ST. LOUIS — Pitching coach Don Gullett's employment future is bound to receive attention in coming weeks, if it remains undetermined after today's meeting.

        Speculation has risen that Gullett, 49, will quit if manager Jack McKeon doesn't return in 2001.

        “That's premature,” Gullett said. “I'm going to wait and see how everything unfolds.”

        Gullett is signed through the 2002 season. If he didn't resign and McKeon departed, a new manager might be forced to keep him.

        The performance of the Reds' pitchers might lead any manager to want Gullett. Working largely with a collection of castoffs, Gullett helped the Reds post the National League's fourth-best ERA last year, 3.98. They finished this season with a 4.33 ERA, ranked fifth entering Sunday.

        “He's gotten the maximum out of the pitchers in the four years I've been here,” McKeon said. “What would he do with a couple of Randy Johnsons or Pedro Martinezes?”

        YOUNG ENDURES: Barry Larkin or Ken Griffey Jr. seemed on course to lead the team in games played, but their late-season injuries helped Dmitri Young earn that distinction.

        “I'm darned proud,” said Young, who felt ill and scratched himself from Sunday's lineup but appeared in 152 games, four more than Michael Tucker. “That's a very overlooked statistic. Most people look at home runs, RBI and batting average. But most people don't pay attention to how often a guy is in the game.”

        One person who noticed was first-base coach Dave Collins.

        “In two years, every day that I hit fly balls to the outfielders, he took them. He doesn't blow you off,” Collins said. “You never see him not hustle. Hustle is nothing but effort and determination, and that's what Dmitri is all about.” ETC. Despite Sunday's defeat, the Reds won the season series against St. Louis 7-6.

Meeting today might settle McKeon's fate McKeon senses end is near Gullett may quit if McKeon goes Cardinals 6, Reds 2 Box, runs

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