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Cincinnati extends Miley's contract through the 2006 season By Todd Lorenz / MLB.com October 11, 2004 CINCINNATI -- Many questions remain about the Reds' future, but one thing is certain. Manager Dave Miley will be around to answer them. On Monday the Reds extended Miley's contract through the 2006 season, with a club option for 2007. The announcement was made on Monday, but the deal was done on Friday, when the team wrapped up organizational meetings in Florida. "Friday night, when we were down there for the meetings, myself and [Reds general manager Dan O'Brien] met up," said Miley. "It was a very pleasant talk." A pleasant talk, and one that both men believe will yield even more pleasant results for the Reds in the future. "No question," said Miley. "I think it gives us some more continuity and everything, knowing that I'm going to be around. We talked all summer that we still have a lot of work to do, and knowing that I'll be here now is only going to help." "Obviously, there had been a decision made to invite Dave and staff back for '05," said O'Brien. "At the organizational meetings, Dave and I talked not only about 2005 but the future as well, and we both feel very good about the direction that we're heading. As a result, it seemed only appropriate to make Dave part of a long-term plan." Miley's contract situation was a hot topic for most of the year. Prior to the 2004 season, after finishing the 2003 campaign as the club's interim manager, he had agreed to a one-year contract, with a club option for 2005. On Sept. 6 of this season, the Reds announced that they were going to pick up Miley's option for 2005. The announcement came a few weeks after he was named Baseball America's National League Manager of the Year for the first half of the season for guiding the Reds to a 47-41 record. Things took a turn for the worse in the second half. The Reds finished with a 76-86 record in Miley's first full season as a Major League manager. It was just the second time in his managerial career that he finished a full season without a winning record, but the organization was still pleased with the work that he and his staff did. "There's no doubt that he's a good strategic manager in terms of game-day situations," said O'Brien. "Secondly, Dave maintains a very good rapport with the athletes. Third, Dave has tried to raise the standards of performance on a team and individual basis, and the fourth thing is that he and his staff work very hard on a daily basis to have each individual improve in some aspect. That started from day one of Spring Training and continued until the end of the season." The Reds have already invited Miley's entire coaching staff back for 2005, but will spend some time over the next few weeks looking beyond that. "We are in the midst of discussing their individual situation on a one-on-one basis," said O'Brien. "When that process is complete, we'll have an announcement." Todd Lorenz is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs. |