Saturday, September 25, 1999

REDS NOTEBOOK

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McKeon talks deal, but remains unsigned

Steve Parris pitches during the third inning Friday night. (Ernest Coleman photo) | ZOOM |

        Reds manager Jack McKeon and managing executive John Allen talked Thursday about renewing McKeon's contract. Nothing was resolved.

        “We're going to talk again after Oct. 1,” McKeon said.

        Reds' ownership officially changes hands on Oct. 1.

        Allen would not comment on the McKeon sitaution.

        McKeon expects to be back.

        “I'm not going to retire,” McKeon said.

        “We made the baseball decision to bring Jack back as manager,” Reds general manager Jim Bowden said. “We turned the contract negotiation over to John Allen.”

        McKeon is working under a one-year contract. He said he would like a multi-year deal.

        “It depends on the circumstance,” he said. “I'd certainly like two years at least.”

        McKeon took over as Reds manager July 25, 1997, when Ray Knight was fired. He is 190-178 in his tenure, including 90-63 this year, going into Friday's game.

        McKeon said he is seeking “market value.”

        Someone asked if that meant “$2 million” for two years.

        “No,” he said. “I'm not a hog. We've never set a figure.”

        McKeon will turn 69 on Nov. 23, but Bowden said his age is not a factor.

        “I don't care if someone is 25 or 75,” he said, “as long as their mind is quick.”

Bell situation
        One of the reason Bowden hasn't granted the Colorado Rockies permission to hire Reds farm director Buddy Bell is because of McKeon's contract status.

        Bowden has given Bell permission to interview.

        “There are several reasons,” Bowden said. “One, we don't have our manager signed. Two, we don't want to lose (Bell). Three, if they do hire him, we'd want some kind of compensation.”

        By that Bowden means the Reds would like to get a player from the Rockies in exchange for permission to hire Bell.

        “I was trained under George Steinbrenner and that's how he operates,” Bowden said.

        Bowden said he would not promise McKeon's job to Bell in order to keep him.

        “I could never do that,” he said. “Too much can happen in baseball.' '

        It was pointed out that was the situation with Ray Knight and Davey Johnson.

        “The organization did that,” he said.

Morris activated
        Hal Morris, on the disabled list since Aug. 27 with a fractured right wrist, was activated before Friday's game. In Morris' absence, Mark Sweeney has emerged as the team's best pinch-hitter. Sweeney is 6-for-12 as a pinch-hitter since being recalled from Triple A Indianapolis.

No speeches
        McKeon said he has no plans to give pep talks or have team meetings as the season winds down.

        “Let'em play,” he said. “Don't need any meetings. Sometimes they get tired of hearing from you.”

        McKeon said he hasn't had a meeting since just after the All-Star Game.

        “I just told them to do the little things,” he said. “Stay focused. I generally have a couple of meetings a year. There hasn't been any reason to have one.”

Error prone
        The Reds have committed eight errors in their last three games, including two in the first inning Friday that led to two unearned runs.

        McKeon doesn't think it's pressure of the pennant race.

        “Everyone is playing relaxed,” McKeon said. “They know what they have to do.”

Up next
        Left-hander Denny Neagle (8-5, 4.67 ERA) faces right-hander Jose Jimenez (5-13, 5.80) in the second game of the four-game series with the Cardinals.

        The game (1:19 p.m. start time) is on Fox (Channel 19).

        Neagle has won five straight starts and has a 2.50 ERA over that span. He is 8-2 with a 3.42 ERA since coming off the disabled list.

        Neagle hasn't give up move than two runs in four straight starts.

       

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