By John Fay
The Cincinnati Enquirer

SARASOTA, Fla. - Jose Rijo arrived at camp Wednesday and declared himself in shape and confident he'll make the team.

"Absolutely," he said. "I wouldn't be here if I didn't think I could make it. I'm in great shape. I've been throwing, running, doing my exercises."

Rijo, 37, was late for camp because he was attending to his baseball academy in the Dominican Republic.

"There were so many little things I had to do," he said. "I've got a lot of kids with bright futures. I didn't want to leave without taking care of them."

Rijo's absence was excused.

Part of the problem was an administrative error on the Reds' part that held up funds for the academy, which the Reds sponsor.

"Jose should be commended for staying behind and taking care of things," Reds general manager Jim Bowden said.

Rijo took his physical Wednesday. He thinks he'll be able to join the rest of the pitchers today without missing a beat.

"This isn't how I wanted to do it," he said. "But I'm ready to go. I didn't need to come here and throw for three straight days."

Rijo said he's ahead of where he was last year when he made the team out of camp by being nearly perfect in spring training.

"I've got a year and a quarter in (since the comeback)," he said. "The fact that I know I can throw my fastball makes a big difference."

With 13 non-roster pitchers in camp, along with 19 from the 40-man roster, Rijo's task is a tough one. Rijo went 5-4 with a 5.14 ERA last year.

ALL ABOARD: All 31 position players were in camp on time and passed their physicals Wednesday morning.

They worked out after the pitchers and catchers were done for the day.

The first full-squad workout is at 9:30 a.m. today.

NO ARAMBOLES: Ricardo Aramboles, a 21-year-old right-hander, is the only player who has not reported. He's having visa problems.

"We're working on it," said Grant Griesser, assistant director of player development. "His family has a lot of documentation that he is who he is."