Morneau’s Back Injury Ends His Season
The Minnesota Twins’ fading playoff chances took another hit Tuesday when it was revealed that All-Star 1B Justin Morneau will sit out the remainder of the season.
Morneau has been fighting back pain for weeks, however a CT scan as well as an MRI on Monday indicated that he has a crack in his lower back.
The condition shouldn’t figure to need surgery. Physicians have informed Morneau to rest the back for the next 3 month|fall season.
Morneau injured himself on a diving slide into first base on Friday and hasn’t played since.
Before this past week’s accident, the slugging 1st baseman had previously been playing through tenderness off and on for a fair amount of time. As a result, his performance has suffered mightily; Morneau was batting just .077 in the current month to drop his 2009 batting average to .274. Prior to this slump, he was hitting over the .300 mark. Having had only nine hits over a span of 22 games, it was unambiguous that something was wrong.
“You could play through the discomfort if you feel as if you’re helping the team or doing something to help your colleagues out and win contests,” Morneau insisted. “When you go out there and you do not feel like you’re helping everyone, that’s when you have to take a step back and go, ‘All right, maybe I am doing more harm than good.’ ”
Despite his struggles lately, Morneau ends the 2009 season with 30 home runs and 100 runs batted in. The home run output is higher than his ‘08 figure of 23.
Michael Cuddyer figures to become the starting first baseman in Morneau’s absence.
Despite the injury, Morneau is still upbeat regarding the Twins’ chances the rest of the year.
“Hopefully I’ll watch the boys embark on a run here and act as cheerleader and that’s,” Morneau said.
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