Team would be happy just to have him earn a roster spot
BY JOHN FAY | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER
SARASOTA, Fla. - A lot of people are ready to anoint Todd Coffey as Cincinnati's closer.
Reds manager Jerry Narron could see that happening. But he would settle for something less this year.
"Todd Coffey's an outstanding person," Narron said. "He's been a closer in the minor leagues. There's a big difference between the minor leagues and the majors.
"We're not putting any pressure on him. We're hoping he pitches well enough to make the club."
Coffey, a 25-year-old right-hander, went 4-1 with a 4.50 ERA last year. But he allowed 84 hits in 58 innings and, after striking out an average of more than one batter per inning in the minors in '04, struck out only 26.
Coffey went to the Instructional League in an effort to regain his split-finger fastball. If he does, he could be in the mix to be the Reds' closer.
"I'm hoping, at worst, he'll as good as he was last year," Narron said. "If he can do that, we've got a guy we can trust to come in with guys on base."
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