Pitcher comeback stories seem to be very popular this week. Here's one about the Reds' Scott Sullivan:

The right-hander's 2002 season went downhill after he was struck on the elbow May 13 by a ball off the bat of Milwaukee's Richie Sexson. Sullivan was 3-0 with a 2.10 ERA at the time, then went 3-5 with a 7.98 ERA.

``All the problems he had last year go back to getting hit on the elbow,'' Reds manager Bob Boone said.

Sullivan isn't worrying and believes he can again be a premier setup man.

He led the majors in relief innings pitched for four consecutive years, from 1998 through 2001. He averaged 106 1-3 innings pitched each year during that time.

He lives in Auburn, Ala., and has been working with athletic trainers at Auburn University, his alma mater. He also hired a personal trainer for the first time.

``I made it a priority,'' he said.

The Reds are watching his progress closely this spring. Boone, a former catcher, wants to see whether Sullivan has regained the rhythm that enabled him to become a day-to-day workhorse.

``He's a hard guy to judge,'' Boone said. ``You can't look at the (radar) gun with him. Last year, he was throwing too hard at times. With him, it's more of a rhythm.''