Avery's bounced back Bowden knows he can't compete if the Arizona Diamondbacks or some other team with a big bankroll decides to engage in a bidding war for Wohlers. Cincinnati's sales pitch has to be based on Wohlers finding his way instead of additional wealth. For what it's worth, the Reds have usually been rewarded for the risks Bowden has taken. Pitching coach Don Gullett has shown a knack for tinkering with troubled careers. Steve Avery, once Wohlers' teammate in Atlanta, has come off the scrap heap to make two solid starts for the Reds.
Word of mouth remains a powerful form of advertising.
Desperation remains a powerful prod to act. The Reds' bullpen problems have been so severe that a talk show caller Tuesday suggested the team eliminate the eighth inning, much as high-rise buildings skip the 13th floor. The rules require that you play nine. The Cincinnati Enquirer , a Gannett Co. Inc. newspaper.