Monday, October 02, 2000
McKeon senses end is near
By Chris Haft
The Cincinnati Enquirer
ST. LOUIS — Jack McKeon was addressing nobody in particular, though he had a few listeners as he sat in Busch Stadium's visitors' dugout. He was just speaking his mind — and from his heart.
“The last day of a season ... It's always a little sad when the season ends,” McKeon said Sunday before the Reds lost 6-2 to the St. Louis Cardinals. Many Reds, most notably McKeon, strongly suspect they won't be wearing Cincinnati uniforms in 2001.McKeon's fate could be determined today, when he and his coaching staff meet with general manager Jim Bowden at Cinergy Field. Management has done nothing to quash months of speculation that McKeon will be the scapegoat for the team's failure to meet expectations, despite Cincinnati's 85-77 record with an injury-riddled roster. The Reds have compiled a 291-259 record under McKeon, 69, since he succeeded Ray Knight on July 25, 1997.
Several key players also doubt they'll return. Twelve Reds are eligible for salary arbitration, the process that guarantees big wage increases. To accommodate raises for arbitration-eligible players players likely will be traded.
One prominent Red predicted his future by slowly spreading his hands apart to indicate diverging paths.
First baseman Sean Casey and relief ace Danny Graves are the ones most likely to stay.
“Anybody who's in this game long enough knows that jobs are going to change, whether it's management, the coaches or the players,” said Graves. “Every year it's possible that you can have a whole different staff and a whole different team. You just have to realize that's part of this game.”
With that grim reality in mind, players spoke in reserved terms about McKeon, whose popularity in the clubhouse is limited, at best.
“A lot of people say there's going to be a change. I'm not leaning one way or the other,” said left fielder Dmitri Young, refusing to say whether he endorsed a managerial switch. “I'm not trying to get caught up in the Cincinnati Reds' soap opera. If it happens, it happens; if it doesn't, it doesn't.”
“I guess the rumors are he's not going to be here. He understands that,” Graves said. “Who knows? They might decide to ask him back, because we're playing well now, (though) it's a little too late.”
Though players will monitor today's events — “I think everybody's curious,” Graves said — they won't devote the beginning of their off-season to what unfolds.
“In a situation like that, you can't worry about it too much,” he said. “Not to sound selfish, but we have to look out for our own careers. You hope everybody keeps his job. You hope people don't have to go out on a bad note. But that's part of the game. It's a team game, but in some circumstances you have to look after yourself.”
Having spent more than a half-century in professional baseball, McKeon sensed this. “Theirs is a different scenario,” he said of the players.
McKeon easily could have expressed bitterness. Instead, he remained upbeat.
“I feel great,” he said, reclining on a couch after the game. “Just like I did Opening Day. I don't think we have anything to be ashamed of. We did the best we could under the circumstances.”
He thanked his players for their diligence: “It's a tribute to the players that they didn't quit. When we traded (Denny) Neagle and (Dante) Bichette, they battled back and made it a positive thing.”
And he thanked Reds fans.
“People have been so nice,” he said. “The last couple of homestands, you can tell they appreciated our effort. I think these are the greatest fans in baseball. I certainly appreciate the support they gave me through the years I've been here.
“If we're not back, I'll miss them.”
Reds Stories
Dolphins 31, Bengals 16
SULLIVAN: Bengals now hopeful, not hopeless
LeBeau's debut pleases Bengals
Going for knockout costly
Rackers, Dillon get on track
Bengals-Dolphins statistics
Complete prep football coverage at Enquirer.com/prepfootball
Complete Olympics coverage at Cincinnati.com/olympics
Williams will get a hero's welcome
DAUGHERTY: Romanian gymnast was scapegoat at Drug Games
Legendary high school coach dies
Pink-Ribbon Pro-Am today at Golf Center
• Return to Reds front page...
McKeon senses end is near
