[More Cowbell]

Morgan is locked in with television and Larkin is all chummy with Jim Leatherpants Bowden in Washington as a front office guy I believe. I have always heard (and I stress the word heard) that previous ownership had asked Bench to be the manager and the he has always shown interest but doesn't want to give up his lifestyle in California and financially doesn't need the job.

Yeah, Leatherpants and Larkin seem pretty tight. Wasn't Bowden the GM when Carl Lindner caved to local pressure and gave Larkin that ridiculous 3-year contract a few years ago? That was one of the worst moves the Reds have made over the last several years, they gave way too much money to an aging legend who couldn't even stay on the field, all because Lindner was thin-skinned and didn't like being booed at his home stadium. That huge contract virtually hamstrung the team from making any other significant moves until the 3 years was up. Way to show some gravitas, Carl, trading the long-term health of the franchise in order to be popular.