The Cincinnati Reds seem to be synonymous with change.
The latest change for baseball's worst team came Sunday night when embattled general manager Wayne Krivsky made the move to fire manager Jerry Narron.
Narron's departure was made official at a news conference Monday afternoon.
It seems like news conferences to announce change has become routine at Great American Ball Park. Since the team moved into their new stadium five years ago, the Reds have had two owners, three general managers and now four managers.
Despite the Reds becoming a laughingstock, owner Bob Castellini maintained Monday that the franchise knows where it wants to go.
"Baseball is a tough business," Castellini said. "If people want to perceive we're a rocky ship, they can do that. But I can tell you we have a direction."
Whatever direction Castellini is talking about, the Reds' boat already has capsized this season.
Thanks to an abysmal bullpen - built by Krivsky - that is among the worst in baseball and a lack of clutch hitting, the Reds are 31-51 and in last place in the National League Central Division.
"For me, it's been a tremendous honor to be manager of the Cincinnati Reds," Narron told MLB.com. "I'm definitely disappointed that our record wasn't good this year. I've said all along that I think we're close to having a competitive ballclub."
Narron, who actually garnered a two-year contract extension from Castellini in June 2006, had a competitive ballclub last season. But they did collapse in September, leading to an 80-82 finish.
The disappointing finish from last season has carried over to this year for the Reds, who fell below .500 in the first week of May. They seem destined to stay there for the rest of this season.
A seventh straight losing season is a virtual lock, and the franchise's first 100-loss season since 1982 also may be on the horizon.
Trying to right the ship now will be advance scout Pete Mackanin, who managed the Reds' Class AAA affiliate in Nashville from 1990-92. He also managed the Pittsburgh Pirates for 26 games at the end of the 2005 season.
"We'll see what he does," Krivsky said. "We'll see how the team responds."
The team clearly did not respond to Narron, who posted a 157-179 record since assuming the post just over two years ago.
The Reds' flaws became evident last season, when they belted 217 home runs - the second-highest total in the National League - but posted a 4.51 ERA.
This year's team is struggling through the same problems. Cincinnati leads the NL with 119 homers but has an overall ERA of 4.86, the third-worst mark in the league.
The latest change for baseball's worst team came Sunday night when embattled general manager Wayne Krivsky made the move to fire manager Jerry Narron.
Narron's departure was made official at a news conference Monday afternoon.
It seems like news conferences to announce change has become routine at Great American Ball Park. Since the team moved into their new stadium five years ago, the Reds have had two owners, three general managers and now four managers.
Despite the Reds becoming a laughingstock, owner Bob Castellini maintained Monday that the franchise knows where it wants to go.
"Baseball is a tough business," Castellini said. "If people want to perceive we're a rocky ship, they can do that. But I can tell you we have a direction."
Whatever direction Castellini is talking about, the Reds' boat already has capsized this season.
Thanks to an abysmal bullpen - built by Krivsky - that is among the worst in baseball and a lack of clutch hitting, the Reds are 31-51 and in last place in the National League Central Division.
"For me, it's been a tremendous honor to be manager of the Cincinnati Reds," Narron told MLB.com. "I'm definitely disappointed that our record wasn't good this year. I've said all along that I think we're close to having a competitive ballclub."
Narron, who actually garnered a two-year contract extension from Castellini in June 2006, had a competitive ballclub last season. But they did collapse in September, leading to an 80-82 finish.
The disappointing finish from last season has carried over to this year for the Reds, who fell below .500 in the first week of May. They seem destined to stay there for the rest of this season.
A seventh straight losing season is a virtual lock, and the franchise's first 100-loss season since 1982 also may be on the horizon.
Trying to right the ship now will be advance scout Pete Mackanin, who managed the Reds' Class AAA affiliate in Nashville from 1990-92. He also managed the Pittsburgh Pirates for 26 games at the end of the 2005 season.
"We'll see what he does," Krivsky said. "We'll see how the team responds."
The team clearly did not respond to Narron, who posted a 157-179 record since assuming the post just over two years ago.
The Reds' flaws became evident last season, when they belted 217 home runs - the second-highest total in the National League - but posted a 4.51 ERA.
This year's team is struggling through the same problems. Cincinnati leads the NL with 119 homers but has an overall ERA of 4.86, the third-worst mark in the league.
