University of Tennessee Athletics
Former Vol Lincoln Pleased With Progress
March 07, 2009 | Baseball
March 7, 2009
SARASOTA, Fla. -- Once the ink dried on reliever Mike Lincoln's new two-year, $4 million contract with the Reds in December, the right-hander experienced a tangible feeling of accomplishment. Who could blame him?
It wasn't just about the nice 2008 season Lincoln pitched for Cincinnati, but also what he endured during the nearly four years before that when he couldn't pitch at all because of a bad right elbow.
"I don't even know if it's set in, as far as that goes," Lincoln said. "I was just excited to be able to play again, but to actually have a guaranteed contract for the next two years? I just felt it made all the hard work I put in so much worth the while."
Lincoln was barely a blip on the transaction wire two winters ago when he was signed by the Reds to a Minor League contract with a camp invite. After all, he had missed most of previous four seasons because he needed not one, but two Tommy John surgeries on his elbow.
During the long comeback attempt, Lincoln never felt like he was finished, nor did he doubt that he could pitch in the Majors again. But there had to be a team willing to give him a chance. Then that team had to get over any concerns his elbow wouldn't last for a whole season if he made the club.
Although he worked out for a dozen different organizations, that team wound up being the Reds.
"It was definitely a gamble by them," Lincoln said. "I just felt so good, and it was like they could tell I was going to be healthy. I felt like I was in that position."
A decent showing in Spring Training last year earned Lincoln a trip north on the 25-man roster. The 33-year-old right-hander didn't squander the opportunity while going 2-5 with a 4.48 ERA. Most importantly, he didn't spend a day on the disabled list.
At one point, Lincoln put together a string of 19 scoreless innings over a 15-appearance stretch. He retired 49 of 64 first-batters faced overall, and saw just 12 of his 49 inherited runners score. Though his ERA swelled by one-and-a-half runs in the second half (5.47) compared to the first half (3.89), it was still an all-around successful campaign.
Considering the long layoff, it was significant that Lincoln also made a career-high 64 appearances for the Reds. He started out with a lesser role in the bullpen, but emerged to be a key guy in the middle-to-late innings and was often called upon to work more than one inning.
"It really couldn't have worked out much better, other than if we had won the World Series," said Lincoln, who will earn $1.5 million in 2009 and $2.5 million in 2010. "Just to get back into baseball and show myself and my team that I was able to pitch and be effective and help the club -- it was so gratifying for all the work that I put in. Now I want it to carry on for as many years as possible."
In 2008, Lincoln was part of a Reds bullpen that had the third-best ERA in the National League at 3.81. He will again be counted on to fill a similar mid-to-late-inning role, along with teammates Arthur Rhodes, Bill Bray, David Weather and Jared Burton.
Lincoln spent this past winter in Knoxville, Tenn., working out at the University of Tennessee with a group of pitchers that included Twins closer Joe Nathan and Royals starter Luke Hochevar. Those workouts, and any action Lincoln sees this spring, are a 180-degree change from the circumstances he was facing at this time last year.
"I feel like this year, I can really concentrate on getting myself ready for the season," Lincoln said. "I don't have to expend myself 100 percent every single time out. I go out and pitch as well as I can, but I really concentrate on just making my pitches, hitting my spots, and getting myself to where I want to be when the season starts. I don't want to burn myself out at all at Spring Training.
"It's definitely a nice feeling. It doesn't make me feel lax, by any means. I definitely take spring seriously, but I'm in a different position. This time, it's my job to lose. Before, I had to do everything just to get a position on the team."
