"I just put the names in the lineup, put my sunglasses on and watch," Miley said.

But there are times when even an unassuming manager like Miley has to make a crucial decision. One of those times occurred in the sixth inning of the Reds' 3-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday at Great American Ball Park.

With the score tied at one, Ryan Freel tripled with one out, bringing starting pitcher Cory Lidle to the plate. Miley could have pinch hit for Lidle, figuring that he couldn't afford to blow a chance to score the go-ahead run in such a tightly contested game. In fact, it seemed the logical thing to do.

Instead, he sent Lidle to the plate, and he did it without thinking twice.

"He deserved the chance to get that at-bat and get the opportunity to try to get a win," Miley said.

PHOTO GALLERY

Photos of Saturday's game

Lidle, who had thrown 85 pitches to that point, allowing just the one run on six hits, proceeded to work a walk from Pirates right-hander Kip Wells, and D'Angelo Jimenez followed with a sacrifice fly that scored Freel with the go-ahead run.

"I wasn't really thinking too much about it," Lidle said of Miley's decision to let him hit. "But that shows that he thinks I can handle the bat a little bit."

Forgive Lidle for not fully appreciating Miley's gesture. He wasn't playing for the Reds when Bob Boone was holed up in his managerial laboratory, devising new concoctions to bring the game of baseball into the 21st century.

Remember the Adam Dunn leadoff Frankenstein that Boone emerged with last year?

But Danny Graves was here. And Graves knew full well what it meant to have Lidle bat in that situation.

Would Boone have allowed Lidle to hit in that situation?

"You'd have to call the old skipper and ask him that," Graves said. "What do I think? Probably not. That's what Miley does. Even when he came in last year, when I was a starter, he gave us an opportunity to win the game.

"(With Miley) you don't have to look over your shoulder to see if somebody's coming in. In the past, the last few years, that's what it was. Anytime you got in trouble you were always looking over your shoulder, wondering if somebody was coming in for you."

The Reds have started the season with an unlikely 4-1 record for a lot of reasons. Ken Griffey Jr. and Dunn are hitting home runs. Sean Casey has been hot out of the gate, the bullpen has been solid and the starting pitching has been better than anyone could have imagined.

How long that lasts is anyone's guess.

But one thing's for sure. Miley is going to manage this way all year. It's the way he managed for 13-plus years in the minor leagues and he sees no reason to change now.

"Baseball is baseball," Miley said. "Obviously the names are different, but I think I'm still the same guy."

This isn't about nominating Miley for manager of the year based on five games. But even the harshest Reds critic would have to admit that it's nice to be able to watch this team play again without having to turn your head in horror every few innings. And it's equally refreshing to be able to follow the manager's strategy without throwing up your hands in despair.

You might not agree with everything Miley does. (I would have hit for Lidle on Saturday.) But at least you can understand his reasoning, even if it doesn't work.

And it's not always going to work.

"A lot of times I'll go with a gut feeling," Miley said. "A lot of times I'll go by the numbers or by the book. I guess a lot of it is instinctive."

After awhile, Miley's managing won't seem such like a big deal. But for now, with the Reds off to a promising start and following three years of watching the Mad Scientist at work, Miley's down-to-earth approach is reassuring.

Baseball is baseball. Apparently, it really is that simple.

Who knew?

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E-mail: bkoch@enquirer.com

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