By John Fay
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Pitcher Chris Gruler, the Reds' first selection in the 2002 draft, talks with Reds GM Jim Bowden after being presented with a Reds jersey prior to the team's game against the Oakland A's, Saturday June 22, 2002. (Greg Ruffing photo) | ZOOM |

The Reds traditionally vote on the top pick in the draft. General manager Jim Bowden has the final call, but this year, for instance, 12 scouts, special assistants and front-office types will have a say in the final decision.

"It's a collective thing," said Leland Maddox, assistant general manager/director of scouting. "It isn't just the scouting director's call. In a decision as big as this - you're going to pay the first-round pick $1.5 to $2.5 million - the GM makes the final call."

But Bowden will be getting input from a new cast of characters this year.

Gone from last year are assistant general manager Doc Rodgers, scouting director Kasey McKeon, special assistant Gary Hughes and cross checkers John Castleberry, Alvin Rittman and Bill Scherrer.

McKeon and Rodgers were re-assigned and subsequently left. Rodgers is now the director of player development with the Baltimore Orioles. McKeon is a scout with Colorado. Hughes took a job with the Chicago Cubs. Castleberry, Scherrer and Rittman also left.

Bowden said the turnover will have minimal impact.

"All the same people who were there when we drafted (Austin) Kearns and (Adam) Dunn are still in place," Bowden said.

He is referring to special assistants Johnny Almaraz, Larry Barton Jr., Gene Bennett, Al Goldis and Bob Zuk.

But special assistants see only the top players. Gems are sometimes found deep in the draft.

The Reds, for example, have three pitchers on the current roster whom they drafted. Only one - Scott Sullivan (second round in 1993) - was a high pick.

John Riedling was taken in the 22nd round in 1994. Scott Williamson was taken in the ninth round in 1997.

Maddox is the sixth person to hold the title of "director of scouting" under Bowden.

McKeon, DeJon Watson, Goldis, Gary Hughes and Julian Mock held the title before him.

Bowden has added personnel over the years at the level of special assistant, those who report directly to him.

Goldis and Zuk came in after the 1996 season. Their first draft was 1997, when Brandon Larson was taken with the top pick. Williamson, of course, turned out to be the gem of the draft. He won the Rookie of the Year Award in 1999.

Williamson was signed by Jimmy Gonzales, who is now a national cross checker.

"We've got a lot of experienced guys," Maddox said. "Al Goldis, Bob Zuk, Larry Barton, Gene Bennett all have been around."

The group Maddox has assembled will be judged on whether it can find pitching.

The Reds have gone heavy on pitching in the draft since they took Kearns and Dunn Nos. 1 and 2 in 1998. That effort has had no impact so far at the big-league level.

There's a group at Double-A Chattanooga on whom the Reds are high. Bobby Basham (seventh round,. 2001), Dustin Moseley (first round, 2000), Josh Hall (seventh, 1998) David Gil (third, 2000) and Ryan Mottl (sixth, 2000) are in that group. But none of them is dominating at Double-A.

The Reds pick 14th in the draft. So unlike last year, when they picked third, it's hard to focus on one or two players.

Last year, the Reds were split between Chris Gruler and Scott Kazmir. They knew one of the two would be available.

They ended up taking Gruler. Kazmir was passed over because of signing concerns.

This year, what will happen in the picks above the Reds is unclear.

"We have some guys we like," Maddox said. "You have to wait and see what happens."

The Reds have taken a pitcher with their No. 1 pick three of the last four years.

None of those three is ready for the majors. Ty Howington, the 1999 pick, is 3-4 with a 4.80 ERA at Single-A Potomac.

Jeremy Sowers, the 2001 pick, did not sign. And Gruler, last year's pick, is out for the year after shoulder surgery.

Reds' top draft picks through the years

YEAR	PLAYER	OVERALL	POS
2002	Chris Gruler	3	RHP
2001	Jeremy Sowers	20	LHP
2000	David Espinosa	23	SS
1999	Ty Howington	14	LHP
1998	Austin Kearns	7	OF
1997	Brandon Larson	14	IF
1996	John Oliver	25	OF
1995	Brett Tomko	54	RHP
1994	C.J. Nitkowski	9	LHP
1993	Pat Watkins	32	OF
1992	Chad Mottola	5	OF
1991	Pokey Reese	20	IF
1990	Dan Wilson	7	C
1989	Scott Bryant	20	OF
1988	Jeff Branson	45	IF
1987	Jack Armstrong	18	RHP
1986	Scott Scudder	17	RHP
1985	Barry Larkin	4	IF
1984	Pat Pacillo	5	RHP
1983	Kurt Stillwell	2	IF
1982	Scott Jones	22	LHP
1981	Lanell Culver	42	OF
1980	Ron Robinson	19	RHP
1979	Dan LaMar	20	C
1978	Nick Esasky	17	OF
1977	Tad Vegner	24	IF
1976	Mark King	23	RHP
1975	Tony Moretto	22	OF
1974	Steve Reed	23	RHP
1973	Brad Kessler	22	OF
1972	Larry Payne	7	RHP
1971	Mike Miley	24	IF
1970	Gary Polcynski	15	IF
1969	Don Gullett	14	LHP
1968	Tim Grant	13	RHP
1967	Wayne Simpson	8	RHP
1966	Gary Nolan	13	RHP
1965	Bernie Carbo	16	IF

Changes at the top

Some of the changes in the top positions for the Reds since the last draft:

2002

Scouting director: Kasey McKeon.

Cross checkers: Butch Baccala, John Castleberry, Alvin Rittman, Bill Scherrer.

2003

Scouting director: Leland Maddox.

Cross checkers: Butch Baccala, Jeff Barton, Jimmy Gonzales, Jim Thrift.

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E-mail jfay@enquirer.com