It's safe to say John Riedling has a unique outlook about his work schedule. “I don't want an offseason,” he said Saturday.

        Riedling's zeal was easy to understand. The rookie continued his rapid emergence as a key member of the Reds' bullpen, earning his first major-league save with a three-inning effort in a 7-3 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers.

        Though the Reds have won 16 of their last 24 games, the St. Louis Cardinals' victory over Chicago trimmed their magic number for clinching the National League Central Division to three.

        Summoned from Triple-A Louisville on Aug. 28 after Scott Williamson went on the disabled list, Riedling already has made nine appearances. His 1.54 ERA and 15 strikeouts in 11 2/3 innings have the Reds believing he can deepen the set-up corps in front of closer Danny Graves.

        Graves warmed up briefly but wasn't needed. Riedling struck out five and allowed just one hit, Jeromy Burnitz's eighth-inning leadoff homer, to preserve the third consecutive victory for Elmer Dessens (9-5).

        “I'm having a lot of fun right now,” Riedling said. “I didn't think I'd be used this much. Just go out there and make the best of it. This is like spring training. You want to show them how sharp your breaking pitches are or how sharp your control is.”

        Riedling's presence will be doubly necessary if Reds management, saddled with payroll limits, decides that potential free agent Mark Wohlers or arbitration-eligible set-up artist Scott Sullivan are too expensive to retain.

        “We've had success with

        the young guys,” said Reds manager Jack McKeon, who has nurtured pitchers such as Williamson, Graves and Sullivan during his tenure. “We're not afraid to put him out there. He has a chance to really help this ballclub next year.”

        The Reds have maintained confidence in Riedling, 25, since selecting him from Ely High School in Pompano Beach, Fla., in the 22nd round of the 1994 amateur draft. Though his ERA was 5.00 or higher in four of his first five minor-league seasons, his ability to throw hard kept intriguing them. Cincinnati removed him from the 40-man roster in December, 1998 to accommodate some offseason acquisitions but quickly re-signed him.

        “They basically said, "Don't worry about the numbers; we have confidence in your stuff,' ” Riedling said. “That helped a lot.”

        Riedling still has encountered his share of doubters. Scouts told him that he'd never develop a decent curveball.

        “They're not hitting it right now,” he said.

        Acquaintances in his hometown watched his minor-league tenure lengthen and wondered if he'd ever reach the majors. Even Riedling admitted, “When a guy spends that many years in the minor leagues, there's a pretty good chance he's not going to make it.”

        Others looked at Riedling's stature — he's generously listed at 5-foot-11 — and made an unfavorable snap judgment.

        All this served only to motivate Riedling. “I love when people say I can't do something,” he said. “I thrive on that big-time.”

        Riedling's switch from the starting rotation to the bullpen in '99 launched his ascent. He was 10-5 with a 2.57 ERA and six saves in Double- and Triple-A that year after finishing 3-10 with a 5.00 ERA while mostly starting the year before. This season, he was 6-3 with a 2.52 ERA and five saves when the Reds recalled him.

        He impressed observers immediately, pitching a scoreless inning at Atlanta in his major-league debut Aug. 30 before earning his first victory the next night. He struck out the side in consecutive outings on Sept. 9 at Pittsburgh and Sept. 11 against Chicago.

        “His ball moves all over the place,” said catcher Benito Santiago, who has caught numerous pitchers in his 14 major-league seasons. “I have to be more heads-up than the hitter.”

Reds 7, Brewers 3 Box, runs Kroger pulls Griffey cereal box Stynes not used to such a workout

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