Rijo: Schott Needs Help

Pitcher Jose Rijo said Cincinnati Reds owner Marge Schott is a “good person” but “needs to get some help.”

The National League is looking into remarks attributed to Schott in this week’s Sports Illustrated. Schott is quoted on a variety of subjects, including Asian-Americans, women and the Japanese prime minister.

In the story, she also grumbled about two of her players - Rijo and pitcher Mark Portugal. She said Portugal makes “$3 million and he’s just not worth a damn.”

Referring to Rijo, she said, “There’s what’s-his-name, honey. The guy I’m paying $3 million a year to sit on his butt. Yeah, $3 million, sweetheart. For crying out loud.”

Rijo, who is coming back from reconstructive elbow surgery, took exception to Schott’s suggestion that he is doing nothing. He pointed out that he has been working hard in rehabilitation.

“I think it’s just Marge being Marge,” said Rijo, the MVP of the 1990 World Series. “She’s a good person. She just needs to get some help, that’s all.”

The Pittsburgh Pirates traded outfielder Jacob Brumfield to Toronto for minor league first baseman D.J. Boston.

A day after his spectacular no-hitter, Dwight Gooden returned to Tampa, Fla., to be with his father, who underwent open heart surgery Wednesday.

“Dan Gooden is doing well and his prognosis is good,” said St. Joseph’s Hospital spokeswoman Colleen Chappell.

Minnesota Twins star Kirby Puckett, out since the end of the exhibition season with glaucoma in his right eye, will seek a second opinion next week.

Five days after major surgery on his pitching shoulder and hours after being released from the hospital, a teary-eyed David Cone said he hopes to pitch again this season. Cone underwent a 3-hour operation last Friday to repair an aneurysm in his shoulder.