Stinnett is No. 1A

Stinnett
PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. — Kelly Stinnett's contributions to the Reds often might go unseen. But if the team enjoys any success this season, Stinnett won't be unappreciated.

Stinnett, a catcher, is projected to start fewer games than Jason LaRue, who'll probably be in the Opening Day lineup. But don't call Stinnett a No.2 catcher, a backup, or a reserve or substitute. “Alternate” catcher might be a better designation.

Catching's grueling nature demands every team — at least each respectable team — have two competent receivers, equally capable of playing regularly. Only seven major-leaguers started 120 or more games behind the plate last year. The likes of Johnny Bench, or even Bob Boone, the current Reds manager who set a record by catching at least 100 games in 15 seasons, are novelties.

“You need (two good catchers) even if you have guys like that,” Boone said Thursday before the Reds' 4-3 exhibition victory over the Texas Rangers. “If you have an injury, you have to use somebody for two weeks. You're in trouble. It (two catchers) is a necessity.”

It's also a rarity. Said Boone, “It's a really thin position, as far as finding quality guys who know what it takes in the big leagues.”

Stinnett, 31, showed enough quality in six seasons to receive a one-year, $500,000 free-agent deal from the Reds after the Arizona Diamondbacks, for whom he played in 1999-2000, declined to tender him a contract.

“There wasn't any other team I was really serious about,” said Stinnett, who also has played for the New York Mets and Milwaukee Brewers. “Once I was non- tendered, this is the place I wanted to come. I'm just glad they showed interest. It was only a couple of years ago that they were a game away from going to the playoffs. To me, there's not much difference between the team now and the team they had then, except for a few arms (pitchers). And we might even have some better arms now.”

The Reds' attraction to Stinnett stemmed from their weariness in watching pitches skip to the backstop. Stinnett committed one passed ball last year, compared with the 12 Cincinnati totaled. The Reds also set a major-league record by throwing 96 wild pitches.

Calling Stinnett a “premier” blocker of balls, Boone cited his impact in two exhibition victories, including Thursday's, even though Stinnett went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts against the Rangers.

“I don't know if anybody noticed, but Stinnett probably blocked nine balls,” Boone said. “He did a great job. It's a different game when you can block all those.”

Boone also recalled “five or six” balls Stinnett blocked in last Saturday's 6-4 victory over Tampa Bay. “That, to me, is a perfect example of how we won,” Boone said. “If we had last year's blocking, we would have lost.”

Stinnett, who also has thrown out the last three would-be basestealers he has confronted, welcomed Boone's scrutiny: “I imagine he's going to be more critical of the catching staff, obviously. But he's going to be more helpful, in the same sense. If you do make a mistake, hopefully you won't make it again down the road.”

Stinnett's .182 spring average (4-for-22) belies his ability to provide helpful offense, another trait some catchers lack. He averaged 11 home runs while playing a rate of just 85 games a year with Arizona. Last year, he hit .217 with eight homers and 33 RBI while starting 68 games.

“I guess I'm labeled as a backup here,” Stinnett said. “Hopefully that won't stick and I'll get to play a little bit.”

Judging from the way Boone talks, a little could mean a lot.

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