By John Fay
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Dave Miley would like the Dave Miley issue to become less of an issue.

"It's not about me," he said. "It's about the 25 guys out there. I don't want it to become a distraction."

Miley's contract as Reds manager is a one-year deal with an option for 2005. Why the option has not been picked up in light of the Reds' great start has become a hot topic.

General manager Dan O'Brien said again Friday that he's content to wait until the end of the season before addressing the issue.

"We visited on it a few times, and we're both comfortable with the understanding that we'll meet sometime after the season," O'Brien said.

Asked why he won't reconsider and do it now, O'Brien said: "For one of a very few times, I'm going to say I'm not in position to answer that. It's pretty much as I stated before: It's between Dave and I."

It's clear that Miley would like to return. He has been in the Reds organization for 24 years. He is, however, new to O'Brien. O'Brien reportedly wanted to hire Pittsburgh player development director Brian Graham over Miley, but management overruled him.

O'Brien also denied a report that bench coach Jerry Narron, a ready replacement for Miley, has a two-year contract.

"False," O'Brien said. "Underlined. Exclamation point."

If the Reds continue to play anywhere near the level they are now, all this will be moot. O'Brien will have no choice but to rehire Miley.