Saturday, August 8, 1998

BY GEOFF HOBSON
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Expect Jack McKeon to accept that one-year extension on Monday. The Reds' manager probably would have done it Friday before the game against the Brewers, but by the time General Manager Jim Bowden summoned him, he was already in uniform and preparing to watch rehabbing pitchers Jason Bere and Jim Crowell work simulated games.

"We were busy with these guys and we'd just come off the road, so why not do it on Monday when we got the whole day?" McKeon said. "Don't read anything into me delaying it. It's no big deal. I'm not going anywhere."

Reds President and CEO Marge Schott, still using a cane for her broken hip, walked out to the batting cage Friday afternoon and gave McKeon a hug. McKeon said Schott told him she hopes he returns. "There's no timetable. I'll talk to him in October if he wants," Bowden said. "He's done a good job with our young players. He's been real hard on some players like Brett Tomko, who's on pace to win 13-15 games. He knew how to add confidence to Dimitri Young, went easy on him, and he's got more doubles than anyone in the major leagues.

"Sean Casey hit .130 his first time around, got sent down, came back and Jack knew how to pull the right strings. Now he's hitting about .300 since the All-Star break. Danny Graves, he's shown confidence in him and since the Jeff Shaw trade, there hasn't been a blown save yet."

Whither Bowden?

Maybe they should discuss Bowden's situation Monday.

Bowden has been linked to the GM jobs in Baltimore and Los Angeles for next season. Bowden, signed with the Reds through 1999, said he's heard nothing.

"I have no knowledge of them, no one ever talked to me," Bowden said. "They both have very good GMs with a chance to go into the postseason. I don't think it's an issue. It's rumors that people just make up." With Schott's role as general partner of the club set to dissolve on the last day of 2000, Bowden admitted Reds' ownership is "as big as the stadium issue."

Coaching call

When Bowden and McKeon sit down to talk, the future of the coaching staff will no doubt come up. Count hitting coach Ken Griffey Sr. as one who wants to return.

The June 22 blowup in which Griffey stormed out of Cinergy Field claiming he was being made a scapegoat for the club's offensive woes has apparently been forgotten.

"Hopefully," said Griffey, when asked if he'll return. "Of course (I want to come back). We'll see."

Griffey said he has other options, such as staying with his restaurant and baseball school in Orlando, Fla., but clearly he would like to come back.

Bere back

Bowden said Bere, the right-hander who won 24 games for the White Sox in 1993 and 1994, looks good enough to be activated by Monday after he threw about 100 pitches in a simulated game.

Bere, 23 months off elbow surgery, threw much better than his first stint about 10 days ago.

"It's no longer a pain issue," said Bere, 27. "Mentally I've already been through one of the toughest things you can deal with. Mentaly, I'm fine. I'm ready to go."

McKeon said at the moment he's got no spot for Bere in the rotation, but a stint in the bullpen or at Triple-A Indianapolis is possible.

Catching up with Konerko

Since being sent down, Paul Konerko has played eight games for Indy at third base and made one error through Thursday. He's hitting .280, with a homer, three doubles and 12 RBI.

Up next

Reds pitcher Dennis Reyes (1-4, 4.15 ERA) will try to make it two straight wins. The 21-year-old left-hander will face the Brewers' Steve Woodard (9-5, 3.27 ERA). Game time is 7:05 p.m.