Players not surprised by changes
Some feel regret for not getting it done on the field
CINCINNATI -- Shock? No. Relief? No. Encouragement? Eh, maybe.
The news that Dave Miley had been dismissed as manager of the Reds certainly brought out feelings of regret among the players in the clubhouse Tuesday.
But no one was completely surprised, given their knowledge of the business of big league baseball. By the same token, no one seemed to be sold on the fact that this is the move that will suddenly turn around their 27-43 season.
"Sometimes when you see a team change managers, it can go one way or the other way," first baseman Sean Casey said. "Maybe it'll be a wakeup call for us to go out there and get it done. Maybe. I don't know. We are where we are. We've got 25 guys together who are big league ballplayers, and we should be able to get it done."
The team wasn't getting it done under Miley, as it sunk to a season-high 16 games under .500 and 18 1/2 games back of the Cardinals in the National League Central.
The consensus seemed to be that Miley had his players' respect. But the results indicate he didn't always have their attention.
"I've played with some managers who are great communicators and others who weren't," Rich Aurilia said. "I just think [in Miley's case] that it may have helped if there was a little more communication, if some guys knew what their roles were. The game's changed from 20 years ago, in a sense that you're more of a manager, in my opinion, of personalities and people than the game.
"There's only a certain number of decisions that can be made in a game that determine the outcome. But in a clubhouse of 25 different personalities and people, it helps to get to know the guys, what they like and dislike. It helps to get to know, 'Hey, how many kids you got?'"
Still, the Reds weren't going to blame Miley for their misfortune. And they weren't going to ridicule or second-guess him, either.