Doc: Walt Jocketty leading Reds reboot from Florida

It’s possible, maybe even likely, that between now and the end of the month Walt Jocketty will turn water into wine, or at least Johnny Cueto into a couple certifiable stud prospects. The Reds general manager says all the heavy preparation has been done. What remains are phone calls and a satisfactory match.

Which Jocketty says he can accomplish from his condominium in Jupiter, Fla.

That’s where he was Thursday. Actually, he was at a ballgame in Jupiter, same as he was Wednesday, watching a couple Reds pitching prospects, Sal Romano and Amir Garrett, work Class A games. Romano and Garrett pitch for the Daytona Tortugas, who happened to be playing in Jupiter.

Technology being what it is, it’s possible for a major league general manager to spend at least part of the pivotal trade-deadline period away from the office. He could watch a Class A game, while monitoring a cell phone or several, and glancing at a laptop. As Jocketty wondered Thursday, "Why do I have to be in Cincinnati to do trades?"

So, maybe this isn’t a big deal. If you’re Jocketty, this isn’t a deal at all. "You can work anywhere," he said.

The problem is perception. And timing. The 14 days between now and the end of the month are among the most important for the Reds in at least 20 years. Big decisions have to be made on potential big deals involving some of the team’s biggest stars. Do you want to be in Jupiter, Fla., to make them?

If you’re a commanding officer, shouldn’t you be on the front line?

The Reds aren’t trading prospects. They are trading for prospects. If you’re Walt Jocketty and looking at young players, shouldn’t you be looking at other teams’ young players? What difference does it make, two weeks before the trade deadline, how Amir Garrett is pitching?

Daytona’s season runs through Sept. 6. Plenty of time between July 31 and then.

Jocketty’s expertise isn’t in scouting. He’s an administrator and, as he would tell you, a good one. Without Jocketty’s moves, the Reds probably don’t win the NL Central in 2010 or 2012. His best work has always been in adding firepower to teams that are good already.

Jocketty and his staff have done a fine job adding pitching quality and depth. The 2015 Reds are mediocre, at best. Where might they be without Michael Lorenzen, Anthony DeSclafani and Raisel Iglesias? And contrary to public belief, Jocketty didn’t orchestrate Joey Votto’s mega-contract, or the deals given Brandon Phillips and Homer Bailey. It wasn’t his money.

What he’s attempting now is different. The Reds re-boot is all about getting younger and cheaper, not adding potentially pricey veterans.

"I’m not on vacation," Jocketty said Thursday. He said sometimes being away from the office is best for him, "because you’re not influenced by people around the club." Jocketty has put that belief to good use this year. Early in July, he spent five days in London, visiting his daughter. In June, he stayed several days at his Arizona home. When I suggested being away from the office, especially now, might not be perceived favorably, Jocketty said, "I don’t care what the perception is."

Well, OK.

Jocketty is good at delegating, so maybe the field work being done by his special assistants Cam Bonifay and Kevin Towers, and others, is sufficient.

But if you’re the chief operating officer of a company, and that company has to decide whether to lay off 20 percent of its work force, are you going to make that decision from your beach house?

If the Reds were in the World Series, I couldn’t say, "Sorry, boss, but I’ll cover it from my condo in Bradenton." I probably could cover the Series long distance but, you know, it just wouldn’t look right. And what sort of confidence might that inspire?

Several people inside the game told me this week that what Jocketty is doing is unusual. Especially as the trade deadline nears. Especially with this team, in this crossroads summer of 2015.

Every day Johnny Cueto remains a Red, he costs the team approximately $55,000. That represents his salary, divided by the 182 days he is paid. Every start Johnny Beisbol makes for the Reds is another chance for him to hurt himself even slightly, the way he did last month. Every day he isn’t traded comes with the possibility some other brand name starting pitcher will be (Cole Hamels, Jeff Samardzija), reducing the Reds leverage.

The handwriting has been on the wall for this team for a month at least. The earlier you deal, the better your chances for a good return. It’s still relatively early in the game, by trade deadline standards. Opportunity just started knocking, and perception never beats reality. Even if the perception isn’t favorable.

If Walt Jocketty delivers the goods, I’m going to ask to write my columns from Barbados.