Reds Have A Substitute First Base Coach

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Dateline: Goodyear, Arizona

Reds first base coach Colin Cowgill injured his knee in Goodyear. He flew home to Cincinnati and had cartilage repaired. He will miss time.

"Knowing him he will come back sooner than we think because he's a maniac," Terry Francona quipped.

In the interim Mike Napoli will take over as first base coach.

"We appreciate him doing it. It is important. Nap was loving his new job (assistent bench coach). He is learning things there," Francona said. 

Cowgill is the Reds' outfield and base running coach.

The Reds are emphasizing base running to improve judgement of the players. They want to go first to third more often. 

"I think we can do better at knowing where the ball is, all the time, trying to eliminate," Francona said. "We are fast for the most part. I don't think we were quite as aggressive last year as we were in the past. We were still one of the more aggressive teams. But when guys are sliding into second and the ball is still in the outfield, we have to be better at knowing where the ball is. You have to know within in a step or two. When the ball is swung at you glance in. That's all it is, it's a glance. Some guys are good at it. (Matt) McLain is really good at it. Some guys weren't taught that when they were young. Then it is a little bit of a challenge. We want to do it the best we can. If you don't know where the ball is you're relying on a little bit of luck. You don't want to do that. We want to know where the ball is to take advantage of our speed."

Napoli was never a speedster being a catcher with a 6'1", 225 pound frame but he knows how to run the bases.

"Having CC out doesn't help," said Francona referring to his base running agenda.

The Reds also have a new third base coach in Willie Harris.