08-20-2024, 09:44 PM
(08-20-2024, 04:16 PM)bengalfan74 Wrote: Please no
Firing Bell was an unlikely proposition even a month ago. I think that's changed, and probably significantly. This team has legit talent in the starting rotation. They have 3 guys that have, by any measure, met or exceeded prospect projections. They also have depth in the minors that will be here very soon. There's a potential MVP in the lineup along with some high-quality bats up and down the order.
The defense objectively sucks donkey balls. The base running discipline is also hot garbage. Those are things I pin directly on coaching. How many of the 21 one-run losses flip to wins if they are even average in those to areas? They are also fairly bad in terms of plate discipline as well. The Royals just showed us what real plate discipline can do for a team.
Bell isn't the only problem, but he's a big enough one to warrant replacement. Also, unfortunately for him, the Reds ownership would bend over backwards to pick up a dime if it were wedged in a fresh dog turd. Why does that matter? Because firing unpopular managers is basically the cheapest PR move a bullshit ownership group can make to appease fans. They are cheap to buy off and new ones are cheap to hire. They are a hell of a lot cheaper than legit RH power bats and starting pitchers.
I know the ownership is close to the Bell family, but I think he's all but locked into the guillotine. It won't be as bad as the whacking of Dusty Baker that was subsequently followed by doing literally nothing to improve the team, but it will still be a very Castellini move. It might even help depending on who replaces him. If however, it's the main countermeasure to what ails this team, then it ain't close to enough.
