By John Fay
The Cincinnati Enquirer

SARASOTA, Fla. - Jason LaRue and Bob Boone have had a rocky relationship in Boone's two years as Reds manager and LaRue's two years as No. 1 catcher.

Boone has criticized LaRue more than any other player.

But going into their third year, each says the relationship is fine. Boone, a former catcher, knows he's too hard on those who play his old position, but he says he's just trying to make LaRue better. LaRue says that's what he wants too.

"I'll say: `That pitch sequence wasn't good. The last pitch wasn't the right pitch,' " Boone said. "I'm critical so he learns from it. That's the only way to learn. It comes out as criticism, but it's used to teach."

Said LaRue: "I expect so much out of myself, so I expect other people to expect a lot out of me. I want people to push me. If people don't push, they don't get the best out of you. What's gone on the last few years is Bob's way of pushing me to get the best out of me. I appreciate that."

Boone says he doesn't single out LaRue. Kelly Stinnett and Corky Miller hear it as well.

"I know about the catching position, and I know what happens," said Boone, who won seven Gold Gloves as a catcher. "I usually allocate more of the blame on the catcher than I do the pitcher - even though it's always the pitcher's fault."

LaRue, 29, throws as well as anyone in baseball. He threw out 28 would-be base stealers last season; 34 were successful against him. That was the second-best ratio in baseball.

LaRue hits well enough - .249, 12 homers and 52 RBI - for a position Boone considers primarily defensive.

But in two other key areas, LaRue needs to get better: receiving (he led the majors with 20 passed balls last season) and calling the game (his catcher ERA of 4.86 was a run higher than Stinnett's or Miller's last year).

"The last two years, looking back on them now, have been an unbelievable learning experience," LaRue said.

The key with LaRue is dialing down his intensity a notch. When a ball gets away from him, his first step could get him through a brick wall, even though sometimes all he needs to do is bend over to pick up the ball.

"I'm a lot more relaxed then I used to be," LaRue said. "I'm just a guy who's always been a perfectionist. Sometimes I put too much pressure on myself. If you're relaxed, you're going to do better. If you have any tension in your muscles, you're not going to allow your body to do what you want it to do. The main thing is: Learn to relax."

LaRue will go into the season the No. 1 catcher, with Stinnett No. 2. But Boone's the-best-player-will-play dictum applies to all positions.

"If one guy's struggling, the other guy will play more," Boone said. "If Kelly outplays him, he'll play all the time."

LaRue says the last two years have boosted his confidence, and that confidence is evident in spring training.

"He looks good, real good," Boone said. "Swinging the bat, he's been very consistent."

LaRue played part of last season while suffering from a hernia. He had surgery to repair it Sept. 21.

"It bothered me, but as far as hindering my play, it didn't until I told (the Reds)," he said. "That's why I told them. (At first), it only bothered me to run. But it finally got to the point where I could feel it when I threw. Any time I had to use my lower abs to do anything, I felt it."

LaRue's recovery went quickly. He wasn't supposed to do any exercise for 10 to 12 weeks.

"But I didn't listen to that," he said. "I kind of went on how my body felt."

In the weeks leading up to spring training, he was at 100 percent.

"I did everything I usually do. The last three weeks I lifted weights as hard as I can possibly lift them," he said. "The main thing is I wanted to come to spring training 100 percent."

STENSON PICKED UP: The Reds signed Dernell Stenson Tuesday after he was released by the Boston Red Sox. He is expected to report today.

Stenson, 23, hit .250 with nine home runs and 36 RBI in 107 games with Triple-A Pawtucket last year. Stenson, a left-hander hitter, can play left field or first base.

PROKOPEC ON DL: The Reds placed Luke Prokopec on the 60-day disabled list.

Prokopec, a 25-year-old right-hander, was one of three selections by the Reds in the Rule 5 Draft. He is coming off shoulder surgery and won't be ready to pitch until at least June.

E-mail jfay@enquirer.com