thing in baseball anyway. I am pretty sure just the Royals and Red Sox have the C's on the jersey to designate that, right?

I just find it worthless to call out a captain. If they are the "captain" of the team, everyone knows that in the clubhouse and that is the only time it matters. The captain doesn't call a coin toss or anything, so really what is the point?

Someone enlighten me

No wonder why kids call in sick today. When people you are supposed to look upto can't even come in to play a kids game with a couple boo boo's

And the Yankees. I don't why teams have captains. I don't know what they do. But, I bet the captain gets the most booty during roadtrips. :)

Oh well the Royals fit right along with them then... 2 historic franchises and then a historically awful one. :shake:

Listening to Freddy Patek on the spot makes me wonder wtf old royals players are not coaches on this team? He can pinpoint alot of the mistakes, and he has volunteered his services but given a no. This whole coaching staff and uppermanagment needs to be gutted, this team makes the consistent mistakes and so far has been the worst team i have ever seen.