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Could Power be the next Reds pitching coach?

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By Hal McCoy, Staff Writer 11:35 PM Friday, October 2, 2009

CINCINNATI — Just three days before season’s end, pitching coach Dick Pole was told his contract won’t be renewed for 2010.

All the remaining coaches will return, while Pole packed his gear and fled home to Michigan.

Returning are bench coach Chris Speier, batting instructor Brook Jacoby, first-base coach Billy Hatcher, third-base coach Mark Berry and bullpen coach Juan Lopez.

General Manager Walt Jocketty said the team has not put together a list of potential replacements, “but we have some people in mind, including people in our own organization.”

Louisville pitching coach Ted Power, who pitched five seasons for the Reds and was a Dayton Dragons coach, and roving pitching instructor Mack Jenkins would be on that list. Power is the up-and-comer, a coach praised highly by the pitchers who worked with him at Louisville.

Neither Jocketty nor manager Dusty Baker would cite reasons for Pole’s dismissal, although several pitchers had no confidence in him and sought advice elsewhere.

“We felt that going forward we needed to make a change,” Jocketty said. “We’ll leave it at that and there are no real specific reasons.”

Reds pitchers are seventh in the National League with a 4.21 ERA. They’ve given up the third-most homers in the league (186) and have the fifth-fewest strikeouts (1,045).

“We don’t have clear candidates and we are going to formulate a list,” Jocketty said. “We’ll try to find a guy who can be with this organization a long time because we have some good young pitchers who have come along and we want to make sure we find the right guy to help develop them.”

It was a difficult decision for Baker because Pole was his pitching coach in San Francisco and Chicago, although Pole already was in place when Baker came to the Reds last year.

“I told Dick when I got here today and he left,” Baker said. “Naturally, he was hurt. It was difficult for me to tell him because everybody knows how close we are. My relationship with Dick and the respect I have for him made it a tough decision. It was an organizational decision, and we don’t want to get into specifics because it will serve no point. I thought deeply about this and it is just a move forward and it is not fair to air anything publicly.”

Rhodes: Broken toe

Relief pitcher Arthur Rhodes hasn’t been pitching much lately and there is a reason: He has a broken left big toe.

But it isn’t a recent injury. Rhodes broke the toe Sept. 4. “Jumping to catch a ball in batting practice,” Baker said.

Rhodes actually pitched that day and has pitched in eight games since, but the team is shutting him down.

“It’s why he hasn’t pitched much lately and there is no reason to use him and risk him changing his delivery and messing himself up,” Baker said.

Rhodes was 1-1 with a 2.53 ERA in 66 appearances. Over his last 13 appearances, he posted a 1.64 ERA. Opponents hit .198 against him and left-handers hit .141.

Quote of the day

“The fact he has 20 doubles in a short time is very impressive. Now if we can continue that and get some of the other hitting in between. He’s working on keeping the ball out of the air, hitting it the other way, experimenting with a heavier bat and choking up.” — Baker on shortstop Paul Janish’s improvement.

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Ted Power has proven he is the guy for the job. Is there any pitcher on the current staff that has not been through the Power trail? His mentoring of Bailey is just one succss story.

He is loyal and obviouslt knows his stuff! Give him a shot.

Bill Johnson
12:08 PM, 10/5/2009

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If they can agree on a salary, it's Duncan. Then the question is: can Baker and Duncan get along?

Steven Ross
12:56 PM, 10/4/2009

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Good call Brar.

Bud Wizer
10:42 PM, 10/3/2009

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Do you think Baker knows anything about pitching? Pole was just the fall guy. If it were not for the recent strings of wins, Baker should be the one to go. Unfortunately the Reds won a few, there is less reason to fire Baker. If the fans have the votes, Baker is out of here.

RichardL
11:38 AM, 10/3/2009

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PLEASE give it to the "cowboy" so I do not have to listen to this phoney anymore. He is the biggest fake in the business. He never spoke with that southern draw when he was on ESPN. He doesn't sound that way on commercials. This guy's act is old, very old. You can tell Marty doesn't like working with him. This team is going to lose 90 games next year so he can't hurt them.

wank
10:17 AM, 10/3/2009

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