THE SIDELINES : Reds’ Don Gullet Is Recovering

Former Cincinnati Reds pitcher Don Gullett, forced out of baseball early by medical problems, is now recovering from a heart-bypass operation that has sidelined him from his coaching job in the Reds’ organization.

Gullett, 39, underwent the triple-bypass surgery last week at the Cleveland Clinic. He is now back at home in Maloneton, Ky., to recuperate.

“A guy has to be lucky to be alive when he thinks about all of this,” he said. “A lot of people take life for granted.”

At age 27, with 109 victories in 8 1/2 seasons, Gullett was forced out of baseball because of a rotator-cuff injury. At 35, he suffered a heart attack.

He took a job this season as pitching coach for the Reds’ Class AA farm team in Chattanooga, Tenn. But a couple of weeks ago when the team was in Memphis, Gullett complained of dizziness and headaches. Doctors attributed the problems to his heart again, prompting last week’s surgery.