Bryan Price Adds Spice To Fundamentals

When Bryan Price was 10 years old, he begged his father, Pat, for tickets whenever the Big Red Machine was coming to Candlestick Park.  San Francisco Federal Savings and Loan, Patrick Price's employer had season's at San Francisco's chilly ballpark.

http://www.wiedemannbeer.com/

"I never dreamed I'd be managing the Reds one day, when I was groveling for tickets," Price said.  "To be here in this environment with this particular organization is surreal.  I would circle the Reds and Dodgers."

Price was a Giants fan but had fun watching the Reds play.

"How many teams had that many iconic players?  At the time nobody knew that they would have so many Hall of Famers," Price said. "You knew Pete Rose was leading off and you would see (Joe) Morgan, (Tony) Perez and (Johnny) Bench. You were going to see really good baseball.  They were always fun to watch.  You never want to see your home team get beat but they were fun to watch."

Young Price observed Ken Griffey Sr. take batting practice with a wide open stance and spray line drives around just using his hands.  Later he worked with both Junior and Senior in the Mariners organization.

"You never forget things like that when you're a baseball fan," Price said.

The appreciation for the Big Red Machine's way of playing never left him.  Now that it is sinking in that he is the manager, Price wants his team to learn as if they have never played the game and re-enforce the fundamentals.

"Our approach is that we are teaching to the youngest least experienced player," said Price, who has a background in player development.  "The benefit of that is for the veteran players get to hear what might be considered rudimentary and introductory baseball theory.  I've alway felt the repetition as tedious as that can be is extremely important."

Pitchers, in camp five days before most position players, have long considered pitchers' fielding practice (PFP) among the most tedious endeavors.

"We're going to add some spice to it, so it doesn't feel as repetitive as it is over the course of spring training," Price said.

That would be like making folding laundry enjoyable.  How is Price going to pull that off?

"We try to keep it challenging," Price said.  "A lot of PFP is about discussion.  Realistically we could go out there and hit come backers and cover first (see video) and these guys would know how to do the drill.  Part of what we want to re-introduce is the theory behind it.  Why do you take a specific route to firstbase and try to hit the base with your right foot?  We stress the advantages of getting the ball early instead of receiving the ball just as you're reaching the base

.



The coaching staff wants to get away from dictating to the players.

"We want to create a classroom environment which will be a part of what we do this spring.  We want to get feedback from the players.  We've done this with pitchers in the past.  We will pull a random pitcher and ask him to explain the number one bunt play and what we're trying to accomplish to create the dialogue."

Price sought and received advice from several current and former managers about the job, including Tony La Russa, Bob Melvin, Kirk Gibson, Joe Maddon and Pete Rose.  They gave him various perspectives.

"It was a treat talking to Pete Rose.  I talked to him because he managed in Cincinnati," Price said.  "Pete told me how important it was to maintain a relationship with a player.  Instead of having your coach explain something to the player, talk to him yourself in a non-confrontational manner."