NL | Cincinnati fires GM Wayne Krivsky, hires Walt Jocketty

With Walt Jocketty, the question was when.

When would the Cincinnati Reds decide to switch general managers and give Jocketty the chance to turn them into winners?

The answer: 21 games into the season.

Off to their worst start in five years, the Reds fired Wayne Krivsky on Wednesday and replaced him with Jocketty, who built consistent winners during 10 seasons running the Oakland Athletics and 13 with the St. Louis Cardinals.

"We've just come to a point where we're not going to lose anymore," Reds owner Bob Castellini said emphatically. Cincinnati lost 9-3 to Houston on Wednesday.

Jocketty is the fourth general manager in six years for a team that has gone through seven straight losing seasons. The Reds have been through four managers (plus an interim manager) and two owners since 2003, when they moved into Great American Ball Park.

Jocketty's job is to provide direction. He'll likely get more of a chance than Krivsky, who walked into Castellini's office on Wednesday morning anticipating a regular baseball meeting.

He was shocked when told he was fired.

"I fought for an hour to keep my job," Krivsky said. "I did not see this coming at all. I still think it's a gold mine. That's what hurts so much, not to see the job through to the end and bring that winner to Cincinnati. I've had visions of being in the clubhouse with champagne being poured all over everybody."

Castellini said a 9-12 start was the main reason he turned to Jocketty, a move that was expected at some point. Krivsky, who was hired before the 2006 season, was in the final year of his contract. Jocketty was hired as a special consultant in January.

Cincinnati: CF Ken Griffey Jr.'s 199th homer with the Reds moved him ahead of Barry Larkin for eighth place on the franchise list. Griffey came to his hometown team in a trade with the Mariners before the 2000 season.

Colorado: SS Troy Tulowitzki was bumped from second in the batting order to seventh. The 23-year-old hit a three-run home run in the Rockies' loss to the Chicago Cubs.

Milwaukee: The Brewers activated CF Tony Gwynn (left hamstring) from the 15-day disabled list. He is expected to split time in center with Gabe Kapler until Mike Cameron returns from his 25-game suspension. Cameron is eligible to return Tuesday. Gwynn takes the roster spot of Gabe Gross, who was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday.

Washington: RH reliever Chad Cordero had an MRI on his right shoulder that showed tendinitis and weakness, but he will not need to return to the DL. Cordero was examined by Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala. He had complained of a "click" in his shoulder after pitching one inning in Atlanta on Monday. Cordero will begin a program to build up his shoulder strength designed by Andrews.

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