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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Amazing Rijo Way Ahead Of Rehab Schedule

From Wire Reports

Spring training

Jose Rijo is the marvel of the Cincinnati Reds’ spring training camp. He’s throwing almost 90 mph at a time when nobody expected him to be throwing at all.

“I don’t see a guy who’s hurt,” said manager Ray Knight. “It’s not supposed to happen this way. It’s almost eerie.”

Rijo pitched with pain in the early part of last season, took some time off and finally had elbow surgery in August. Doctors said he probably would not return until late this year - if at all - because it usually takes a full year to rehab that kind of surgery.

Instead, Rijo has insisted on moving up the schedule. He needed only 19 pitches - 13 strikes and six balls - to retire the six batters he faced over two innings.

He has not allowed a run in five innings.

Hundley finds tranquillity

At 26, Todd Hundley has found some tranquillity in his life. The Mets catcher, who once was so headstrong that manager Dallas Green wondered aloud about his unwillingness to accept instruction, finally believes he has hit upon the key to making the most of his baseball career.

Accepting failure.

Hundley said he gleaned this from a conversation with Darren Daulton of Philadelphia last season.

“I asked him what turned him around in his career,” Hundley said. “He said what turned him around is truly knowing and accepting that this is a game of failure. He stopped tying himself in knots with anger after every out. He said once you realize that how you deal with failure to some extent will determine how much success you have, he became a better hitter. I’d never heard it said quite like that. It made sense.”

Now that he has the mental side of the game down, Hundley is trying to regain his physical conditioning after undergoing surgery on his left wrist last October. He took his first game swings of spring camp Sunday.

“I’m about 90 percent right now,” he said, “but I feel like I’m on target to be ready by April 1” - opening day.

Canseco no gold glove

Jose Canseco says he has no illusions about himself as an outfielder.

“I’m not the best outfielder in the world, but I’m not the worst, either,” said Canseco.

But it will be no optical illusion this season. That will be Jose Canseco starting in right field for the Boston Red Sox.

It will mark the first time since 1993 that Canseco has patrolled the outfield on a regular basis. And it was a short stint that year.

Vizquel comes into his own

What Omar Vizquel means to the Cleveland Indians doesn’t always show up in the statistics or the headlines.

“I’m a quiet guy, and my name just kind of gets lost in this lineup,” the former Seattle Mariner said. “Everybody here is a Hall of Famer or an All-Star. But I think in the playoffs last year I had the opportunity to make a couple of good plays, and people finally started hearing about Omar.”

The three-time Gold Glove shortstop’s spectacular fielding during the playoffs and World Series let the rest of the nation see what Vizquel’s fans in Cleveland and Seattle had been watching for years. It also helped make him a rich man.

In December, the Indians signed him to a six-year deal with an option for a seventh year. If the option is exercised, Vizquel will make $21 million over the course of the contract.

Orioles’ Wells hospitalized

Baltimore Orioles pitcher David Wells was hospitalized to undergo tests for a rapid heartbeat, but team officials have no reason to believe the problem is serious.

Sele feels no pain

Rain washed out the Red Sox and Texas Rangers in the fourth inning Monday, but that didn’t prevent Aaron Sele from taking another positive step.

Sele made his first spring training start following two solid relief outings. He threw 45 pitches over two innings, giving up three hits and one run.

“Results, I really don’t care about them,” Sele said. “I’m more excited about the way my arm feels. I’ve had no pain, whatsoever.

“I’m very upbeat. The arm feels healthy. I’m throwing the ball with good velocity and moving it in and out pretty well.

Perez impresses Yankees

New York Yankees’ pitcher Melido Perez came to spring training seeking a spot in the starting rotation.

After a season during which Perez was hampered by shoulder and elbow problems, the odds were not in his favor.

But the right-hander has thrust himself into the forefront with seven hitless innings this spring.

Cubs’ Magadan sidelined

Chicago Cubs third baseman Dave Magadan had a bone spur removed from his left hand and will be out six to eight weeks.