University of Tennessee Athletics
Lincoln returns from surgeries
July 25, 2008 | Baseball
By Greg Silverman, Dayton Daily News??
CINCINNATI ??? After a three-year hiatus and two Tommy John surgeries, Mike Lincoln is making batters feel the pain.
For a while, coming out of spring training sounded like a stretch.
"I wasn't really sure if I was going to make the club," the Cincinnati Reds middle reliever said. "But I did, and it's worked out well for me."
That's an understatement. He hasn't allowed a run in his last 12 appearances (151/3 innings), currently the longest streak in the National League.
The Reds were idle Thursday, July 24, and begin a three-game series with Colorado tonight at Great American Ball Park.
Lincoln and his first-rate curveball will be ready if called upon.
"When I go out there, I'm just trying to stay focused on keeping the team in the game," he said. "They put me out there to try to keep the damage to a minimum, and I have to do that job."
In September 2004 as a St. Louis Cardinal, he went under the knife of team doctor George Paletta to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow.
Lincoln recalled the most difficult times after the surgery.
"It takes 12 months to recover," he said. "It takes 10 months before you even know if the surgery worked or not. That's a long time to wait, just resting and rehabbing."
During a rehab workout in August 2005, his UCL ruptured again. Lincoln had another surgery, and restarted the yearlong healing process. He was released after the '05 season.
In February 2008, the Reds signed him to a minor-league contract. Though he wasn't sure where, Lincoln never doubted he would pitch this season.
"I was prepared to do whatever I had to," he said. "Whether that was playing triple-A, double-A, or whatever I needed to."
His numbers have been stellar as the Reds' setup man: 3.52 ERA, six holds, 45 strikeouts. On July 11, he recorded his first win since April 2004.
The most important thing he's learned: Don't give up on yourself.
"You can't think like you won't come back," he said. "You've got to believe you will."
