Cincinnati Reds Fire Manager Jack McKeon

C I N C I N N A T I, Oct. 2 -- Jack McKeon was fired as manager of theCincinnati Reds today following a season in which his teamfinished 10 games out of first place after its electrifying tradefor Ken Griffey Jr.

McKeon was NL manager of the year in 1999 when the small-market Reds won 96 games and narrowly missed the playoffs. This season, the Reds finished second in the NL Central, but way behind St.Louis.

Reds general manager Jim Bowden said the team would not renewMcKeon’s contract and would immediately begin looking for a successor.

“Jack has been a part of the development of the good, young Reds players you see on the field today,” Bowden said. “But the organization has decided to take a different decision in its leadership from the dugout.”

Francona Fired in Philly

The Reds completed their season Sunday with a 6-2 loss to theCardinals. Cincinnati finished at 85-77, compared with 96-67 theyear before.

This was the fourth major league team the 69-year-old McKeon has managed. He had a 291-259 record after replacing Ray Knight as manager of the Reds on July 25, 1997.

His firing came a day after Terry Francona was dismissed asmanager of the Philadelphia Phillies. Gene Lamont was to be firedtoday as manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The Reds created much of the preseason buzz this season with theacquisition of Griffey. The perennial All-Star outfielder wastraded from Seattle, making a return to his hometown and joininghis father on the Reds.

Griffey batted .271 this year, with 40 home runs, 118 RBIs and100 runs. Other than his average, it was a strong season forGriffey, but clearly not enough to send the Reds into first place.

The Reds practically conceded the division race when they tradedDenny Neagle to the Yankees in July. They also tried to unloadBarry Larkin, but the star shortstop rejected a trade to the Mets,and Cincinnati resigned him.

Later, the Reds traded outfielder Dante Bichette to the BostonRed Sox in another move to lighten their payroll.