SAN FRANCISCO — Reds general manager Jim Bowden clearly expressed displeasure with the team's performance Wednesday but assigned no blame to manager Jack McKeon or his coaching staff.

        Club sources confirmed that Bowden will meet with McKeon and the coaches during today's off day in San Diego. Bowden won't have any pink slips with him, but he will want to discuss possible solutions to the Reds' numerous woes.

        The Reds, who fell to .500 (32-32) with Monday's 6-2 loss to San Francisco that completed a three-game Giants sweep, have lost eight of their last nine games and 12 of their last 17.

        “I think it's amazing we're in second place, only 3¹/₂ games out of first, the way we've played,” Bowden said from his Cinergy Field office before the Reds' latest defeat.

        None of that, Bowden said, is McKeon's fault.

        “He's the manager,” Bowden said when asked if McKeon's job was safe. Asked if that was the case for the foreseeable future, Bowden repeated: “He's the manager. He can't pitch for them, hit for them or field for them. It's the same manager and coaching staff that won 96 games last year.”

        Bowden wouldn't comment on any personnel-related matters.

        He acknowledged that certain Reds have played well, such as pitchers Osvaldo Fernandez, Scott Williamson, Danny Graves and Denny Neagle and third baseman Aaron Boone. Bowden also praised Ken Griffey Jr. for his defense and crucial home runs.

        But overall, Bowden said, many Reds haven't performed to the level they reached last year.

        “As a unit, we're not playing together yet,” Bowden said. “Sometimes when you add new faces, it takes time for a team to jell. But it's only June (14th). We have time.”

Bowden: McKeon blameless Giants 6, Reds 2 Box, runs Boone 'scared' by hit to nose

• Return to Reds front page...