LOCAL WATCH: PERSEVERANCE PAYS OFF EX-CHATSWORTH PITCHER REED A GOOD INFLUENCE ON INDIANS.Byline: Heather Gripp Staff Writer ANAHEIM - Last year there was the scrape on his elbow that turned into a rapidly spreading strep strep adj. Streptococcal. n. Streptococcus. infection his doctors initially feared was a flesh-eating disease Flesh-Eating Disease Definition Flesh-eating disease is more properly called necrotizing fasciitis, a rare condition in which bacteria destroy tissues underlying the skin. This tissue death, called necrosis or gangrene, spreads rapidly. . The year before that, there was the blood clot blood clot n. A semisolid, gelatinous mass of coagulated blood that consists of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets in a fibrin network. which had him fearing for his life. After the incidents that sidelined him the past two years, tasks such as coming out to the field early for some extra running on a warm Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, day are nothing for Steve Reed Steve Reed may refer to
The Chatsworth High graduate, a relief pitcher relief pitcher n. Baseball A pitcher who replaces another during a game. Noun 1. relief pitcher - a pitcher who does not start the game fireman, reliever for the Cleveland Indians  Editing of this page by unregistered or newly registered users is currently disabled due to vandalism. , entered the season with a deeper appreciation for the game and
the same determination he has had for years to be in shape and work as
hard as he can to help his team win.
``I like guys that work hard and he's that type of a player,'' said Indians manager Charlie Manuel Charles Fuqua Manuel (born January 4, 1944 in Northfork, WV) is the current manager of the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball. Baseball playing career Major League Career . ``His work ethic work ethic n. A set of values based on the moral virtues of hard work and diligence. work ethic Noun a belief in the moral value of work is a good example for the younger guys.'' Reed prides himself on conditioning that has kept him off the disabled list throughout his career, but admits what happened the past two seasons scared him. Shortly after being traded from San Francisco San Francisco (săn frănsĭs`kō), city (1990 pop. 723,959), coextensive with San Francisco co., W Calif., on the tip of a peninsula between the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay, which are connected by the strait known as the Golden to Cleveland in September of 1998, Reed started experiencing numbness and coldness in the fingers of his right hand. He didn't say anything about it for more than a week, but when he did, a blood clot in the wrist of his pitching arm was determined to be the cause. ``It was very scary,'' Reed said. ``When you here the word blood clot, it's pretty severe. I wasn't too worried about my career at that point, I was more worried about just staying alive.'' Once the blood clot was dissolved, Reed was pitching within a few days and able to help the Indians in the postseason. Last year's injury had longer-lasting effects. When he scratched his elbow on a clubhouse wall in late May, Reed didn't think anything of it until two days later when his elbow was swollen and the upper portion of his arm became discolored dis·col·or v. dis·col·ored, dis·col·or·ing, dis·col·ors v.tr. To alter or spoil the color of; stain. v.intr. To become altered or spoiled in color. . Reed was out for about 10 days, but his weakness from the infection lingered. For someone used to averaging nearly 70 appearances a season, the thought of not being able to be counted on every day was frustrating. ``It's nice to be able to know that every day, I'm available,'' Reed said. ``That's something I've prided myself on. When I come to work, I'm able to go out everyday and pitch for this club and know they can rely on me.'' His work ethic dates back to high school, where as a senior in 1983 he helped Chatsworth win its first City title. Lacking overpowering stuff made him realize he had to do that much more to be successful. It also meant his prospects of playing professionally appeared dim. Reed attended Lewis & Clark College, an NAIA NAIA abbr. National Association of Intercollegiate Athletes school at the time, and was not drafted after his senior year. ``I took the hard way,'' Reed said. ``I've always had to work a little bit harder than the other guys.'' It took five years in the Giants' minor-league system before he made his major-league debut late in 1992. Reed, 34, is the oldest member of Cleveland's bullpen. Players look to him for guidance whether they're dealing with finances or baseball. His work ethic and the success it's brought him - he entered this weekend's series at Anaheim with a 2-0 record and having retired 37 of the last 46 batters he faced - are the reasons Reed believes he is respected. ``I work as hard or harder than any of the younger guys,'' he said. ``They see that and they know I'm not just someone that's blowing smoke. ``I'm not a guy that makes excuses. If I give it up, I give it up, but I don't want to look in the mirror and say `God, if I would have just done this or I would have done that, I maybe could have pitched a little better or lasted a little longer.' So I've always worked hard at it.'' REED FILE Name: Steve Reed Team: Cleveland Indians Position: Pitcher Age: 34 Local tie: Chatsworth High Career highlights: Made his 500th career major-league appearance June 4 at St. Louis. . . . Pitched in a career high 71 games in 1995 and went 5-2 with three saves and career best 2.14 ERA. . . . Led majors with 61 appearances in 1994. CAPTION(S): box Box: REED FILE (See text) |
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