Monday, August 13, 2001
Rijo's return on deck
Ex-staff ace will join bullpen Friday
By John Erardi
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Jose Rijo is coming back from the pitcher's equivalent of the near-dead. He is being called up to the Reds Friday, when they open a seven-game homestand that begins with the Milwaukee Brewers.
Rijo, 36, who last pitched in the major leagues in 1995 -- when he was famous for dousing fans with his squirt gun on hot days, rubbing down his arm with snake oil, and blurting out music lyrics in the clubhouse -- may be some of what the Reds need on the field and off.
After five surgeries, several failed comeback attempts and many prayers, Rijo is returning to the Reds as a middle reliever.
That's a big step down from his role as Reds' ace and 1990 World Series Most Valuable Player, but it's an amazing comeback given the layoff. Nobody keeps combined numbers on these things-- years away from the game, major surgeries overcome and failed comeback attempts -- but Rijo's return ranks as one of the better believe-it-or-not's in basebal history.
“A miracle, a baseball miracle, will take place in Cincinnati,” said Reds general manager Jim Bowden. “He threw (one) innning (Sunday) in (Triple A Louisville) and (Reds farm director) Tim Naehring was there to watch it. He's thrown very well the last couple of times and we believe he can help us.
“He can come in one or two innings at a time and get righties and lefties out. He's not coming up here for one outing. His intent is to make a comeback. His goal is to perform this year and next year. We'll see what happens on the field.”
The question is how much he can help?
“I don't know how often or how long he can go,” said Reds manager Bob Boone. “But I've said all along he had to be better than one of the 12 (on the Reds pitching staff) to be called up.”
What Boone saw last Thursday in a simulated game -- Rijo throwing his fastball 88 and 89 miles an hour, with a terrific forkball, although without the famous Rijo “biting” slider -- indicated the Dominican was on the verge. Sunday in Louisville, Rijo showed he was ready.
“We wanted to see him do it one more time (in Louisville), because he had one bad outing prior to (his having a good outing),” Bowden said.
Probably a more successful
team doesn't make this move quite yet, but the Reds' pitching staff has been a year-long struggle, the team has been especially horrible at home and there hasn't been much in the way of walk-up crowds to bolster a diminished season ticket base going into the season.
Most middle relievers couldn't change any of that. But most middle relievers aren't named Rijo.
“What he means to this organization — not only putting a World Series' ring on most of our fingers — but his influence on young pitchers, his presence in the clubhouse and his determination, work ethic and passion for the game cannot be surpassed by anyone who's worn a Reds uniform in the last couple of decades,” Bowden said.
Tom Reich, Rijo's long-time agent, summed it up well.
“This is about as feel-good a story as there is,” Reich said. “Having Jose back, whether as a leading man or in a support role, is a wonderful thing in a fairly cynical era in the game. Whether it's for one day or three years, we are just thrilled.”
Rijo told The Enquirer earlier this week he will also pitch this winter in the Dominican winter league, to see if he can continue to build arm strength and return to the Reds as a starter next season.
Bowden said he never expected Rijo to make it back to the Reds when the comeback began earlier this year.
“He told me every year (since 1995) he was coming back,” Bowden said. “I kept saying, “Jose, would you please retire? I'm tired of hearing it.” So finally this year, he agreed that if didn't make it back, he'd go to the podium and announce his retirement...''
"I can't wait until Friday to see him walk on that field.”
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Rijo's return on deck
