Bill Mueller’s Knee Injury Might Threaten Career

[RoyNHSox]

One of my favorite past Sox players, Bill Mueller, is looking at possible career ending injury with his knee. He had his third surgery back in May on his knee and has been recovering slowly. According to the LA Times:

 

Dodgers trainer Stan Johnston said Mueller has not responded well to treatment and that he is beginning therapy in a swimming pool to reduce the pressure on the knee. An injury expected to keep Mueller sidelined for a maximum of six weeks appears far more grave.

"He gets to a certain point in treatment and starts getting sore," Johnston said. "He's got degenerative, arthritic changes in his knee. There is cumulative damage from all the procedures."

 

I always liked the way he went about the game, kind of an infield dirt dog who quietly won a batting title. Get well soon Billy Ballgame.

[Matt]

That's too bad, Bill Mueller's a gamer. Let's hope he's able to get back out on the field.

[MC Hammer]

Too bad for Ballgame. He'll always be one of my favorite players. Hopefully he finds a way to get back from this.

[jsinger121]

Tough break for Mueller but the Sox were smart for not bringing him back at his age with his bad knees

[a700hitter]

I hope he makes it back. He's a solid ballplayer and a solid guy. I heard back in 2004 from someone that knew people in the Cubs FO that the Cubs loved the guy, but his knees have been very bad for a very long time. They were too worried about his knees back then to keep him.

[Moose]

[ksushi]

I love Mueller and I wish him the best. I hope he finds himself back in Boston in the Red Sox HOF some day because anyone who was on the '04 team deserves it.

 

I have to say though, this was one of those good non-moves that Theo makes and doesn't get enough credit for.

[Goalstopper]

that's too bad he was my favorite red sox when he was on the team. hope it's not what they say it is.

[RedSoxRooter]

It looks like he's done. That sucks. He still goes down as one of the great Red Sox of all time simply for '03 and '04 in my book. He killed Rivera.

 

Options Aren't Pretty for Mueller's Recovery

By Steve Henson, Times Staff Writer

June 24, 2006

 

 

Imagine your reaction if one of the foremost orthopedic doctors in the country asked you to purposely break your chronically balky knee in a last-ditch attempt to generate cartilage growth.

 

Oh, and it would take two years to recover.

 

Bill Mueller doesn't have to imagine it. Dr. Richard Steadman of Vail, Colo., examined his right knee and suggested a remedy that would effectively end the 35-year-old third baseman's career.

 

"It was heartbreaking that he didn't have the answer," Mueller said. "It was very discouraging."

 

After three surgeries on the knee, it has almost no cartilage left. So even when he heals from his surgery in May, it is doubtful that he will be able to play baseball.

 

He will continue daily treatment — including walking in a swimming pool to reduce the weight he places on the knee. By the first week of July the knee should have healed from the surgery and doctors can evaluate the amount of cartilage left.

 

Options include cartilage replacement surgery and the radical surgery proposed by Steadman. Both procedures have low success rates.

 

"They really need to realign my leg by re-breaking it," Mueller said. "But the cartilage might wear out as fast as it is generated."

 

The loss of Mueller, who is in the first year of a two-year, $9.5-million contract, is a big blow to the Dodgers. The career .291 hitter got off to a hot start and tapered off when the knee began bothering him, batting .252 in 32 games.

[SchillingIsTheNatural]

Since so many people (including me) really enjoyed having Bill Mueller on the Red Sox and wished him the best when he moved on, I thought everyone would want to hear the tough news.

 

Doctors have reportedly eliminated all procedures for fixing the deterioration in Bill Mueller's knee. This is tough news for Mueller who hoped to return for the 2007 season. It appears unless his knee suddenly regenerates muscle his career may be finished.

[BoSox21]

It's definitely sad, he was one of my favorites while we was here. He plays the game the way it should be played and I'll always remember his walkoff homer on July 24, 2004 against the Yankees.

[riverside sluggers]

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060720&content_id=1567061&vkey=news_la&fext=.jsp&c_id=la&partnered=rss_la

 

Updated on Mueller's status, doctors havent found any means to correct Mueller's deteriorating knee

 

http://content.clearchannel.com/Photos/sports_photos/MLB/RedSox/bill_mueller_DaveKaupAFP.jpghttp://www.espn.go.com/media/mlb/2004/0115/photo/g_mueller_i.jpghttp://www.hhweb.com/photos/ws2004/04ALCSgame4MuellerBill_small.jpg

 

Sad news for a one of a kind player, dirt dog through and through. Thanks for the memories Billy

[RedSoxRooter]

Well, if he calls it quits, that was one damn good career. And he got a ring, batting title and I think he played in an all star game too.

[BoSox21]

I'd love to see Mueller get offered a position within the organization if he was forced to retire.

[a700hitter]

Bill Mueller is a pure gamer.