BY SCOTT MACGREGOR
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Jeff Shaw receives the Rolaids Relief Man award Friday. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

A year ago, Jeff Shaw watched this ceremony as a friend of the winner, Jeff Brantley, whom Shaw served as set-up man.

Friday, in a twist Shaw never expected, he was the one being honored as the National League Rolaids Reliever of the Year for 1997. Shaw collected his trophy over lunch in a ceremony at the Quality Inn in Covington, the final stop of the Reds' Caravan.

His parents and grandparents made the trip from Washington Court House, Ohio, and wife Julie was by his side.

''It's like a dream come true,'' Shaw said. ''It didn't really sink in for me until J.B. (Brantley) came up and hugged me at the end of the season and said we were the first back-to-back winners from the same team.''

Indeed, this was the first time two teammates had won the award in consecutive years. Shaw earned it by saving 42 games, the second highest total in team history, in 49 chances last season. He tied a National League record with 14 saves in September.

It was a remarkable season for Shaw, who didn't even become the full-time closer until Brantley went on the disabled list with a shoulder injury May 20. Shaw pitched so well he made Brantley expendable in an offseason trade to the Cardinals.

As a way to thank Shaw for his help in earning the 1996 Rolaids Award, Brantley gave him a Rolex last year.

''I sat down there at the end of the table last year and never even dreamed I'd be in his shoes one year later,'' Shaw said. ''But you look at things as an opportunity. A lot of guys get that opportunity and don't capitalize on it. But this is something where I think working hard really paid off.''

Ironically, it was Brantley, the Reds' closer from 1994 until his injury, that taught Shaw how to be a dominant reliever.

''He filled my head full of so much information on hitters it was mind-boggling at times,'' Shaw said. ''I forgot some of it sometimes and had to go back and ask him.''

Manager Jack McKeon, on hand for the ceremony Friday, said Shaw was smart to learn from Brantley and hopes Shaw will teach the Reds' younger pitchers the same way.

''The mental toughness is the most important thing about pitching and Jeff has that,'' McKeon said. ''He was a tremendous influence on all of us. He came out of the shadows of Brantley and really took the bull by the horns, and he was totally prepared for the opportunity because he had studied the game.''

Shaw said he's looking forward to spring training and has thrown about a dozen times already this winter.

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