Entire coaching staff retained for '09

ST. LOUIS -- The entire Reds coaching staff will be back with the team in 2009.

General manager Walt Jocketty and manager Dusty Baker invited to return bench coach Chris Speier, hitting coach Brook Jacoby, pitching coach Dick Pole, third-base coach Mark Berry, first-base coach Billy Hatcher, bullpen coach Juan Lopez and bullpen catcher Mike Stefanski.

"We decided about a week ago, but we were trying to get the contracts out," Baker said on Friday.

A shakeup seemed possible, since Jocketty didn't have a hand in hiring any of the coaches. He took over in April from predecessor Wayne Krivsky. Before this season, Baker brought in only Speier and Lopez and had previously worked with Pole, who was hired under former manager Jerry Narron.

The Reds entered the night ranked 16th out of 16 National League teams in hitting with a .247 team average, and near the bottom in fielding. The pitching staff came in ranked 11th with a 5.04 ERA, but the bullpen made considerable improvement to be ranked third in the NL.

It's been a transitional year for Cincinnati, which retooled towards a youth movement. The players will get continuity heading into 2009.

"They've all done a good job," Baker said of the coaches. "I don't think we can get rid of guys if they do the job. They work hard. They're conscientious and always teaching, especially with the young players. They have the players' confidence for learning. We'll be better next year because of it."