Sunday, March 19, 2000
Fernandez makes big impression
BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
If Osvaldo Fernandez makes the Reds' Opening Day roster, they can rest assured he'll be a worthy teammate.
Fernandez, a Cuban defector, signed a three-year, $3.9 million contract with the San Francisco Giants before the 1996 season. He pitched a year and a half before encountering the elbow problems that forced him to undergo two surgeries and miss the 1998 and '99 seasons.
But Fernandez's character shone through his inactivity.
“He's a quality individual,” Giants trainer Stan Conte said this week. “I can tell you that everyone in this organization hopes he really does well — except when he pitches against us.”
Conte said that at one point while being sidelined, Fernandez tried to return some of his salary.
In October of 1997, as the Giants celebrated their National League West title, Fernandez closeted himself in a room used for watching videotapes. Realizing this, his boisterous teammates dragged him from the room and made him feel loved.
The Giants finally had to cut Fernandez loose, enabling Cincinnati to sign him to a non-guaranteed minor-league contract in February. The Reds thought they had obtained a decent candidate for the No.5 spot in the starting rotation. They might not have realized they were getting more than just another pitcher.
“Osvaldo is the hardest worker I've ever had in rehab,” said Conte, who has been with the Giants for 10 years. “A player has to be self-motivated because he's detached from the team. Most rehabilitating players do well the first month or so; Osvaldo was incredibly consistent throughout.”
Mark Portugal has a definite edge in the race for the No.5 spot. But anybody with Fernandez's background shouldn't be counted out of any competition.
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