PEORIA, Ariz. – Jay Buhner thought briefly about retiring
because of his sore foot that has kept him from playing in a spring
game for the Seattle Mariners.
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When Buhner came off the field Tuesday after one at bat in a
minor league game, he was discouraged and ready to quit. He took
two steps out of the batter's box and then had to jog to first
because of the pain in his left arch.
"Yesterday was tough because I'd basically exhausted all
avenues and we were right back to square one," the veteran
outfielder said Wednesday. "At this stage, you want to call for
do-overs and start all over again, but you can't."
Buhner's left foot was placed in an immobilizing boot after an MRI on Wednesday night revealed the Mariners rightfielder has plantar fascia and a fluid buildup, indicating a muscle strain in the arch.
He will be re-evaluated and monitored daily.
Buhner, 36, was supposed to platoon with Al Martin in left field
in his 14th consecutive season in Seattle this year. Now, he's
sidelined indefinitely because of plantar fasciaitis, an
inflammation of the plantar fascia, which is the tight band of
muscle beneath the arch of the foot.
"I'm real discouraged because I've lost all of spring
training," Buhner said. "No matter what, I'm going to lose time.
Based on that, it's going into the season. As a player, you're
frustrated because you feel like you're letting people down."
When Buhner came into Seattle's clubhouse for treatment
Wednesday morning, some of his teammates told him he shouldn't
retire.
"I'm not so frustrated at myself because I know it's one of
those deals where there's nothing I could have done to prevent
it," he said. "But, at the same time, too, I feel I'm letting of
all people that guy there down."
Buhner was looking at longtime teammate Edgar Martinez, the
team's veteran designated hitter, when he made the comment.
The well-conditioned Buhner expected to have a strong season for
the Mariners this season after agreeing to a $1.85 million,
one-year contract. He had 26 home runs and 82 RBI in 112 games for
Seattle in 2000.
"I know in my mind that it's not because I didn't come in out
of shape," he said. "It's not because I didn't do this or I
didn't do that. It's because I'm 36 years old and there's a lot of
wear and tear."
He is expected to start the season on the disabled list.
Buhner said this was probably going to be his last season with
the Mariners.
"I wanted to go out in good fashion," he said. "Based on the
year I had last year. It was a lot of fun. I had a nice year. I
wanted to pick up where I left off and kind of ride off into the
sunset."
Buhner ranks second on the Mariners in career home runs with 305
to Ken Griffey Jr.'s 398. He was traded to Seattle by the New York
Yankees in October 1988 in a deal that sent Ken Phelps to the
Yankees.
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