Jason LaRue hits an RBI single to score Aaron Boone for the Reds. (Michael E. Keating photo) | ZOOM |

        SARASOTA, Fla. — Jason LaRue figures this is the year he's going to hit.

        “There's no doubt in my mind,” he said. “I worked hard in the offseason. I got back to the way I used to hit.”

        The way LaRue, the Reds' starting catcher, used to hit is pretty good. He had a .292 career average in the minor leagues. During his last full year in the minors, in fact, he won the Southern League batting and slugging percentage title at Chattanooga, hitting .365 with 14 home runs and 82 RBI.

        In the majors, LaRue has a .232 average. LaRue hit .236 last year. His power numbers — 12 home runs, 43 RBI in 364 at-bats — were OK.

        “He can be a much better hitter,” Reds hitting coach Jim Lefebvre said. “I really like him. He's got a lot of power.”

        LaRue showed a little of his new stuff Friday in the Reds' 3-0 exhibition victory over the Texas Rangers. He punched a single into left field to drive in the Reds' first run.

        Getting back to the way he used to hit involved relaxing at the plate.

        “That's what we talked about,” Lefebvre said. “We tried to get him to stay back and drive the ball to right-center. He was getting a little too anxious and getting out front too much.

        “He just needed to get back to what he was doing in his successful years. It's no secret.”

        LaRue, 28, is still inexperienced by big-league standards. Last year was his first full year in the majors.

        And in many ways, it was a stressful year. LaRue was working for Reds manager Bob Boone, a seven-time Gold Glove winner and an admitted perfectionist.

        His standards were tough for LaRue to meet. But Boone was pleased with LaRue's progress.

        “By the end of the year, Jason was much better,” Boone said. “He understands what I want better. He's better at working with pitchers. He's better against the running game. He's better at blocking balls. He's much more relaxed.”

        But the rigors of the defensive part of the game left little time to deal with offense.

        “Catching is the hardest position on the field,” LaRue said. “You have a lot on your mind. You worry about working with pitchers, throwing runners out. When you're done with all that, you go hit.”

        The one area where LaRue excelled was in throwing out runners. He led all National League catchers in caught-stealing, throwing out 41 of 68 (60.29 percent) would-be base stealers. Only 10-time Gold Glove winner Ivan Rodriguez of Texas, at 60.34 percent, was better in the majors.

        The veteran Kelly Stinnett is healthy again after surgery on his right elbow and right knee Sept.9.

        Stinnett, 32, has good power. He hit .257 last year with nine homers and 25 RBI. He's also strong defensively, particularly when his elbow's sound (and it has been so far this spring.)

        With Stinnett healthy, LaRue can stay fresh. Boone used the two almost equally at times last year.

        “I think Bob is going to go with who's hot,” Stinnett said. “If Jason's hot, he should play. If I'm hot, I should play.”

        LaRue is clearly the No.1 catcher on the depth chart.

        “Jason's the catcher; Kelly's the backup,” Boone said. “But they're both going to play a lot.”

LaRue looks for his swing Reds 3, Rangers 0 Reds notebook Baseball notebook

Bearcats, Tigers playing for position
Xavier rises as shots fall
Dilfer top choice in QB derby
NFL notebook
Badin stomps Bellbrook
Brawl mars Reading win
CovCath gets victory but might lose Lewin
Jackson's hoop boosts Holmes
Madeira shocks Waynesville
McNick beats Norwood, faces Badin
New Miami claims crown
Second-half run sparks Bacon
Top-seeded CCD upset by Harmony
Roundup: Kentucky boys
Ohio boys basketball scores
Ohio girls basketball scores
Indiana boys basketball scores
Kentucky boys basketball scores
Kentucky girls basketball scores
Division I wrestling
Divisions II-III wrestling
Wrestling results
Enquirer tipoff page
Five questions with John Calipari
Q&A with Perry and Schmidt
Florida-Kentucky winner to get SEC Tournament bye
Hard-charging Kent State goes for record at Miami
NKU, XU women win tourney openers
Richardson out at Arkansas
Sharing Big Ten title would suit Bucks
Boxing: Williams' next foe
Bridgeport edges Ducks
Horse racing: 'Parole' favored
Kentucky AD's job in jeopardy
Local electrician mushes in Iditarod
UofL president quits
Big Easy does it at Genuity event
Blazers win eighth straight
No sponsorship, but one pole for Bodine
Sabres cool off Bruins
Coming up this week

• Return to Reds front page...