The e-mails continue to question the direction in which the Reds are headed.

From Michael in North College Hill: Complete, total, unmitigated disaster - not only does that describe the Reds' season and the dumping of Jose Guillen, Scott Williamson, Gabe White and Aaron Boone, but also the leadership shown by John Allen, Leland Maddox, et al., since the firings of Jim Bowden and Bob Boone.

If Reds fans were led to believe that this was the year the Reds would challenge for a division title, how can Allen say only that he wants the Reds to "compete" next year? Does he not know "compete" is Bengalese for losing horribly? So he wants a general manager who will win from within - great. But developing that kind of team takes time and patience, neither of which is in the hearts of Reds fans. Answer these questions in the offseason: Who will play third base? Who will be the closer? Who will be in the starting rotation? Who will play shortstop?

A: I think your questions go to the heart of the issue. The trades the Reds made put them in a better position to win long term. But short term they need to bolster the lineup through free agency. With a crisis of confidence among the fans, the Reds need to address this. If they would come out and say, "The payroll is not going down. We're going to leave it at $55 million," it would go a long way with the fans. It also would be giving the new GM a chance, because the team the Reds have coming back at this point would make only about $40 million. The new GM could sign a third baseman (the Phillies signed David Bell for $3.2 million) and a fourth outfielder (Guillen would have stayed for $2.5 million) and keep Scott Sullivan. I think the Reds can live with Ray Olmedo and Juan Castro at short. Chris Reitsma can close. If Aaron Harang and Brandon Claussen are as good as the Reds think they are, they'll be in the rotation. John Bale and Jose Acevedo won't be overlooked next season.

Q, from Clint: Why isn't Dave Miley playing Wily Mo Pena every day?

A: I like almost everything Miley has done, but I agree Pena should be playing more. The Reds have to find out about him.

Q, from Greg in Mason: Who do you think should get a call-up? Why is Claussen not in the starting rotation when he was at Triple-A for the Yankees? Send Danny Graves back to the closer role; my starting staff would be Ryan Wagner, Ryan Dempster, Harang, Josh Hall and perhaps Paul Wilson.

A: Claussen isn't up because the Reds don't want to push him 14 months after he had ligament-replacement surgery on his left elbow. Dempster won't be in the rotation because he's coming off ligament-replacement surgery on his right elbow. Claussen and Acevedo will be called up, and the Graves question will be one of the biggest of the spring. The way Graves is pitching, he wouldn't be effective as a closer. But is he pitching the way he is because he has thrown so many innings?

Q, from Michael: Has Johnny Bench ever been considered as a possible manager for the Reds? I know he devotes himself to speaking engagements, but he has the leadership qualities to make a great manager.

A: Bench has never expressed interest in managing, as far as I know.

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E-mail jfay@enquirer.com

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