Reds Name O'Brien General Manager

By Chris Haft
October 27, 2003

CINCINNATI -- Obviously, Dan O'Brien wants to beat the Astros. But first, copying them might not be such a bad idea.

The Reds named O'Brien to their general manager at a Monday press conference. O'Brien, 49, replaces Jim Bowden, who was relieved of his duties on July 28. O'Brien received a three-year contract through the 2006 season.

Before becoming an assistant general manager in charge of baseball operations with the Rangers in October 1996, O'Brien spent 15 seasons with the Astros, the last 12 as scouting director. O'Brien also served as the Astros' farm director in his final year with them.

Until the Astros moved into Minute Maid Park (then Enron Field) in 2000, they maintained small- to middle-market payrolls. This forced them to rely on generating their own talent. Under O'Brien's watch, Houston developed position players such as Bob Abreu, Craig Biggio, Carlos Guillen, Richard Hidalgo, Kenny Lofton and Phil Nevin and pitchers such as Freddy Garcia, Todd Jones, Wade Miller, Roy Oswalt, Shane Reynolds and Billy Wagner. Many of these players were instrumental in the Astros' four division titles between 1997-2001 and the 10 above-.500 records they've posted in the last 11 seasons.

O'Brien called the Astros "an underpublicized model and an appropriate one for Cincinnati." He added, "That's a model I think we would and should embrace--not only our organization, but also our fans."

O'Brien intends to make starting pitching the emphasis of the Reds' developmental efforts on the prospect level and their acquisition an effort at the major league level. Improving this commodity, he said, is "the quickest way to being competitive." Cincinnati's starters have ranked 15th, 13th and last in ERA among NL staffs while the team has finished under .500 in each of the last three seasons.

O'Brien acknowledged that bolstering the pitching is neither automatic nor simple. "The analogy I use is it's like turning an aircraft carrier around," he said. "You just don't turn on a dime." O'Brien's awareness of working within payroll constraints and focusing on pitching was exactly what the Reds sought from the candidates they considered. After canvassing the baseball world for suggestions and recommendations for nearly two months, chief operating officer John Allen narrowed the field of potential GMs to eight in late September: Expos general manager Omar Minaya, Brewers special assignment scout David Wilder and six assistant GMs that included O'Brien, Al Avila (Tigers), Ned Colletti (Giants), Wayne Krivsky (Twins), Mike Port (Red Sox) and Tim Purpura (Astros). Krivsky, Minaya and O'Brien emerged as finalists.

Allen cited O'Brien's Houston experience as a significant factor in his hiring.

"The system was in place there to do what this organization needs to do from the standpoint of scouting and player development and setting up our farm system," Allen said, adding that O'Brien "gives us instant credibility."

The wishes of Reds management to stress scouting and player development drew O'Brien to their GM vacancy. But certain intangible factors also attracted him. Cincinnati's baseball heritage was one of them.

"This is a great, and I repeat, great baseball town," O'Brien said. "They have fans here that are generational. There are few teams (have) a fan base with the knowledge and tradition (the Reds) bring."

O'Brien's extensive roots also pulled him. He grew up in Columbus and earned a Master's degree in sports administration from Ohio University in 1977, one year after graduating with a double major in business and economics from Rollins College near Orlando, Fla. O'Brien recalled watching the Big Red Machine wield their dominance over the NL through the 1970s.

"Having experienced this franchise at its zenith, there's a real sense, almost tangible, of the energy, excitement and enthusiasm that enveloped Cincinnati and the whole tri-state area," he said. "The opportunity to come home is a special one."

O'Brien will have no time to indulge in these idyllic memories during the coming weeks. Numerous issues have piled up on the GM's desk since Bowden's departure, most notably hiring a manager.

"If that's not at the top of the list, it's 1A," O'Brien said with a laugh. O'Brien echoed Allen's intention to interview interim manager Dave Miley for the position: "Dave deserves an opportunity get a fair shot for the job."