:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/photo_images/3559752/120292282.jpg)
Andre Ethier will miss the remainder of the season with a right knee injury, the Los Angeles Dodgers announced today. The right fielder caused some controversy with comments made to T.J. Simers in the Los Angeles Times on August 28, when Ethier suggested that the team was making him play hurt. Ethier backed off those comments one day later.
Manager Don Mattingly, team trainers, and general manager Ned Colletti all knew of Ethier's knee injury, and it was determined that since Ethier could likely do no long term damage, it was Ethier's decision to continue playing. However, since the knee has not generally improved in the last few weeks, Ethier and the team jointly decided he would end his season and "seek all opinions to determine the next course of action," according to a tweet from the team.
One of those opinions will come from Dr. James Andrews, whom Ethier will visit in Birmingham, Alabama on Friday, per Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times.
Ethier made the National League All-Star team this season, but by most accounts 2011 was a disappointing year for the right fielder. After hitting 54 home runs in the last two seasons, Ethier hit just 11 this year, though there is some hope that the knee injury will lead to a return of his power. Ethier hit his 30th double of the season Tuesday night, and he joined Jackie Robinson as the only Dodgers ever with five straight seasons of 30 or more doubles.
For the most part, Ethier in 2011 isn't far off from his usual numbers except for the home runs.
| Year | 2B | HR | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS | OPS+ | wOBA | wRC+ |
| 2008 | 38 | 20 | .305 | .375 | .510 | .885 | 132 | .382 | 133 |
| 2009 | 42 | 31 | .272 | .361 | .508 | .869 | 131 | .370 | 127 |
| 2010 | 33 | 23 | .292 | .364 | .493 | .857 | 133 | .367 | 129 |
| 2011 | 30 | 11 | .292 | .368 | .421 | .789 | 121 | .343 | 118 |
Ethier made $9.25 million in 2011 in the final season of a two-year contract. He is arbitration eligible this offseason and figures to make at least $12 million in his final year before free agency. Colletti and Ethier have both expressed desire for Ethier to sign a long-term deal to remain in Los Angeles, but with the ownership uncertainty and the team currently in bankruptcy that doesn't figure to happen this offseason.
Be sure to read the reaction to Andre Ethier being out for the season on True Blue LA.