By John Fay
The Cincinnati Enquirer

It's not quite time to start checking the chimney at the Reds office for white smoke, but the deliberation over whom to hire as the new manager is getting papal-like scrutiny.

"It's a difficult decision," Reds general manager Dan O'Brien said. "We had four excellent candidates. It's a good problem to have."

O'Brien said none of the four - Reds interim manger Dave Miley, former Chicago White Sox manager Jerry Manuel, Tampa Bay bench coach John McLaren or Pittsburgh player development director Brian Graham - has been eliminated.

Graham, who had a .589 winning percentage in eight years as a minor league manager in the Cleveland organization, was particularly impressive in the interview.

But picking Graham or McLaren, who have no big league managerial experience, over Miley would not play well given Miley's minor league record and his loyalty to the organization.

The candidates interviewed with O'Brien, assistant general manager Brad Kullman and player development director Tim Naehring.

"Tim and Brad will be intimately involved in the decision," O'Brien said. "They had a pulse on what took place last year."

But the final decision is O'Brien's alone. It could come before Thanksgiving.

"There's a chance," O'Brien said. "But it's an important decision. We don't want the clock to push it."