DaytonDailyNews.com

CLEARWATER, Fla. — It's an annual ritual, like college kids on the beach during spring break. The manager du jour of the Cincinnati Reds predicts that Edwin Encarnacion will burst from his shell into stardom.

Dave Miley said it. Jerry Narron said it. Pete Mackanin said it. And before spring training began this year, new manager Dusty Baker said, "I'm expecting a big season from Encarnacion, a breakout year."

So far, so bad.

As Tuesday's exhibition game against the Philadelphia Phillies began, Encarnacion was hitting .170 with one double and one home run in 53 at-bats with 13 strikeouts.

In the first inning of the Reds' 5-3 victory, Encarnacion rolled a two-run single under the glove of third baseman Pedro Feliz's glove, a ball that should have been the third out of the inning. He flied weakly to center with two on in the second, struck out his third time and grounded out his fourth time.

Concerned, Dusty?

"Not really," he said. "You have to look at the back of his bubble-gum card and guys who have hit are going to hit."

Maybe Dusty was looking at Juan Encarnacion's card because Edwin's isn't all that impressive, although he finished strong last season after a shock-treatment demotion to Class AAA Louisville. For the year he hit .289 with 16 homers and 76 RBIs.

"Right now, he's off," Baker added. "He hit a lot extra (Monday) and he is going to stay back (today) and get a lot more. I have a few ideas I'd like to pass on to Brook (hitting coach Brook Jacoby), who has spent a lot of time with him."

Baker has spotted a black hole in Encarnacion's approach.

"He is not covering the ball away (pitches outside) and everybody knows it," Baker added. "I see a couple of things I can suggest."

If things are going good, Encarnacion is quiet. If things are going bad, he is quieter.

"I know things are bothering him," Baker said. "He internalizes everything anyway. Outside it appears it doesn't bother him. That's his demeanor. Inside, it is eating him up."

Baker smiled and said, "It's like Shawon Dunston used to say, 'If I'm hot and hitting, I sleep like Tony Gwynn sleeps all the time.' "

If that's the case, Encarnacion is reach the 9,000 level as he counts sheep or he has stared the paint off his bedroom ceiling.

"When you're not hitting, you're not sleeping," said Baker. "You might go to sleep, but you don't stay asleep."

Defensively, Encarnacion is making all the plays with infield coach Chris Speier working with him. Baker is aware of how Encarnacion used to be at third base.

"He's doing good," said Baker. "I remember when he first came to this league. If he caught it, quite often he threw it away. Now his throws are truer. Speier worked with Aramis Ramirez and made him better. It's all about the footwork. Quickness. He has the hands and definitely has the arm."

Baker said EE is so quiet, "That sometimes you don't know if you're getting through. But you can tell how he goes about things. He's a good kid, says 'yes' a lot. He doesn't even say, 'yes,' he just nods his head."

Contact this reporter at hmccoy@DaytonDailyNews.com.