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Jocketty: Retooling Reds is ‘part of the fun’

Club’s chief architect thinks NL Central is ‘wide open’ as a result of recent changes.

The Reds Caravan appeared at Fifth Third Field in Dayton Thursday Jan. 26. Reds manager Walt Jocketty, Tom Browning, a Reds Hall of Fame pitcher and the 2012 Dragons pitching coach and catcher Devin Mesoraco were among the caravan.

Lisa Powell The Reds Caravan appeared at Fifth Third Field in Dayton Thursday Jan. 26. Reds manager Walt Jocketty, Tom Browning, a Reds Hall of Fame pitcher and the 2012 Dragons pitching coach and catcher Devin Mesoraco were among the caravan.

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By Sean McClelland, Staff Writer 11:25 PM Thursday, January 26, 2012

The question made the Cincinnati Reds’ general manager smile, as if somehow there had been a time in his illustrious front-office career when winning had not been high on the agenda.

“I don’t know that there’s more emphasis this year to win than in the past,” Walt Jocketty maintained Thursday as the Reds’ winter caravan made a quick stop at Fifth Third Field.

A certain urgency would seem undeniable, however. Armed with a mandate from ownership to steer the Reds back into the playoffs, Jocketty has been hustling like a hungry minor leaguer, trading with the San Diego Padres for presumptive ace pitcher Mat Latos, bolstering the bullpen with Sean Marshall and Ryan Madson and adding peripheral pieces such as outfielder Ryan Ludwick, infielder Wilson Valdez and utility man Willie Harris.

“Part of the fun of this job is getting to make moves to improve the club,” Jocketty said. “We had the ability to do that this year, we had the resources to do it, and I had a great staff that helped me put it all together.”

Jocketty’s combination of moves no doubt explained the palpable hum of fan enthusiasm as he appeared before a group associated with the Dayton area’s Reds Rookie Success League franchise, a four-week baseball program for kids 7-12 focusing on character cultivation.

On the suite level of the downtown ballpark where the Dayton Dragons — the Reds’ low-Class A affiliate — will open their 13th season April 5 before their 845th consecutive sellout crowd, Jocketty was joined by Reds Chief Operating Officer Phil Castellini, new Dragons pitching coach Tom Browning, Reds broadcaster Thom Brennaman, Reds catcher (and top prospect) Devin Mesoraco and minor-league outfielder Ryan LaMarre.

Mesoraco (2008) and LaMarre (2010) played for the Dragons, and while all the panelists praised the Midwest League team and its fans for providing a nightly atmosphere better than minor leaguers at this level have a right to expect, most audience questions naturally concerned the big-league club.

One man wondered where the Brandon Phillips contract talks stood.

“We’re still trying to sign him long-term,” Jocketty replied. “He wants to stay here, and we’re trying to accommodate him, but it’s not an easy process.”

Another asked about former Dragons shortstop Paul Janish’s place in the infield hierarchy.

“Competing for a position as a utility player,” Jocketty said.

And the Cuban Missile, pitcher Aroldis Chapman?

“Starter. We still think that’s where his future is.”

How about oft-injured third baseman Scott Rolen?

“Says he feels fantastic.”

To the extent his goal this offseason has been to move the meter with the masses, Jocketty seems to have succeeded. If nothing else, his various transactions provide plenty to discuss at these whistle-stop events designed to drum up interest on dreary late-January days.

“We feel we have to have a winning club to be successful and keep the fans excited, get them out to the ballpark and buy tickets,” Jocketty said. “Some of the deals we made — Latos, we hope to have him for a number of years, Madson and Marshall are both one-year deals. Marshall, hopefully we can re-sign him, maybe Madson, too.

“But the main thing is to try and put a productive, competitive team on the field for this year. That’s always the goal.”

While the Reds have added, division rivals have subtracted. The defending World Series champion Cardinals lost manager Tony La Russa to retirement and slugging first baseman Albert Pujols to the Angels. The Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday saw their slugging first baseman, Prince Fielder, sign with the Detroit Tigers.

Jocketty wants to believe the balance of power in the NL Central is shifting.

“I think it’s going to make a big difference,” he said. “(Pujols and Fielder) certainly had an impact on the division and the league. Also, Tony was a difference-maker as a manager, so I think our division is wide open. I still believe the Cardinals, being world champions and getting (top starting pitcher) Adam Wainwright back (from Tommy John surgery), are the team to beat in our division.

“But I like our chances.”

Contact this reporter at  (937) 225-2408 or smcclelland @DaytonDailyNews.com

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