51s’ Henn learned by watching renowned relievers

As Sean Henn works and waits for another chance to get back to the major leagues, he applies the lessons learned from working alongside two of the greatest relief pitchers in history.

He watched how Mariano Rivera with the New York Yankees and Trevor Hoffman with the San Diego Padres produced larger-than-life achievements by concentrating on the minute details few others saw.

"You watch how those guys go about their business," Henn, a 51s reliever, said before Friday's 9-7 win over the Colorado Springs Sky Sox. "It's day in, day out. They're prepared for whatever it is they have to do."

So Henn tries to be ready for each situation, whether it's with Las Vegas or, he hopes, the Toronto Blue Jays.

Nothing prepared him better than being in New York from 2005 to 2007. It was over parts of those three seasons in the Bronx that Henn saw every day was measured a success or failure, unlike the big-picture perspective most major league clubs prefer given the 162-game marathon of a season.

"That's the way the Yankees have always been," Henn said. "It's strictly business: 'We're here to win, and we'll bring you in. If you can't win, we'll find somebody who can.' "

Henn, who has played for four major league teams, has made a strong case this season to be elevated by the Blue Jays, who don't have the left-hander on their 40-man roster.

He is 2-1 with three saves and a 2.68 ERA in 26 appearances. It's quite an improvement on his 3-4 record with two saves and a 4.73 ERA last season in Las Vegas.

He hasn't allowed a run in six of his past 10 relief appearances.

"Early in the season, he had one good outing and one mediocre outing, and then he'd turn around and have one good one and one bad one," 51s manager Marty Brown said. "I think that's been Sean's issue in his career, is his inconsistency. He's put a very good stretch of games together."

An injury in Toronto would be the best chance for Henn to get called up. The Blue Jays' bullpen, despite some recent struggles, has been solid and not in need of reinforcements.

So every time Henn takes the mound, it's a 30-team audition for the 30-year-old. If the Blue Jays don't have room, maybe another club would for the 6-foot-3-inch, 235-pounder who is built like a linebacker.

His most recent big league appearance occurred two years ago with the Baltimore Orioles. He also pitched for the Minnesota Twins that season.

Most of Henn's experience was in New York, where in 2007 he made a career-high 29 appearances. But he also had a 7.12 ERA, which not coincidentally was his final season there.

Henn went from dressing in a Yankees clubhouse with 50 to 60 reporters to a San Diego locker room in 2008 with three beat writers. But his ERA with the Padres was 7.71, and in 81 career major league innings, his ERA stands at 7.56.

His experiences, however, were invaluable. Henn hopes for another shot to show what he has learned, especially from his first major league stop, with baseball's most storied and decorated team.

"I definitely didn't succeed, or I'd still be there," Henn said. "But if you can handle New York, I think you can handle just about anything any other city can throw at you."

Contact reporter Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2914. Follow him on Twitter: @markanderson65.