HUNTINGTON -- George Foster admits it's tough watching the Cincinnati Reds struggle season after season in the National League Central Division.

Back in the 1970s, Foster played for the Reds, known then as the "Big Red Machine." With the likes of Foster, Johnny Bench, Dave Concepcion, Tony Perez, Pete Rose, Ken Griffey, Joe Morgan and Tom Seaver in the lineup, the Reds were a force in the National League. Today, fans can only dream about those days as the Reds now spend seasons near the bottom of the NL Central Division.

One team who was successful in the 1970s as well as today are the New York Yankees. Foster said the Reds could benefit if they would do some of the things the Yankees do besides spend owner George Steinbrenner's money.

"Their success. The guys who help them win they bring back in spring training to teach the guys coming up," Foster said Saturday between breaks at the clinic he worked at Tri-State Baseball/Softball Academy. "The Reds don't do that. Foster, Griffey. They played the game. Let them teach the game."

Foster knows pitching has been a major problem for Cincinnati in recent years, especially in the bullpen.

"People complain about pitching," he said. "I say teach them how to pitch. Being able to know the weaknesses of a batter means a lot. Have a purpose for every pitch. They have an arsenal, they just don't use it correctly."

In the 1970s, the Reds reached the World Series three times. They beat Boston in 1975 (4-3) and swept the Yankees a year later. They lost to Oakland (4-3) in 1972, dropping game 7. Foster, a five-time All-Star, was MVP in the 1976 All-Star Game and MVP in the NL in 1977 when he hit .320, belted 52 homers and drove in 149 runs.

In those days, Reds had power and punch from top to bottom in the lineup.

"You couldn't walk me," Foster said. "You have Perez and Bench hitting behind me."

Foster recalled a game in Chicago when the Reds had runners on second and third and the Cubs walked Perez to get to Foster. On came reliever Bruce Sutter who got eight warmup pitches.

"The ninth one. Gone. Grand slam," Foster said. "When we played well, everybody feared us and respected us. After the 1976 Series, Bob Howsam (Reds GM, president and CEO at the time) said baseball would never see a team like this again."

After 11 seasons with the Reds, Foster was traded to the New York Mets in 1982. The Mets signed him to a five-year contract worth an estimated $10 million. He hit 13 homers that season, 28 the next and was seen as a disappointment as pitchers handcuffed him with a curveballs. In August of their 1986 championship season, the Mets released Foster who was hitting .227 at the time. The Chicago White Sox picked Foster up, but he left the game after that season.

"I wanted to go out on my terms, but I wasn't given the chance," said Foster, who's tied for 10th in career grand slams with 13. "The Mets say it for you. You have to make adjustments, but it's easier said than done.

"For me it was about losing passion for something I loved doing. I wasn't doing it as well. I'd give the effort, but I couldn't live up to my expectations."

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