Though the Reds led the National League with 29 errors entering by Saturday, labeling them as inept on defense would be another mistake.

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Infielders Aaron Boone, Barry Larkin, Sean Casey and Pokey Reese. (Brandi Stafford photo) 600 | 800 | 1024

        Flimsy fielding hasn't been a widespread epidemic among the Reds. Nearly two-thirds of the errors have been committed by just two players with nine apiece, shortstop Barry Larkin and third baseman Aaron Boone.

        These mistakes have led to 20 unearned runs, another league high. Yet these have inconvenienced the Reds more than they've doomed them. Poor defense can be directly attributed to two defeats — April 4 against Pittsburgh, when Boone muffed a grounder that led to three ninth-inning runs, and April 21 against New York, when the Reds' four errors matched the total of unearned runs they allowed.

        “The other (defeats), the shoulda-woulda-couldas are if we had gotten a hit,” Reds manager Bob Boone said.

        Though statistical measurements of defensive quality always have been imperfect, the Reds have devised a system that reflects the impact of their fielding, both good and bad.

        “Even with all of our errors, we're about six runs ahead of our opponents' defense in terms of runs prevented,” said Brad Kullman, Cincinnati's director of baseball administration.

        Kullman and his assistant, Geoff Silver, calculate the value of each defensive play by using run-expectancy tables devised by a group called Baseball Prospectus. For example, Baseball Prospectus figured that a team will average 1.18 runs per inning when it has a runner on second base with nobody out and 0.31 runs with nobody on and one out. So if a fielder makes a diving catch that prevents a double to open an inning, he receives 0.87 worth of defensive statistical credit.

        Purists and players may cringe at this sort of thing. But it does support the theory that the 2001 Reds are far from being the 1962 Mets.

        “It's subjective. It's not perfect. But it's better than just counting errors,” Kullman said. “I don't know what we're going to do with it, but we're just doing it to see what it might show.”

        Comforting as this might seem for the Reds, they'd still be well-advised to tighten their fielding.

        Their last three first-place teams had airtight defense as a common trait. The 1990 World Series-winning club led the NL in fielding, as did the 1995 Central Division champions. The 1994 team that led the division before the players' strike ended the season was ranked second in fielding.

        Those teams didn't face the conversion from artificial turf to grass that the Reds encountered at Cinergy Field this year. Players welcomed the natural surface, which is easier on the legs. But the newly installed grass had little thickness and the infield dirt had insufficient texture in early April. Ground balls darted wickedly toward infielders as if they were traveling on an undulating gymnasium floor.

        “You're not as sure that ball's going to stay there when that last hop's jumping up,” Boone said, explaining the infield's effect. “You get a couple of those, so you start playing (for a) hop, and then it stays (down) and you're doing something a little different. It creates some habits.”

        Time and better weather have helped head groundskeeper Doug Gallant and his crew improve the surface.

        “It's definitely better,” Boone said. “The grass has thickened and they've really worked on the dirt, so it's softer. Doug has worked his tail off.”

        Time also could help Aaron Boone and Larkin, who have dealt with knee and groin injuries, respectively, that hampered their flexibility.

        “You catch the ball with your legs,” Bob Boone pointed out, referring to the crouching an infielder does. “I still believe with both Lark and Aaron, it has to do with the legs and how they started practicing early on. Everything you do in practice is to try to create a habit.”

        Larkin, a three-time Gold Glove award winner who has never amassed more than 17 errors in any full season since 1989, concurred. “My legs aren't underneath me,” he said, analyzing why he has committed five of his errors on poor throws. “It's a function of not being totally healthy and bad mechanics.”

        Aaron Boone has matched each error with an above-average play. His defense has been a positive influence by a one-run margin, according to Kullman's defensive stats before Friday.

        Boone felt he was in more of a mental rut than a physical one.

        “I just haven't been really comfortable out there,” he said. “There's a lot of reasons for that, but, that said, I need to be better. The thing is, I am better, and the people who know me know what kind of player I am. So I think it's just a matter of making some plays, getting comfortable and having that ultra-confidence that I'm used to having when I'm playing really free and loose. Right now, I'm probably playing more not to make a mistake. That's no way to play.”

        Examples of the right way abound. Second baseman Pokey Reese is bidding for his third consecutive Gold Glove award. Though Bob Boone continues to work with catcher Jason LaRue at refining his defense, LaRue (6-for-12, 50 percent) and Kelly Stinnett (4-for-12, 33 percent) have combined to throw out 42 percent of opposing basestealers through Friday, well above average.

        Dmitri Young has remained adequate in left field and competent when he spells Sean Casey at first base. Casey has approached mildly challenging plays, such as short-hop throws, more smoothly. Outfielders Alex Ochoa, Ruben Rivera and Michael Tucker are definite assets. And utility player Juan Castro makes every play look easy, which is why he and Stinnett each received contract extensions Friday.

        Different players stay sharp in different ways.

        “There are times that you can go into slumps, just like in hitting, from blocking a ball to throwing runners out,” LaRue said. “A couple of times a month, you need to set time aside to throw 10 balls to second base or a couple of balls to third base to reinforce mechanics.”

        “I was born with this talent, you know what I mean?” Reese said without a trace of boastfulness. “I don't do anything nobody else does. I just take balls off the bat (during batting practice) and less fungoes than most people would. I get a better read from the bat. I get fungoes just to get loose.”

        Even with all this practice, ugly things still happen. Last Tuesday, the Reds nearly ruined Deion Sanders' triumphant return to the major leagues when reliever Mark Wohlers mishandled a comebacker and LaRue circled under a pop-up that dropped for a single. Los Angeles' Dave Hansen then lined a three-run double, tying the score in the seventh inning.

        “I don't know if I've ever seen two plays like that back-to-back, ever,” said Bob Boone, who has been in professional baseball since 1969.

        He may have a long memory, but it's best for the players to keep a short one.

        “Everybody's had some goofy play like that where it makes you look smaller than a Little Leaguer on the field,” LaRue said. “I never, ever want that to happen again. But in this game you're going to make mistakes. You don't like it, but you have to accept it and go on. You can't dwell on it.”

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