Alex Avila Dealing with Knee Injury
By Editorial Staff
Alex Avila told reporters that he has been dealing with a minor knee injury during the Tigers first round playoff series against the Yankees. Avila doesn’t expect the knee problem to keep him out of the lineup for tomorrow night’s decisive game five in New York.
Manager Jim Leyland chalked Avila’s lingering knee discomfort to normal wear-and-tear. As a catcher, Avila’s knees are almost expected to wear down over the length of a season. The backstop and manager are not willing to say that the injury has caused Avila’s 0-12 performance at the plate during the ALDS.
Avila took a spill in the 9th inning of Sunday’s game two while trying to track down a foul ball. But, Avila says this didn’t aggravate his injury. Instead, Avila’s knee began bothering him again after he stepped on Robinson Cano’s foot at first base while attempting to beat out a bunt Monday night.
Playing in 141 games for the Tigers this season, Avila showed no real signs of decline as the season wore on. Finishing the season with a line of .295/.389/.506, Avila ended the year by putting up OPS’s of 1.169 and .827 in August and September.
It will be interesting to see if Avila can break out of his slump tomorrow night during the Tigers ALDS finale.
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