By John Fay
The Cincinnati Enquirer

The delay in naming a Reds manager continues. It's possible the decision is being held up on a level above general manager Dan O'Brien.

"It's a big decision," Reds chief operating officer John Allen said. "Dan's involved. I'm involved. Ownership's involved. It's an upper-level decision.

"There's a process you have to go through."

You'd think the Reds would name a manager today or Thursday, rather than deal with the question at Redsfest Friday and Saturday.

"Ideally, yes, it would be a great forum, as they say, for the new manager to go on stage," O'Brien said.

O'Brien said "there's a possibility" it could happen today.

Or maybe they're going to introduce the new manager at Redsfest - as they did with the Gapper mascot last year.

Nothing changed Tuesday, the 13th day after new GM O'Brien announced the field had been narrowed to four.

All four - interim manager Dave Miley, former Chicago White Sox manager Jerry Manuel, Tampa Bay bench coach John McLaren and Pittsburgh director of player development Brian Graham - remained in contention for the job as of Monday.

Neither McLaren nor Graham had heard from the Reds on Tuesday. Miley and Manuel could not be reached.

O'Brien said after the finalists were named that the announcement could come before Thanksgiving.

A lot of people expected Miley, a 24-year veteran of the organization, to be named shortly after O'Brien assumed control. Miley's track record - more than 1,100 wins in the minors and a 57.0 winning percentage - would seem to make him a natural choice for the job.

Miley has the public support of several Reds, including Sean Casey.