Gabe White compares success to throwing a 3-0 pitch. “You never know,” he said. “Sometimes you throw it down the middle and they take it. Sometimes they swing and hit a home run. It's a gamble whether they're swinging or not.

        “I think it carries over with a lot things as far as pitching goes. It's being in the right place at the right time.”

        Cincinnati in 2002 is the right place and the right time for White. Colorado in 2001 was the wrong place and wrong time.

        Left-hander White returned to the Reds from Colorado in the Pokey Reese trade. White and the Reds face the Rockies in the first game of a three-game series at 7:10 p.m. today at Cinergy Field.

        White, 30, suffered through his worst year as a big-leaguer last year — 1-7 with a 6.25 ERA.

        But since returning to the Reds, White has been dominant. In 12 2/3 innings of work, he's allowed only one run and six hits. He has struck out eight and walked only two.

        “He's certainly upgraded our pitching staff,” Reds manager Bob Boone said. “The surprise for me is he's got more of a breaking ball than I ever saw him have before.”

        White started the season in the middle-relief mix. But lately, he's been setting up Scott Sullivan, who sets up closer Danny Graves.

        “That's all about being a relief pitcher,” he said. “You do well and you get out there more. You don't do well and you don't get out there as often.”

        Boone has always coveted a left-handed specialist — someone to pitch to the Barry Bonds' of the world. White is becoming that type of lefty.

        “When we got him back, I thought of him as more of a guy who'd give you an inning or two every day,” Boone said. “Not particularly a left-handed specialist. While he can get everybody out, he's really done a good job with left-handers. We can bring him in to face left-handers and feel pretty good about it. The work he's done so far has really upgraded our staff.”

        Despite his overall dismal numbers, White had a good second half last season. He had a 3.99 ERA after the All-Star break despite pitching half his games in Coors Field.

        “I guess it carried over,” he said. “I'm not trying any harder now than I ever have before. I don't try less hard when I don't do well.”

        White was tickled to come back to the Reds, largely because he and Graves are good friends. But there was another reason. He was familiar with pitching coach Don Gullett and bullpen coach Tom Hume.

        “It really helps,” he said. “It's a lot easier coming back to a staff I know rather than going some place totally new. In the meantime, I've gone out and worked with other people, got new information. That helps.

        “That's the whole thing about major-league coaches, they're here to help guys along. We have a good staff here.”

        Even though the Reds' bullpen is deeper and had seven pitchers most of the season, Boone keeps his top guys busy. Sullivan and White have appeared in 12 of the Reds' 18 games. That puts them on pace to appear in 108 for the year. The major-league record is 106 games, set by Mike Marshall of the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1974.

        “I know that's going to slack off,” White said. “I think Bob has done an incredible job of using us — maybe the games have dictated it. (Saturday), we were winning 6-0, and both Sully and myself got work. That keeps us fresh, makes us better the next day.”

        White says more work is better than less.

        “Oh my gosh, yes. It's very important to work. It's important to keep you just tired enough to keep the edge off,” White said. “That's when relievers are at their best. When you come out real strong with tons rest, it's not usually when you're at your best.”

        The way White is pitching, plenty of work will continue to come his way. He knows that will change if he isn't as successful.

        “Your workload is totally determined by your performance,” he said. “It has to be. If you're not pitching really well, let the guy who is go out there in the critical situation.”

        The bullpen, which was expected to be good, has been extraordinary. Reds relievers are 4-1 with a 2.63 ERA.

        “You're only as good as the people around you,” White said. “A good bullpen is going to make everybody better.”

        Again, White knows how fickle success is.

        “It seems pretty easy now,” White said. “But there are going to be times during the season when it seems impossible.”

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