By John Fay
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Baseball's final four should give hope to Reds fans. After Major League Baseball spent much of summer saying only the big spenders could succeed in the postseason, the League Championship Series are a middle-class affair.

The biggest spender of the final four is San Francisco, with a payroll of $78 million. At the low end is Minnesota, with a payroll of $40million. St.Louis checks in at $74 million and Anaheim at $61 million.

The Reds, who spent $45million on payroll this year, can play in that company. Especially when you consider they will get a nice influx of cash with the opening of Great American Ball Park next season.

San Francisco, St. Louis, Anaheim and Minnesota have shown it's how you spend your money - not necessarily how much you spend - that makes winning clubs.

If payroll were the only factor, the big trophy would go to the New York Yankees, who spent $125 million this season.

Two other big spenders in the postseason who went home early: the $102 million Arizona Diamondbacks and the $93 million Atlanta Braves.

What's the difference between the Reds and the four teams still playing? The easy answer is pitching and injuries.

But the teams still playing all seem significantly scrappier than the Reds; i.e., they do the little things better.

Those things are hard to quantify. But look at some of the Cards' and Giants' numbers compared to the Reds':

The Cards had the fewest strikeouts in the NL, the Giants the third-fewest. The Reds had the second-most.

The Giants were second in the NL in on-base percentage, the Cards fourth. The Reds were 10th.

The Giants were second in the NL in sacrifice flies, the Cards fourth. The Reds were 11th.

WHAT'S UP WITH DOC: Doc Rodgers, who was bumped down to special assistant from assistant general manager last week, plans to stay with the club. His new contract allows him to pursue other opportunities.

"I've got a lot of time invested here," he said.

Rodgers will head to the Instructional League this week for his first scouting assignment.

"For now, I'm getting ready to start the new assignment," he said.

ROSTER MOVES: The move to outright Carlos Almanzar and Luis Pineda to Triple-A Louisville was made to clear room for Josh Hall and Ray Olmedo, players the Reds must put on the 40-man by Nov.20 or risk losing them in the Rule 5 Draft.

GOOD NEWS: Ty Howington and Ricardo Aramboles, two of the Reds' top pitching prospects, are throwing in the Instructional League after injury-plagued seasons.

Howington, a 21-year-old left-hander, had shoulder problems. Aramboles, a 20-year-old right-hander, had elbow surgery.

"Howington is throwing free and easy," said Tim Naehring, the Reds' director of the player development. "He looks big and strong. His flexibility is better than it had been.

"Aramboles is throwing well. He's going through some of the things you'd expect after surgery."