Well Reds fans, here we are just two months into the 2002 season and there is much to talk about.  The hometown team is currently in first place, and playing very well.  Adam Dunn and Austin Kearns are tearing up National League pitchers, and Ken Griffey, Jr. is ready to bounce back from an early season knee injury and reestablish himself among baseball's elite.   Our young pitching staff is showing signs of living up to its potential, and our bullpen remains among baseball's best.

    But there is one story that outweighs them all, and that is the story of Jose Rijo.  After six years out of baseball (during which he endured five elbow operations) many people assumed he was done for good.  He even received a Hall of Fame Vote in 2001.  No one seemed to give ol' Jose a chance to make it back on a pitching mound, much less make it back to the big leagues.  No one, that is, except Jose Rijo.  His comeback story is one of grit, determination, and just plain love of the game of baseball, something any fan can appreciate.  But don't take our word for it.  Here are some thoughts on Rijo, from those who know him best, as well as from the man himself.  (Quotes courtesy of msnbc.com)

THE COMEBACK

    Reds general manager Jim Bowden: “His story is almost Biblical. It’s really a miracle. Most players would have given up. After five surgeries, you still want to come back? How many guys have that kind of perseverance? Not many.”

    Reds team physician Tim Kremchek: “Normally, the ligament keeps the elbow stable. He’s got a ligament, but we’re just not sure how functional it is. From years of throwing, he has developed arthritis and bone spurs. It’s the arthritic change that has stabilized his elbow. When the ligament doesn’t work well, it’s hard to pitch. When you get arthritis, the elbow gets stiff, which makes it more stable, which allows him to pitch.”

THE NEW RIJO

    Bowden: “He’s completely different. He doesn’t have the same stuff. But with his breaking ball and (forkball), so far, he’s getting them out. The one he struck Sammy (Sosa) out on (Sunday), Sammy had no chance. He missed it by a foot. (Rijo) doesn’t throw 95 mph anymore. He hits 88-89. Occasionally you’ll look up and see 90 to 92, then all of a sudden, 86.  

    “He’s like Frank Tanana, who had great stuff, but had to become more of a pitcher after getting hurt. At times, Jose has his stuff. But he really knows how to pitch. He used to throw his slider one speed. Now, it’s four speeds. You guess which one is coming.”

    Rijo: “My fastball is not as good, but my slider and forkball are there. I’ve never felt this good, even when I was healthy. There’s nothing inside that can hurt anymore. They took everything out.”

    Kremchek: “He’ll tell you he doesn’t have pain. I believe that some of the time, not all of the time. But he loves baseball so much. He’s worked on the elbow and his conditioning for so long. Pain is not going to stand in his way.”

THE TOUGH TIMES

    Dr. James Andrews, Rijo’s surgeon: “The only results you remember are the bad ones. You worry about the patients who aren’t getting well. I woke up a lot of mornings thinking about Jose, what could have been, what a talent he was. You keep thinking about what you can do, how it’s going to affect him, knowing he can’t play anymore.”

    Rijo: “I thought about quitting a lot. In the spring of ’99, I came to spring training, I was healthy. I was throwing. On one of my throws, I felt like a zipper came out of my elbow. I was in terrible pain. I went home and thought, ‘I can’t do this any more.’

    “I went home and three months later went back at it again. I felt bad again. When I reached 85 mph, my arm hurt. Then I said, ‘I’ll just miss the whole year. I’ll stop eating healthy, stop exercising, stop worrying about my elbow. I’ll start traveling, eating steak, drinking wine, live the beautiful life.’ And I did. I went to Brazil, Argentina, Cancun, Paris.

    “When I was home, I would pick up newspapers, watch some games on TV. I would say, ‘I wish it could be me.’ I knew I do better than some of those guys were doing, even if I wasn’t 100 percent. It kind of made me sick a little bit.”

STICKING WITH IT

    Andrews: “Jim Bowden never gave up on Jose. Most clubs, when someone has one or two surgeries that doesn’t work, it’s a business deal. They’re usually out of there. (The players) never have another opportunity, even if they get well.”

    Kremchek: “When pitchers have trouble coming back the first couple of years from a Tommy John surgery, giving them more time may enable them to comeback and pitch. The problem is that teams don’t stick with them. They eventually dish ‘em off, saying he wasn’t going to play, his career was nearly over. Jose is an example of a player that had these problems, but the team stuck with him.”

    Rijo: “I called Jim Bowden. I said, ‘Don’t give up my uniform number yet. I still have hope.’ He said, ‘If you can’t pitch again, just come up here, we’ll announce your retirement and you’ll live happily ever after.’ But (in April 2001), I said, ‘I’m ready to go.’ He could have told me no. I wouldn’t have blamed him. No way I would have blamed the team for not signing a guy who has had five surgeries, who is 36 years old, who hadn’t pitched in six years.”

    Bowden: “What he means to the organization is incredible. The influence he has on our young players, his work ethic. He works harder than the young players at his age.” 

    We couldn't agree more.  Welcome back, Jose! 

Thank you, and as always........ GO REDS!!!

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