NL NOTEBOOK: CINCINNATI BRAIN TRUST REWARDED.

Byline: TONY JACKSON Staff Writer

In an effort to restore stability to the once-proud organization he purchased last winter, and to reward a job well done by both parties, Cincinnati owner Bob Castellini picked up the option on the contract of new general manager Wayne Krivsky last week and extended the contract of manager Jerry Narron.

The plan is now for the two to run the Reds through at least 2008, and each has a club option for 2009.

Castellini made the decision about twoweeks ago, when the club was winning eight in a row.

``We were on a high,'' Castellini said. ``We're still on a high. That's pretty good for a team that was picked last by everybody.''

While Krivsky has gotten considerable praise for his spring- training acquisition of right-hander Bronson Arroyo from Boston and his early-season deal to get second baseman Brandon Phillips from Cleveland, Narron has been mostly stealth in his deft handling of the club, which with its come-from-behind win over the Indians on Friday night pulled into a first-place tie with slumping St. Louis in the National League Central.

``(Krivsky and Narron) have proven a lot of things already,'' Reds hitting coach Chris Chambliss said. ``I think the club is going in the right direction. What better way to express that than to extend those two guys? I'm real pleased and proud of those guys.''

Narron's only concern now is keeping together a coaching staff sure to open eyes around baseball when managerial openings occur.

``I would be shocked if other clubs didn't try to get somebody off this staff,'' Narron said. ``I think my extension says as much about the coaching staff as it does (about) me.''

Now for the bad news: The Reds' resurgence hasn't had much of an affect at the box office. Cincinnati is a savvy but historically fickle baseball town, and there might be a sense locally that this is a bubble destined to burst. After 38home dates, the Reds had drawn just 39,570 more fans than they did through the same number of games last season despite a 24-game improvement in their record to that point.

Castellini isn't worried.

``They are all watching us on television,'' he said. ``More and more, when they come down to the ballpark, they go home and tell their family and friends that it's a great experience. Believe me, it is. (But) it takes a little while in Cincinnati, when you have (had losing records) five seasons in a row, to be believers again.''

Sent down: Clearly bowed by the pressure of being a No. 1 starter with a subpar club around him, Pittsburgh's Oliver Perez was demoted first to the bullpen last week, then to Triple-A Indianapolis on Thursday night to make room for top pitching prospect Tom Gorzelanny.

Perez went 12-10 with a 2.98ERA in 2004. Since then, he is 9-15 with a 6.28 ERA.

``I told him in spring training that it was going to be different this year, that he would be facing No. 1 (opposing starters) every night, not No. 5 guys like in 2004,'' said Pirates catcher Humberto Cota, a close friend and confidant of Perez. ``I told him he was going to have to pitch even better to keep us in games, because it's a different aspect when you're the No.1guy for your team. There is more pressure.''

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