CHICAGO -- New Reds bullpen coach Ted Power had a 13-year big league career from 1981-93 as a pitcher with eight different clubs -- including Cincinnati. His nomadic life continued after he got into coaching at various affiliates in the Reds' system. That was until Power reached Triple-A Louisville.
Now 61, Power spent the past 11 seasons as Louisville's pitching coach and waiting for his chance to get back to the Major Leagues. He interviewed for the Reds' pitching-coach vacancy last fall that went to Mark Riggins. But after Riggins was dismissed Monday and bullpen coach Mack Jenkins shifted to that spot, Power was named bullpen coach.
"It feels good," said Power, who joined the club on Tuesday and wore a No. 56 jersey. "Obviously, I'm glad to be here. I know a lot of these guys and have personal experience with them. It's good to see them in the big leagues, too. I'm just here as an extra set of hands and eyes. Wherever I can assist -- whether it's batting practice or talking about pitches -- whatever is asked of me is what I'll offer."
Power rode to Wrigley Field in a cab with Jenkins and manager Bryan Price, and was brought up to speed on everything. The moment of making it to the Majors again was special because he wasn't sure it would happen.
"But I was resolved to the point and happy with it that if this was where I was supposed to be, this is where I'm going to be," Power said. "My life is very good anyway, so I'm not going to complain about coaching in Triple-A and helping guys get over that hump."
Several Reds pitchers over the years -- either after being sent down amid struggles or on their way up the system -- praised Power for being helpful to their careers.
Price felt that Power was never one to complain about not getting a chance to come, nor had he tried to use his pitchers to help his own career.
"When you invest yourself in the players, they will do anything for you. They really will," Price said. "It's a challenging job. You know every time you make a move and send a player from Triple-A to the big leagues, there are a bunch of other guys in that clubhouse -- pitcher or position players -- going, 'Why wasn't that me?' You've got a lot of GMs there in Triple-A. Everyone wants to get here and wants to know, 'Why wasn't I the guy that called up?' It's a very difficult group to coach and to manage. He's done a wonderful job there."
Power doesn't plan on forcing his ideas on the pitchers he works with. He likes to keep open lines of communication at all times.
"It's more like, 'These are the ideas that I have, these are the things I've seen other pitchers do or other pitching coaches,'" Power said. "I haven't made this up myself. I didn't come up with these, but I've seen things that work for other people. My style is I just throw stuff at them, and if something sticks and it works for them, great. If not, we'll try something else."