The Cincinnati manager warned him: "That was a singular maneuver.

And instead of turning a deaf ear to the Cincinnati manager, he himself responded with a show of bravado.

The commissioner's office announced earlier this week that it has been conducting a "full inquiry into serious allegations" involving the Cincinnati manager.

"You'll see offense go up because you won't have the talented pitching," the Cincinnati manager said in spring training.

"The ball is livelier; it's smaller," the Cincinnati manager said.

Bowden, the Cincinnati general manager, has a year left on his contract.

Under baseball's rules, if the Cincinnati manager bet on games in which his team was not involved, he could be suspended for one year.

"We've lost a few games this way this year," the Cincinnati manager said.

Pete Rose, the Cincinnati manager, expressed the view that young pitchers are more mature today than in the past.

"I'd love to go to Cuba," the Cincinnati manager said.