Can David Bell Be a Very Good Manager?

With the current Reds, how will we ever know?

(Washington Post)

The Reds played a real game Thursday. Weather perfect, One-Game-Season Fans attended en masse, and. . .

Reds middle relief still stinks, fans are still blaming the manager for that, Reds start the season with an L, fans generally agree the season is over.

I’ll address all that, but first this:

How will we ever know if David Bell can be a winning major-league manager?

I asked the same question about a million years ago, when Dick LeBeau was the Bengals head coach. In some very consequential respects, a coach or manager is beholden to the team that ownership/management gives him. We’ll never know if LeBeau could have succeeded as a head coach. We were too busy wondering how anyone could win with a starting defense that was last in the NFL in points allowed, 31st v. the pass and 31st in forcing turnovers.

Ladies and gentlemen, Canute Curtis, Bernard Whittington, Tony Williams and Jo’Juan Armor. All starting defensive players for your 2002 Men. They went 2-14.

Which gets us to David Bell. How do we know how good he can be if he continues to manage the Cincinnati Reds?

On Thursday, Bell pulled starter Hunter Greene with one out in the 4th, after 83 pitches. Greene wasn’t throwing enough strikes and besides, Bell already had said Greene would be limited to 80-85 throws in his season debut. That makes perfect sense.

Bell summoned one Fernando Cruz from the bullpen. Maybe you know of Fernando Cruz. Perhaps you are a dutiful follower of his career. If so, you’d know that he’s 33 years old and last season’s 14 innings were the first innings he’d pitched in the big leagues. Ever.

Since the Royals drafted him in 2007, Cruz has played at various times in Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Mexico, the Dominican and in the Caribbean Series. In 2016, Cruz toiled in something called the Canadian-American Association. He knows more about Puerto Rico than a Michelin Guide. If you ever want to spend a winter watching professional baseball, Fernando is your tour leader.

Nothing personal. Cruz’s determination is admirable. Big ups to him for making the majors at age 32, last summer.

But, c’mon.

He comes in with runners on the corners, in a 1-1 game. He walks the first three hitters he sees, he throws a wild pitch. The only out Cruz got was on a throw to the plate. Twenty-four pitches and 14 balls later, the Pirates had scored three times and Cruz’ afternoon was over.

Sure, David Bell could have selected another middle reliever. Whom might you have picked? Derek Law? Age 32, 53 innings in the majors in the last three seasons. The Reds re-signed him to a minor-league deal over the winter, after removing him from the 40-man roster,

Ian Gibaut? Age 29, 69 innings in four major-league seasons, 35 innings with the Reds last year. Career ERA just under 5, WHIP last season 1.615.

Joel Kuhnel? Age 28, 3 seasons, 70 innings, 6.11 career ERA, 6.35 last year with the Reds.

Need I go on?

The IQs of most managers are heavily dependent on the quality of their bullpens. Smart managers invariably have solid relief pitchers. How would you describe the relief pitchers David Bell has?

My biggest fear for David, whom I confess to liking very much, personally and professionally, is that the Club fires him just as things begin to turn around. It’s crazy to judge Bell with the menu he has to order from now. In a year or two, maybe not so crazy. But to think he’s “under pressure’’ now is ridiculous.

If the Reds practice patience with their players, they should give their players’ manager the same consideration.

MEANWHILE, Reds hitters — none of them named Judge, Guerrero, Turner, Tatis or Ohtani — struck out 15 times Thursday. Reds’ pitchers — who don’t answer when called Scherzer, Cole, Nola, Bieber or Ohtani — walked nine. Against the Pirates.

Now, then. . .

THE GAME took 3 hours, 2 minutes to play. How?

I LISTENED TO THE FIRST 7 INNINGS on the radio, the next two innings I watched on TV. The radio was good, as usual, though a little heavy on the praise, perhaps owing to it being Opening Day. I miss the ol’ Cowboy, the one given such a great platform by The Famer. Maybe Marty’s best attribute was his on-air generosity with his partners. He was very good at setting up Brantley’s good ol’ sense of humor.

And I really don’t need to know the type of pitch thrown on every single pitch.

As for the TV. . . when I heard John Sadak’s call on the Jonathan India double in the 9th, I damned near called 9-1-1. I could have sworn the world was about to end.

WOW, MINOR LEAGUERS ARE RICH. . . They agreed to a first-ever, 5-year contract that will pay some of them above poverty level. AP:

Minimum salaries will rise from $4,800 to $19,800 at rookie ball, $11,000 to $26,200 at low Class A, $11,000 to $27,300 at high Class A, $13,800 to $27,300 at double A and $17,500 to $45,800 at triple A.

So, if you’re a young player in Double-A now, you’ll make. . . $27,300? Wow, live it up, kid. Don’t spend it all in one place.

Across 52 weeks, that’s $525 a week. Food stamp country. And that’s the top of the Double-A scale.

Ponder that the next time you complain about the big boys making mid-six zeroes in their free-agency years.

AND NOW. . .

Hey Michelle will take your weekend to unimaginable heights.

Reds Kids Opening Day ~ Saturday with festivities outside of the stadium featuring a dozen mascots at 11:15 followed by players and coaches greeting fans at noon. Gates will open early at 1:30 to enjoy fan zone fun. 

Candy Shop Pop Up Bar ~ Hit up the Hard Rock Casino every Friday & Saturday in April for a cocktail experience in a whimsical candy land setting. This is a ticketed event that includes one specialty cocktail and two dessert treats. There are so many picture ops and a dance area to shake off some of that sugar :) 

Reds Games ~ Tis’ the season .. Saturday 4:10, Sunday 1:40 against the Pirates 

Auto Expo ~ Car lovers this is your weekend! Experience the newest coolest cars, SUVs, and more. There are exhibits, rare and collectable cars and a family zone. Friday 11-9, Saturday 10-9 and Sunday 10-6 at Duke Energy 

Jagged Little Pill ~ Showing at the Aronoff now through April 2. I’ve heard great things about this show but it is pulling at all heartstrings. 

Roller Rink & PickleBall at Fountain Square ~ Saturday the Frisch’s Roller Rink opens and there will be DJ’s for the kickoff ! The opening bash is from 2:30-5:30 then every Saturday night from 6-10 be ready to rock the rink. Sunday you can skate from 2:30 - 5:30. New this year Pickleball will be available the month of April when the roller rink isn’t operating first come first serve. 

Walnut Hills Market ~ Saturday 12-6 at Woodburn Brewery over 40 local and regional vendors will be highlighted. This is free and is family friendly. 

Hey Michelle,

Do you want to know where to eat, drink and have fun in Cincinnati? Follow me @HeyMichelle1 on IG 
https://heymichelle-help.com

Imbiber Dave Eats and Drinks Mexican

The brackets are all busted, the poor Reds are already in last place, so I guess we just time warp to Cinco De Mayo and start talking about the Derby?

So unlike what appeared to be the entire population of Cincinnati in attendance at the parade, my family opted for a new favorite taco shop in town.

Comal is a family owned restaurant where you order at the counter, enjoy your cerveza or margarita with a mountain of chips, and before you know it some of the best tacos, burritos, or flat-top quesadillas that my boys love are headed your way. Check it out the next time you are in NKY.

Aside from our not so well funded local heroes, we have a lot of wonderful activities on the horizon. The Masters should be a national holiday. Hopefully some of you are following the start to the F1 season. Based on the last watch party I attended it’s obviously growing in popularity. We have FCC, who currently sit in second place in the East.

And lastly, my slightly less poor Cubbies are off to a better start. Let’s see how the series goes next week. If the last few seasons are any indication, the Reds will continue to have their number and may get their first series sweep!

Cheers!
cincybeerguydave@gmail.com

TUNE O’ THE DAY. . . This is from an absolutely fantastic album, The Best of Friends. John Lee Hooker and rock royalty collaborate. Magic results. Here, he’s with Carlos Santana, who blisters it. What’s not to like?

Don’t listen to this in any office where head-boppin’ is discouraged.