By John Fay
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Joe Nuxhall will go out on his terms after all.

Nuxhall, the Reds radio man and icon, and Reds chief operating officer John Allen agreed that Nuxhall will broadcast around 80 games next season. The two had previously agreed on 60.

Nuxhall

"I'm very happy," said Nuxhall, 75, who will be in the radio booth for his 38th season. "I had a schedule I wanted to do and John worked with me on it."

Nuxhall agreed in November 2002 to a two-year extension. That agreement called for him to broadcast 60 games in 2004, and then retire. But Nuxhall felt so good during the 2003 season that he wanted to add some games.

Wednesday, he met with Allen and proposed a schedule of 80 games.

"I don't know if it will be 80 or 76 or 78," Allen said. "But it will be additional games. For instance, he wants to do the games at the new park in San Diego. We're trying to work out a schedule."

As for Nuxhall's eventual replacement, it appears the Reds are down to four candidates and will meet with them next week. An announcement is expected before spring training.

The candidates are: Tracy Jones, Chris Welsh, Dan Hoard and Jeff McCarragher.

Besides doing about 80 games this year, Nuxhall's replacement will probably take over in 2005. Nuxhall, who has been undergoing chemotherapy for lymphoma, may want to come back.

"I feel so good right now," he said, "that it would be hard to retire."

Allen said he will work something out if that's the case.

"There will always be a place for Joe Nuxhall in our organization," Allen said.

Replacing Nuxhall

The Reds are considering four candidates to eventually replace Joe Nuxhall.

Tracy Jones: A frequent talk show host on WLW-AM (700), the Reds' flagship station.

Chris Welsh: The television analyst on Fox Sports Net.

Dan Hoard: The voice of University of Cincinnati sports and a sports anchor on Channel 19. Has filled in for Nuxhall and partner Marty Brennaman before.

Jeff McCarragher: Play-by-play man for the Triple-A Norfolk, Va., Tides, which happens to be the club Brennaman worked for before joining the Reds in 1974.