John Fay

jfay@enquirer.com

I talked to Walt Jocketty tonight for my year-end story. It will run Monday. Here's some of highlights of what he said:

ON THE OFFSEASON: "I expect to be busy and active in the offseason. I don't know how much we'll change this club. We'll talk in depth about it. I still think this is very good club."

WHAT WENT WRONG: "We've talked about injuries all year. It finally took its toll. I don't think Jay (Bruce) fully recovered from his surgery. He was able to play but he didn't have his strength. Joey (Votto) was never 100 percent. We get one guy back and someone else would go out. It finally caught up with us."

ON CHANGES: "I still believe this is a good club, says that we're going to have to do some things different. Our pitching is still solid. Our bullpen has to improve -- whether internally or externally -- that was a strength last year. We already have one guy we have to replace in (Jonathan) Broxton. There'll be some changes in the bullpen. But offensively, I think you recognize we didn't get as many guys on base this year. Fewer guys on base; fewer runs are going to score. We've got to take a hard look at that. Part of that is a function of Joey being out."

ON RETAINING FREE AGENT PITCHERS: "I really hope we can find a way to keep everybody. We may not be able to do it. We've been very creative in the past with payroll. We're trying to retain the critical guys and try to add a little bit to it. I don't know what we're going to do yet. That's something we'll work on the next month or two."

ON VOTTO: Jocketty said he is confident Votto will be 100 percent to start the 2015 season. Votto will not likely play the last two games of the season. "He fully intended to," Jocketty said. "But, at this point -- I haven't talked to him in a few days -- but I'm not sure it makes any sense. Everyone who had an issue or had a procedure done should be ready for spring training."

ON BRYAN PRICE: "I feel bad for him. All the things he had to deal with this year. Injuries, a new staff. I thought he did an excellent job. I know the players feel that way, too."