The Courier-Journal (Louisville)
Why Bell sticks to rah-rah messaging on struggling Reds
Ask columnist Jason Williams anything − sports or non-sports – and he’ll pick some of your questions and respond on Cincinnati.com. Email: jwilliams@enquirer.com
Subject: Cincinnati Reds manager David Bell’s job performance
Message: When will you and the other Enquirer writers take off the kid gloves and begin being critically objective about the job that David Bell has done since he’s been the manager of the Reds. He is mediocre at best, but you and your colleagues don’t criticize him the way that he needs to be criticized concerning his handling of the Reds. Case in point is Will Benson. He’s not even hitting his weight, but David Bell says he will come around in due time. Benson has talent for sure, but he does not need to be playing in Cincinnati.
Reply: Sounds like your criticism is more about what Bell says or doesn’t say. Sounds like you’re tired of the constant, rah-rah messages Bell delivers to the media each day.
Bell’s kumbaya stuff is wearing thin on a faction of impatient fans as the losses mount.
You may not like his approach, but Bell is being true to who he is. He has a method of bending over backwards to be a supportive player’s manager. He believes it’s the best way to get the most out of a young clubhouse. He’s a genuinely good person. He’s not a phony. He believes in the young core of this team to his core.
Bell’s approach also is in lockstep with what his boss, team president Nick Krall, wants – an emphasis on team chemistry and positive reinforcement. It’s what Bell and Krall believe will help eventually develop the Reds into a consistent winner.
Were you complaining about Bell’s approach at this time last year, when all those young guys were just coming up, tearing it up and turning the Reds into a surprise contender? He was saying the same things then.
There certainly are times when you’d like for Bell to be a little more critical in his assessment of the team’s struggles. It’s OK to be positive, and say you still believe in a slumping player and sputtering team. But it’d be nice if Bell threw in a reality check at times to balance things out.
Something like this, for example: We believe in Benson. We still see him as a big part of our future. He’s putting in extra work, and we love that about him. But we can’t keep playing him if this keeps up. He knows that. We know that.
Bell talks a lot about process. That’s another thing fans don’t want to hear.
The trust-the-process message has worn thin for long-time Reds fans. That’ll happen when a team hasn’t won a playoff series since Bill Clinton was in his first term.
Like it or not, it is a process when you’re developing a young team − especially one that’s been plagued by a rash of injuries. Fans clamored for the Reds to establish a plan and stick to it.
They finally have a plan, and they’re trying to make it work. Elly De La Cruz just passed the one-year mark of his big-league career. Nick Lodolo, Matt
McLain, Noelvi Marte and Christian Encarnacion-Strand haven’t played a full season in the majors yet.
There will come a time when these young players aren’t young anymore, and Bell’s messages may not resonate. Dare I say, trust the process.
Or don’t trust the process. Either way, Bell and the Reds’ plan needs more time.
If it becomes obvious the plan isn’t working and we’re still getting the same messages from Bell, then it’ll be time to take the kid gloves off.