[ecduzitgood]

I think you may be mistaking bait runner/freespool feature which allows you to engage the reel from free spool to drag applied with just a flip of the switch/lever (Van Staal reels do not have this feature). The b following the number is Van Staal's way to identify the color S-silver, G-gold, B-black. This applies to spinning reels. Bait casting reels are conventional try an image search for penn squidder if you are unsure of what I mean by conventional.
Don't feel embarassed we all had to learn from someone, the only stupid question is one not asked.