By Kevin Kelly
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Chris Reitsma developed his "Bugs Bunny" changeup after returning from 2001 shoulder surgery. The pitch first resembles a fastball but slows abruptly to throw off hitters in cartoon-like style. The Cincinnati Enquirer/MICHAEL E. KEATING

SARASOTA, Fla. - Four fingers.

Chris Reitsma accepted the catcher's sign with the slightest of nods and reached into his glove for the baseball.

Everything about the subsequent throwing motion and release told Reds first baseman Sean Casey a 95 mph fastball was heading his way Wednesday.

"About 10 feet in front of the plate the ball looked like it just stopped," said Casey, who faced Reitsma in the intrasquad game at Ed Smith Stadium.

"It's like he pulled a string and it stopped. That guy is nasty."

Therein lies the reason teammates refer to Reitsma's changeup as the "Bugs Bunny."

When paired with his above-average fastball, the pitch and cartoonish results often resemble something out of Looney Tunes.

It's part of what has made Reitsma, 26, a valuable and versatile component in the Reds' bullpen, though his role this season has yet to be defined.

"It's the best changeup I've ever caught," Reds catcher Jason LaRue said. "The reason it works so well is because he doesn't do anything different with his changeup than he does with his fastball. But it's probably 15 mph slower than his fastball.

"Any time you can sell a pitch like that, it's unbelievable."

Reitsma's changeup is likened by teammates to the one thrown by Padres closer Trevor Hoffman, who has saved 31 or more games eight times the past nine seasons.

After shoulder surgery to remove bone spurs and repair a torn labrum in 2001, Reitsma's change-up was born out of necessity.

"When I came back from the arm injury (in 2002), I couldn't throw hard, and I had to get people out," Reitsma said. "So one day I just started messing with a change-up. All of a sudden, it just felt natural and normal to me.

"From that point on, I worked my butt off to get it to where I could control it at any time."

While there are several variations of the pitch, Reitsma's is the four-seamed type. The index, middle and ring fingers rest atop four seams and the pinkie hugs the side while the thumb, positioned underneath, provides added stability.

"I set it back with three fingers and suck it back into my palm," Reitsma said. "When I throw it, I just kind of limp-wrist it a little bit at the end.

"It's got to have the same rotation as the fastball. If the batter sees a quick arm and the same spin, he's going to think it's a fastball."

Success often depends on timing.

Sometimes, a feeling dictates when a catcher calls for the pitch. Other times, it's a fastball pulled down either line in foul territory.

The trick is throwing the pitch low in the strike zone.

"We just want to keep it down," LaRue said. "I may shade to one side of the plate, depending on whether it's a right-handed or left-handed hitter."

Reitsma took on several roles with the Reds last season.

In 57 games, he started three and also appeared as a long reliever, set-up man and closer.

"He did everything we asked him to do last year," Reds pitching coach Don Gullett said. "It's just like adding more to his resume, the fact he's able to go long, set up and close. To me, that's beneficial in his development and arrival to where he is."

Reitsma led the Reds with nine wins last season and was 6-3 with 12 saves and a 2.84 in his last 47 appearances.

"It was difficult to prepare, because I didn't know what role I was going to have from day to day," said Reitsma, who also was named the Reds' Most Outstanding Pitcher. "I just learned to be aggressive in every situation and tried to adapt.

"That's what I learned the most, and I think I did a half-decent job."

With Danny Graves back as the Reds' closer, Reitsma enters the spring training schedule without a clearly defined role.

Reitsma, who lost his first arbitration hearing last month and will be paid $950,000 this year, could see work in a variety of roles.

He probably will be considered a set-up or situational reliever with the ability to fill in when Graves needs a rest.

"It would be nice to know in the next couple of weeks," Reitsma said. "At this point, I'm pretty sure I'll be in the bullpen, doing those one-inning stints and coming out."

And fooling hitters with the "Bugs Bunny."

"It's something I'm born with I guess," he said. "Some guys have great curveballs and certain feels for certain pitches.

"It's fun. I want to continue to get better at it. Trevor Hoffman is a guy who's mastered it. I want to be as good as him."

E-mail kkelly@enquirer.com