CINCINNATI, OH -- Reds' Manager Jerry Narron re-hired Randy Whisler to be first base coach today when John Moses unexpectedly retired yesterday.

Moses was almost on the plane to report for duty at spring training when he realized that he just couldn't tear himself away from the people he loves most.

“It caught me completely off guard,” Reds manager Jerry Narron said. “He's been in baseball a long time. He told me he was on his way to the airport and just had a change of heart with what he was doing. He felt like he had to do what's best for his family.”

Narron wasted no time tracking down the man who had held the position immediately prior to Moses.

“Whisler brings a lot of base-coaching experience,” said Narron. “He's a real veteran.”

Ken Griffey, father of the Reds' center fielder by the same name, had been thought to be a front-runner for the position. Griffey seemed to fit well with Castellini's stated desire to include more former Reds in the day-to-day activities of the team and could lend his experience with a winning Reds team. Plus, junior Griffey tends to hit better when his father is around; he's hit four home runs on his father's birthdays and four more on Father's Days throughout his career.

“Having Whisler as the first base coach gives us more flexibility,” explained Narron. “He allows us to use [Griffey Sr] in more of a utility role.