Saves easy as 1-2-3

BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Stan Belinda will be used in middle relief when he returns from the disabled list. (Craig Ruttle | ZOOM)

Danny Graves and Gabe White are wrestling aficionados, which is fitting, given the tag-team act they'll engage in this year for the Reds.

Graves and White -- and possibly even rookie Scott Williamson -- will share the closer's role, attempting to preserve ninth-inning leads they inherit. Because Graves is right-handed and White's a lefty, they'll give manager Jack McKeon some flexibility, depending on the look of the opponent's lineup.

''Our bullpen can be solid,'' McKeon said. ''We're expecting them to be, but you're still putting a lot of pressure on those guys to perform like they did last year. Hopefully they will -- and get better. I just have a feeling they'll rise to the occasion.''

Graves lacks the typical closer's imposing size (he's listed at 5-foot-11) but has the velocity and the guts to get the job done. He was successful in all eight of his save opportunities last season while making 62 appearances, the most extensive action of his career.

White was successful in nine of 13 save opportunities as he moved from starting to relieving. Opponents batted just .231 against White, whose 27 walks in 98 2/3 innings reflected excellent control.

''I look back and try to remember what I did the four days when I wasn't starting,'' White said. ''I don't want to go through that anymore.''

At this point, McKeon won't commit himself to a formula for alternating White and Graves.

''My closer is whoever pitches the ninth inning,'' said McKeon, who has admitted that he'd like to have a single, dominant ninth-inning specialist but doesn't mind using a ''committee.''

''The thing I like about Graves and White is they take the ball. They love the challenge.''

Gabe White is one of only two left-handers in the bullpen. (Craig Ruttle | ZOOM)

Williamson, a non-roster invitee who commanded attention by routinely throwing 95 mph and faster this spring, also could join that committee. Williamson, a right-hander who also throws a split-fingered fastball, probably will begin the year in a set-up role, working the sixth and seventh innings. Expect McKeon to ease Williamson, another former starter, into closing opportunities as the year proceeds.

Though right-hander Stan Belinda (shoulder tendinitis) will begin the season on the disabled list, the Reds have plenty of alternatives to use in the set-up role until he's activated, which won't be before April 10.

Besides Williamson, Cincinnati also has right-handers John Hudek, who struck out 68 batters in 64 innings last year, and Scott Sullivan, who led all major-league relievers with 102 innings. At 28, Sullivan is resilient enough to handle frequent work, but because he pitched 97 1/3 innings in 1997, the Reds might be more careful about rationing his workload.

With White as their only lefty, the Reds were in danger of having an imbalanced bullpen. Fortunately for them, Dennys Reyes emerged as a viable alternative. The 21-year-old left-hander may not have looked impressive statistically, posting an 7.45 ERA in spring training, but he was consistent against left-handers in spring games. He also led all Reds relievers in strikeouts with 20 in 19 1/3 innings.