10/03/2005 8:00 AM ET
Reds ready to learn from experience
GM O'Brien to reflect on what went right and wrong in '05
By Anthony Castrovince / MLB.com

CINCINNATI -- The offseason is the time for a general manager to reflect on his decisions, and Reds general manager Dan O'Brien made plenty of decisions in 2005 that require reflection.

The Reds' 2005 season included a managerial change, personnel shakeups and inconsistent play, ultimately resulting in the club's fifth consecutive losing season.

"I view every day as a learning experience," O'Brien said. "The most important thing is, regardless of how important the decision -- how popular or unpopular it is -- when you make a decision, you do it with the best interest of the organization in mind and you go forward. And you are prepared to accept the consequences accordingly."

Two veteran players -- second baseman D'Angelo Jimenez and closer Danny Graves, both released -- paid the consequences for the Reds' poor start, as did manager Dave Miley and long-time pitching coach Don Gullett, who were relieved of their duties on June 21. Attendance this season, meanwhile, fell below the two million mark for the first time in the short history of Great American Ball Park.

An inability to reach the postseason always is a disappointment, but that it was even more so this season after a winter of spending. Over the offseason, O'Brien was afforded the rare opportunity to be aggressive in the free-agent market, and added $17 million to the cost-conscious Reds' payroll -- with mixed results.

Veterans David Weathers and Kent Mercker proved to be instrumental in guiding a young relief core, while third baseman Joe Randa put up strong numbers and earned the club a pair of pitching prospects when he was shipped to the Padres in July. Infielder Rich Aurilia provided one of the team's best clutch bats.

But the decisions to bring in Eric Milton for $25.5 million over three years and reliever Ben Weber, who had missed most of '04 with an injury, did not pan out in 2005. Nor did the re-signings of Jimenez or right-hander Paul Wilson. Of course, no one saw this coming in Spring Training -- because with the boosted payroll came boosted hopes of contention.

"But, obviously, you can't play the game of baseball on paper," catcher Jason LaRue said. "You've got to go out and do it. On paper, we looked pretty good. Unfortunately, in the first half, we struggled. I'm not sure whatever rhyme or reason why we did, but we did."

Yes, they did. The Reds limped to a 27-43 record by June 21, and O'Brien, ordinarily a man of patient deliberation, had to act fast.
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