Icons enlisted to help Reds

From the Enquirer:

The first spring training with Bob Castellini as CEO of the Reds will have franchise Hall of Famers Tom Browning and Mario Soto as instructors.

I’m not sure what effect this can have on the field, but I like the idea of connecting with the past success of the team.

Other than coaches, Bench, who is a special consultant to the general manager, has been the only former Red in uniform at spring training the past couple of years. Ken Griffey Sr. has been at camp, but he hasn’t been in uniform since he went from being a coach to a special consultant.

Didn’t Griffey leave the field under bad circumstances? (Problems with Boone, maybe?)

To have more players, all the Reds had to do was ask.

“A lot of guys would love to get involved,” Browning said. “But they didn’t want to go begging. If the Reds asked, they’d be glad to do it.”

Dave Concepcion has expressed interest in being part of the spring camp. Bench, who was out of town and unavailable for comment, has broached the subject of Joe Morgan, now an ESPN analyst, coming to Sarasota.

“That would be a tough sell,” Browning said. “But it would be great if he did come.”