Was today the last game for Jerry Narron?

by JD Arney on Jul 1, 2007 5:54 PM EDT in News

I've got a feeling something big is going to happen on the Reds front soon.
Monday is an off day - a perfect time to have a press conference.
No one has told me anything definitive. But I know this much: There have been a lot of high-level meetings going on lately.
The most obvious thing for a team in the Reds' position to do is to fire the manager.

The Reds are having lots of "high level meetings". That doesn't really inspire confidence for some reason.

A couple of other interesting tidbits:

He's made some moves that have hurt him in the clubhouse. He benched Edwin Encarnacion for not running out a ball in April. But when Josh Hamilton did the same thing in June, it went unpunished. But not unnoticed by the players.

And I see a lot of fear that Narron would simply be replaced by Bucky Dent, but Fay doesn't think that's what would happen:

If the Reds should make a move with Narron, first base coach Billy Hatcher is the best choice to manage in the interim. Hatcher doesn't have managerial experience.
But he has the best relationship with Ken Griffey Jr. and Adam Dunn, the players with the most influence among the position players.

Hatcher is definitely the way to go. I'm beyond sick of bringing in guys who have a history of failure elsewhere like Bob Boone and Jerry Narron, or a guy like Dave Miley who's main selling point seemed to be a willingness to work on the cheap just to have the opportunity to manage.

The last two guys to manage the Reds who had a clue were Davey Johnson and Jack McKeon, and perhaps not coincidentally the Reds were actually halfway decent when they had good managers.

Firing Jerry Narron isn't really going to solve anything, but he is absolutely part of the problem. Not as big a part of the problem as Krivsky's inability to identify what good pitching looks like, but a pretty big problem nonetheless. Hopefully Fay is right about something for once, and tomorrow we'll see Billy Hatcher announced as the new Cincinnati Reds manager.

Update [2007-7-1 22:0:15 by boobs]: Thanks to BubbaFan, who was relentlessly trolling the blogs, we have learned from the Cincy Post that Narron is out, and a man named Pete Mackanin is in. More to come, I'm sure.

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Baseball card

What, did Jerry think that card would be more valuable if he signed it twice?

Think lucky and if that doesn't work, blame it on the rookies. - Jerry Narron's philosophy on baseball

by Ash on Jul 1, 2007 6:01 PM EDT reply actions

if this is a joke, good one

if its not, 1982 topps had autographs screened onto every card.

Marty may have a shirt on, but Billy Beane just ripped his off and is squeezing his nipples.

by boobs on Jul 1, 2007 6:15 PM EDT up reply actions

Yes, yes, t'was a joke

Think lucky and if that doesn't work, blame it on the rookies. - Jerry Narron's philosophy on baseball

by Ash on Jul 1, 2007 6:23 PM EDT up reply actions

come on....

In all fairness, he might have lost count.

by tonywf on Jul 1, 2007 11:18 PM EDT up reply actions

LOL. Excellent.

"428 feet of man." ~ Jim Day, creepily reliving a Chris Duncan home run.

by Ash on Jul 1, 2007 11:26 PM EDT up reply actions

I previously posted a call for Billy Hatcher

as the interim manager. He is smart, competitive, a really really good guy (not that Narron isn't a good guy too)and he demonstrated when he played that he knew what it takes to win. This team needs someone who is up and positive and at the same time knowledgeable, who can deal with the vets and teach the rookies. Billy would absolutely great. I hope it happens tomorrow.

"Just take the ball and throw it where you want to. Throw strikes. Home plate don't move." Satchel Paige

by Madville on Jul 1, 2007 6:07 PM EDT reply actions

Two thoughts

First of all, I would stop calling for Jerry's head if he grew back that mustache. It's almost as good as Krivsky's 'stache that he had with the Twins that made him look like Fred Armisen in Eurotrip and Anchorman.

Secondly, Billy Hatcher gives me a bad feeling. I think he kinda reminds me of Norris Hopper. Then again, I like hearing the words "good relationship with Adam Dunn".

by Geki on Jul 1, 2007 6:16 PM EDT up reply actions

Just think

How much better the Reds management would be if they would just grow back their former mustaches. There is power in those mustaches and they refuse to acknowledge it. This will be their undoing.

I don't know why chandrathan is so mad at me. That guy is cuh-razy.

by Slyde on Jul 1, 2007 7:40 PM EDT up reply actions

Sort of like Burt Reynolds movies

But in reverse...

WTF? Pinch hit Castro for Hamilton? What a Fiastro!!! Fire Narron!!!

by Paul Householder on Jul 1, 2007 8:57 PM EDT up reply actions

St. Louis Dispatch...

has an article that has Jocketty denying talking to the Reds. So, maybe it isn't just Narron that's on the way out... we can only hope.

I wouldn't necessarily want him as GM, but, maybe as president of the club.

http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&ct=us/5-0&fp=46883dc968c3d0a5&ei=mCaIRq24Kp6MoQLT7K nVDA&url=http%3A//www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/stories.nsf/cardinals/story/6C4DBCDB0225B1B78 625730B001205EF%3FOpenDocument&cid=1117745717

by sledridge on Jul 1, 2007 6:15 PM EDT reply actions

Hatcher

From everything we hear, he'd be good.

and for the record.. The All-Star selection show sucks. Typical Bud Selig crap. I love how the announcers don't like the every team gets at least one guy rule. Because lord knows we need to see an AL team made up primarily of Red Sox and Yankees

Hope Springs Eternal! Go Reds

by Caleb on Jul 1, 2007 6:15 PM EDT reply actions

That rule does suck.

But it's necessary when you have people like Tony La Russa picking rosters.

by Geki on Jul 1, 2007 6:17 PM EDT up reply actions

Defenestration time !

Jerry should go too, based on his line-up creation alone. But this is Sweaterpants' team, and he must go. I don't care if they replace him with Jocketty, Brad Kuhlman or Boobs.

Nobody listens to Andrew

by nlt-andrew68 on Jul 1, 2007 6:27 PM EDT reply actions

I hope he's done

Clean out the coaching staff and let Hatcher bring in his buddies. I'd like to see Sam Perlozzo back in baseball. And isn't Mariano Duncan coaching somewhere?

by Brian B on Jul 1, 2007 6:59 PM EDT reply actions

Mariano Duncan

I bet he could help EEE with his defense...

WTF? Pinch hit Castro for Hamilton? What a Fiastro!!! Fire Narron!!!

by Paul Householder on Jul 1, 2007 7:22 PM EDT up reply actions

EdE?

Don't you mean Alex Gonzalez? EdE has been pretty solid since April. Gonzalez just flat out sucks out there.

by Brian B on Jul 1, 2007 7:24 PM EDT up reply actions

Just kidding.

My nickname for Mariano Duncan (an offensive machine that one year for the Reds) was "Ironhands."

WTF? Pinch hit Castro for Hamilton? What a Fiastro!!! Fire Narron!!!

by Paul Householder on Jul 1, 2007 8:58 PM EDT up reply actions

manos de hierro

by ken on Jul 1, 2007 9:25 PM EDT up reply actions

Marioano probably has more left than Juan.

A new concept: player/coach M. Duncan

"Just take the ball and throw it where you want to. Throw strikes. Home plate don't move." Satchel Paige

by Madville on Jul 2, 2007 7:25 PM EDT up reply actions

Hatch

I like Hatch, but it gave me pause when he talked about little ball when George Grande and Chris Welsh interviewed him during the game last week.

by Blue on Jul 1, 2007 7:03 PM EDT reply actions

Hatch

I got really excited when he talked about little ball. I really think it would help win a game here and there.

Hope Springs Eternal! Go Reds

by Caleb on Jul 1, 2007 7:12 PM EDT up reply actions

We have no problem doing that.

I, however, prefer to win games more often than "here and there". Something like "twice in a row" would be a good start. And little ball would not help us do that.

by Geki on Jul 1, 2007 9:26 PM EDT up reply actions

Hatcher

I think he's worked with Sweet Lou enough for some good management skill to rub off on him. That being said, I'm still not convinced that firing Jerry Narron (or Krivsky, or both) is a good idea.

"Players have two things to do. Play and keep their mouths shut." -Sparky Anderson

by boohiss on Jul 1, 2007 7:49 PM EDT reply actions

How about a former pitcher?

To me, bullpen management is where the manager can have the biggest impact. A former pitcher might have an insight that it's not a good idea to warm up your rookie relievers every day to face one batter.

by ken on Jul 1, 2007 7:59 PM EDT reply actions

Narron is gone

They fired him after the loss today. My friend's grandpa and uncle (the Stowes) both work for the reds and they told him today, after the game.

I have mixed feelings due to the fact that I dont know what direction we will go in- I really dont think Girardi is all he is cracked up to be and I dont like interim managers becoming full-time managers.

Either way, it is a step, I think, in a better direction. I never really agreed with the way narron managed this team, even when we were winning last season.

by tidel144 on Jul 1, 2007 8:04 PM EDT reply actions