Sullivan's conditioning pays off

The dual benefits to Sullivan's exercise are directly responsible for his durability, which has reached record-setting proportions and bolstered the Reds' conviction that they'll have one of the best bullpens in the major leagues.

Sullivan literally takes conditioning a step farther than other players. He does the same weightlifting, flexibility exercises and windsprints that have become part of a modern pitcher's regimen. But Sullivan's routine also includes frequent four- to five-mile runs that would make many major leaguers swallow their chewing tobacco.

“I probably do more running than a lot of relievers,” he said.

Sullivan struck a philosophical tone in explaining his approach.

“It probably helps me more mentally than physically,” Sullivan said Sunday. “Obviously, I get some positive feedback from my workouts, as far as keeping in shape. But it also helps to know that I've done everything possible to prepare to pitch. Knowing that I'm prepared for the situation, knowing that I've worked hard to get to this situation and

knowing that when success happens, I deserve it, because I worked for it. A lot of times I think we get in situations where you don't expect success because you don't work to get it.”

Reds relief ace Danny Graves confirmed that this is more than just idle talk from Sullivan.

“I think one guy in all of baseball works harder than Sully does — Pete Harnisch,” Graves said. “They realize that's what you have to do to be healthy. I think the better your legs are in shape, the better your arm's going to be. He never takes anything for granted.”

The Reds don't take Sullivan for granted, though his performance has been remarkably predictable.

He's only the second pitcher in history to lead the majors in relief innings for three years in a row (1998-2000), matching Hall of Famer Hoyt Wilhelm (1952-54 with the New York Giants). Sullivan's 419 1/3 innings pitched in the last four seasons are more than any reliever in that span.

Meanwhile, Graves has blossomed into one of baseball's top closers. He credited Sullivan, who often precedes him on the mound, for hastening his development.

“Not to take anything away from anybody else, but he has been able to eat up a lot of innings,” Graves said. “I know I've always been right up there with him” — Graves pitched 202 1/3 innings in 1999-2000 to Sullivan's 220 — “but if he wasn't as durable, I'd have to throw more innings.”

Manager Bob Boone hopes he won't have to call on Sullivan as much this season. Boone's wishes will be fulfilled if the starting rotation consumes more innings (Cincinnati's starters ranked 12th with 954 innings last year) and other relievers such as John Riedling and Mark Wohlers help Sullivan shoulder the set-up role.

“I want to protect him,” Boone said of Sullivan, who was 3-6 with a 3.47 ERA in 79 appearances last year. “We should have enough in our 'pen to keep him strong. But he's good enough so that he's going to have a lot (of innings).”

Sullivan's penchant for pitching 100 innings or more has earned him favorable recognition within baseball, along with a three-year, $6.95 million contract. But like the Reds' other veterans, he ranks personal achievement behind team accomplishment.

“I want to put up Ws (victories). That's what I want,” said Sullivan, who turns 30 on March 13. “And I think everyone on the team is after that. What am I going to remember 10 years down the road, throwing 100 or so innings back-to-back or whether I have a World Championship ring on my finger?”

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