Saturday, October 23, 1999
Remlinger finds home with move to Atlanta
BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
ATLANTA — Nothing personal toward the Reds, Mike Remlinger emphasized Friday. But he's much better off with the Atlanta Braves.
After six seasons in the major leagues that included all or part of four seasons with Cincinnati (1995-98), Remlinger has thrived after settling into a defined role with the Braves.
Remlinger has pitched professionally since 1987, but this was his first season in which he did not start at least one game. He established himself as a reliable set-up left-hander for closer John Rocker, compiling a 10-1 record with one save and a 2.37 ERA. Remlinger pitched 83ö innings in 73 appearances, reflecting manager Bobby Cox's tendency to use him just one inning at a time — limited, but effective.
“It just kind of reinforces what I've always thought about myself — that I could be a big benefit to a team,” said Remlinger, who recently was rewarded with a two-year contract extension. “The opportunity was perfect for me this year, as far as the role I was in and how I was used. I could probably count on one hand the number of times I pitched more than two innings. And most of those probably were extra-inning games.”
Said Cox, “Mike Remlinger has been one of the MVPs of our team. Without him, Rocker wouldn't have had all the save opportunities.”
Playing for the Braves was easier than toiling for the Reds, said Remlinger, simply because of the disparity in talent.
“There were times when there may have been mistakes behind me or situations where I really needed to strike somebody out (with Cincinnati),” said Remlinger, who was traded to Atlanta with second baseman Bret Boone for left-hander Denny Neagle, outfielder Michael Tucker and minor-league right-hander Rob Bell last Nov.10. “That's one of the things you get into with small market/big market (teams). Without slighting any of my former teammates, you look at the talent level in this clubhouse compared to what we had last year in Cincinnati ... They're in a situation where everybody has to have great years.”
Remlinger sounded like a member of the '99 Reds in one respect. Feeling that bullpen coach Tom Hume was being overlooked, Cincinnati relievers tried to praise him whenever possible. Remlinger echoed that sentiment, crediting Hume as having the “biggest impact” on him during his Reds tenure.
“Tommy gets overlooked a lot,” Remlinger said. “He's the type of guy who doesn't say a whole lot, but when he does you listen to him.”
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