GOODYEAR, AZ. -- Skip Schumaker wears the evidence on his back of how much he loves baseball. Right below his neck is a tattoo of a baseball between crossed baseball bats.
And the 35-year-old Schumaker maintains his love affair despite the fact a great portion of his career has been that of a bench player, a plug-in guy. But his value is that he can play second base and all the outfield spots.
Cincinnati Reds manager Bryan Price issued the ultimate compliment when he said, "We don't feel like we take a huge step backwards whenever Skip is in the line-up. He picks up right where we leave off with our regulars."
Schumaker stood near his locker and pulled a jersey over his head that covered the tattoo and said, "Oh, that's nice. That's really nice for him to say that."
With all the injuries the Reds sustained last year, Schumaker would have accrued considerable playing time. But he was on the hurt list, too. He began last season on the disabled list after separating his shoulder late in spring training trying to make a diving catch in a meaningless game. But that's the way he operates.
The shoulder was never the same but he tried to play and finally succumbed to shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum on September 12.
Asked if he would like to have last season back, Schumaker said, "Yes, I would like a do-over, but so would our other injured guys like Joey Votto and Jay Bruce and Brandon Phillips. Even guys who had great years like Todd Frazier and Devin Mesoraco would like do-overs, from a team standpoint.
"I mean a healthy Votto, a healthy Bruce and a healthy Phillips are three nice additions to the team this year," he said. "If we get those guys for 150 games, you have something. Any team would like to have any one of those guys for 150 healthy games."
Votto played 99, Phillips played 121 and Bruce played 137. But they all also played a lot of games when they were hurt.
As for his role as a non-starter, Schumaker said, "That's the role that I'm used to and I'm OK with it. I enjoy it. I take pride in coming off the bench and doing well. In my opinion it is the toughest role in baseball.
"Having to face (Atlanta closer) Craig Kimbrell in your only at-bat is not an easy thing to do," Schumaker said. "But that's my job and I take pride in doing it. And I'm willing to help the young guys coming up, like Kris Negron. These are kids coming up from the minors who are not used to sitting the bench and coming off the bench.
"I believe that just like a strong bullpen that a strong bench is huge in this game," he said. "It is just as important, sometimes more important. When guys need a day off and you can substitute a guy who can get you a couple of hits or a couple of runs it is a huge thing for a club.
"Even though you might not play, you get ready every single day as if you are going to play," he said. "You work as hard as the regulars. A lot of people don't know that. They think if you don't play you just sit on the bench for nine innings. But you have to get ready several times during a game, be prepared."
Price certainly appreciates what Schumaker did to get ready this season and for what he can contribute.
"Skip worked extremely hard this winter coming off that shoulder separation," said Price. "It's long and it's tedious and you feel like your arm will never be the same. But he got over the hump this winter and is full-go this spring."
Not only did Schumaker suffer the shoulder injury, but he incurred a concussion right before the All-Star game.
"He was never 100 percent," said Price. "He had to completely shut down his spring training and do rehab to get back. I know what he can do and at 100 percent he'll have a bigger impact this year. He will be the guy to spell all our outfielders when needed and spell Brandon Phillips at second base when needed. And he is s piece off the bench who can help us win a game in a myriad of ways. He is a high on-base guy so he is a great table-setter and he is instinctive on the bases."
