By Kevin Kelly
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Minutes from boarding a flight at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport on Thursday, Corky Miller received the good news.

By the time the Reds catcher landed in Cincinnati later in the evening, the Reds already had introduced Dave Miley as the team's manager for the 2004 season.

"That's awesome," Miller said. "It couldn't happen to a better guy. He's now going to get the chance for a full season, and I think he'll do great."

As happy as they were when Miley was named the team's interim manager on July 28, players were equally as thrilled by Thursday's news.

"I think it's great for the team," relief pitcher John Riedling said. "He's got a chance to start the beginning of the year with his team.

"He gets to pick and choose in spring training, gets to have a say-so during this off-season. He deserves to get this chance."

Miley, who has been part of the Reds organization as a player, coach or manager since 1980 and took over when Bob Boone was fired, was one of four candidates considered for the job.

Former White Sox manager Jerry Manuel, Devil Rays bench coach John McLaren and Pirates director of player development Brian Graham were the others.

"(Miley is) a guy that believes in his players, and he'll battle for them," Reds reliever Chris Reitsma said. "He's a guy that really cares about us as players. You want to go out there and do the very best for a guy like that."

The Reds, who were depleted by injuries and reshaped by a number of trades in a 93-loss season, finished 22-35 under Miley.

Dubbed by many as a player's manager, Miley asked only that his pupils play hard, be on time and give maximum effort.

"You could see the change in attitude once he took over," Reds outfielder Austin Kearns said. "Everybody relaxed and started having fun. He asks you to play hard. That's all you can ask for in a manager."

When spring training 2004 opens, Miley will have a decidedly different team from which to play with.

Outfielders Ken Griffey Jr., Adam Dunn and Kearns should be healthy. Starting pitcher Paul Wilson and closer Danny Graves also had their seasons end prematurely.

"He'll let his guard down now," Miller said. "He won't be so uptight. Now he's going to have a team. He's not taking over a team.

"He's going to have everything go his way."

Enquirer staff writers John Fay and Dustin Dow contributed to this report.