Jay Bell to be named Reds' new bench coach

[SanDiegoRed]

To be named Reds new bench coach via Ken Rosenthal on Twitter.

[kaldaniels]

Cool with me.

[Gallen5862]

http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/team/coach_staff_bio.jsp?c_id=pit&coachorstaffid=110826

Coaching/Playing Career

Jay Bell returned to the Pittsburgh organization on October 31, 2012, when he was named the club's Major League Hitting Coach. He spent eight years as the team's shortstop from 1989 to 1996, setting a career high with a .310 batting average and being named to the Silver Slugger team in 1993. He also captured a Rawlings Gold Glove Award in 1993 after committing a leaguelow 11 errors and was named to the National League All-Star team that season.

This past November, Bell served as the Hitting Coach for the New Zealand National Team in the World Baseball Classic qualifying tournament in Taipei City, Taiwan (the Diamondblacks lost to Taiwan in the final game). He also served as a coach for Team USA in 2010 during the Pro Am qualifier in Puerto Rico and in 2011 during the World Cup played in Panama, along with the Pan Am games played in Mexico.

Following an 18-year Major League playing career in which he hit .265 with 195 home runs and 860 RBI, Bell spent two years with the Arizona Diamondbacks as Bob Melvin's Bench Coach in 2005-06 and three seasons as an advisor for the club during spring training (2007-09).

In 2012, Jay spent the season as the Hitting Coach for the Southern League champion Mobile BayBears, Arizona's Double-A affiliate that was managed by Turner Ward.

[Kc61]

Bell and Bryan Price coached together in Arizona under Bob Melvin in 2007 (might have been 2006).

Bell was bench coach, Price pitching coach.

[SirFelixCat]

Doesn't seem bad, but it's a bench coach. Is this a big deal? I don't think so either way.

[nate1213]

So do we know if Jacoby will be with the team still? I either forget if I read he was gone or we don't know yet. If he is gone, this will be a nice change of method guy from Jacoby. Sounds like he had a pretty good career and the Pirates hit pretty well last year.

[757690]

He hit the most expensive grand slam in MLB history. One of my favorite non Reds MLB stories.

[Joseph]

He hit the most expensive grand slam in MLB history. One of my favorite non Reds MLB stories.

I'm not immediately familiar with it, elaborate?

[RedEye]

I'm not immediately familiar with it, elaborate?

http://msn.foxsports.com/topics/m/video/23807774/bell-makes-fan-a-millionaire.htm

[757690]

I'm not immediately familiar with it, elaborate?

It came off of a battery composed of friends of ours.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/news/1999/07/12/dbacks_million/


With the A's Jimmy Haynes on the mound, Bell worked the count to 3-1, then fouled a cople pitches into the seats. The last foul barely escaped the reach of catcher Ramon Hernandez. A few rows behind the Arizona dugout, sitting with her husband and her two children, Colleen 8, and Clayton II, 7, Hoyle was going crazy.

[Benihana]

I sat near his wife during the 1990 NLCS. Pretty cute if I recall

[marcshoe]

Since Price comes from the pitching side of things, I like it that his bench coach has been a successful hitting coach and can help out in that area if needed. Balance..

[cincinnati chili]

Some thoughts:

1. If you needed a sacrifice bunt in the 1990 earl weaver computer game, dude was automatic.

2. I like that we're stealing brass from the Pirates. Maybe he can teach us their signs.

3. His nerdy glasses made us non-athletic types feel good about ourselves.

[Kc61]

Some thoughts:

1. If you needed a sacrifice bunt in the 1990 earl weaver computer game, dude was automatic.

2. I like that we're stealing brass from the Pirates. Maybe he can teach us their signs.

3. His nerdy glasses made us non-athletic types feel good about ourselves.

Bell was a great bunter, in real life too.

[RedsManRick]

Interesting. Anybody have insight on him as a coach?

[M2]

During spring training I hope Barry Larkin stops by and greets Bell with a good take out slide.

[Big Klu]

Doesn't seem bad, but it's a bench coach. Is this a big deal? I don't think so either way.

A bench coach is like the executive officer on a ship. He's basically second-in-command behind the skipper. He has to be someone the manager trusts completely. His duties include being a sounding board for the manager, and providing alternative options to the manager's ideas (even if he personally agrees with the manager).

If Price trusts Bell enough to want him for this job, then that's good enough for me.

[RedEye]

A bench coach is like the executive officer on a ship. He has to be someone the manager trusts completely. His duties include being a sounding board for the manager, and providing alternative options to the manager's ideas (even if he personally agrees with the manager).

If Price trusts Bell enough to want him for this job, then that's good enough for me.

Doesn't the bench coach also serve as the backup manager if/when the manager has to miss a game or gets ejected from one?

[Big Klu]

Doesn't the bench coach also serve as the backup manager if/when the manager has to miss a game or gets ejected from one?

Yes. (I edited my post while you were responding.) Most bench coaches serve as the XO in the dugout, which means that the manager will hand over the reins to the bench coach if he is tossed or must be away from the club. (A couple of managers might pick a different member of their staff, but most go with their bench coach.)

[Red Swagger]

Manager- Bryan Price
Pitching coach-?
Asst Pitching coach- Mack Jenkins
Bench coach- Jay Bell
Hitting coach- ?
1st base coach- Billy Hatcher
3rd base coach- Mark Berry

I hope they find a place for Miguel Cairo as well.

[chicoruiz]

So we'll have a manager with a background as a pitching coach, and a bench coach with a background as a hitting coach.

This could be a good thing or a bad, depending on Price's ability to keep everyone working as a team with no hurt feelings.

[redsmetz]

Manager- Bryan Price
Pitching coach-?
Asst Pitching coach- Mack Jenkins
Bench coach- Jay Bell
Hitting coach- ?
1st base coach- Billy Hatcher
3rd base coach- Mark Berry

I hope they find a place for Miguel Cairo as well.

Do we know for a fact that any of the previous staff have been retained?

Wondering about the contract status of the coaches, I came across this in an article about the Reds extending Baker's contract last October: http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20121015&content_id=39828414&vkey=news_cin&c_id=cin

The Reds will also retain Baker's entire coaching staff: pitching coach Bryan Price, hitting coach Brook Jacoby, bench coach Chris Speier, first-base coach Billy Hatcher, third-base coach Mark Berry, bullpen coach Juan Lopez and assistant pitching coach Mack Jenkins.

A deal has not been reached, but Jocketty expected the staff to get two-year contracts. The medical staff will also be returning.

I haven't found anything to confirm that. Of course, that doesn't mean that any of the previous staff will be kept, or that they won't be reassigned to other duties. Neither can I say whether they all signed two year deals.

I'm just curious whether there has been any press confirming that the folks you show have, in fact, been advised they'll be back.

[DaytonFlyer]

Here is actual video of the grand slam, for those who are interested:

http://wapc.mlb.com/play/?content_id=20254873

At the very end, you can hear the teammate at the top of the steps tell him "you just won that lady a million dollars!" That was neat, did not know that story, thanks guys.

[PepperJack]

Do we know for a fact that any of the previous staff have been retained?

Wondering about the contract status of the coaches, I came across this in an article about the Reds extending Baker's contract last October: http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20121015&content_id=39828414&vkey=news_cin&c_id=cin

The Reds will also retain Baker's entire coaching staff: pitching coach Bryan Price, hitting coach Brook Jacoby, bench coach Chris Speier, first-base coach Billy Hatcher, third-base coach Mark Berry, bullpen coach Juan Lopez and assistant pitching coach Mack Jenkins.

A deal has not been reached, but Jocketty expected the staff to get two-year contracts. The medical staff will also be returning.

I haven't found anything to confirm that. Of course, that doesn't mean that any of the previous staff will be kept, or that they won't be reassigned to other duties. Neither can I say whether they all signed two year deals.

I'm just curious whether there has been any press confirming that the folks you show have, in fact, been advised they'll be back.


Price said that Mack Jenkins will be on the staff, he did not say as pitching coach or assistant, just that he will be on the staff.

I have not seen anything about Hatcher or Berry however.

[dfs]

Interesting. Anybody have insight on him as a coach?

As others have mentioned he was an excellent bunter. In 1990 Bell had 39 sacrifice hits. That's more than twice his closest competitor at 14. He did the same thing in 91 and then in 92 he was back to bunting at a semi-normal rate.

He came up at a time when middle infielders who could hit double digit home runs were rare and he would pop out 7-8, but by the time he retired he had a season in Arizona where he hit 38.

I'm not sure what the takeaway from that is.

I remember him as a heady ballplayer, but then you would expect that out of a middle infielder who goes on to a coaching career.

[cumberlandreds]

Since Bell is now bench coach does this mean a new version of Buntapalooza? ;)

[RichRed]

As others have mentioned he was an excellent bunter. In 1990 Bell had 39 sacrifice hits. That's more than twice his closest competitor at 14. He did the same thing in 91 and then in 92 he was back to bunting at a semi-normal rate.

He came up at a time when middle infielders who could hit double digit home runs were rare and he would pop out 7-8, but by the time he retired he had a season in Arizona where he hit 38.

I'm not sure what the takeaway from that is.

I remember him as a heady ballplayer, but then you would expect that out of a middle infielder who goes on to a coaching career.

The Brennamans are going to LOVE this hire.

[puca]

As others have mentioned he was an excellent bunter. In 1990 Bell had 39 sacrifice hits. That's more than twice his closest competitor at 14. He did the same thing in 91 and then in 92 he was back to bunting at a semi-normal rate.

He came up at a time when middle infielders who could hit double digit home runs were rare and he would pop out 7-8, but by the time he retired he had a season in Arizona where he hit 38.

I'm not sure what the takeaway from that is.

I remember him as a heady ballplayer, but then you would expect that out of a middle infielder who goes on to a coaching career.

The takeaway is that Jim Leyland would have been hated by RZ.

[dfs]

Since Bell is now bench coach does this mean a new version of Buntapalooza? ;)

I don't know. I'm sure Bell was just doing what Leyland signaled him to do. As I mentioned in 92 (with Leyland in the dugoug) Bell's Sacrifice hits plummeted from the stratosphere to a merely high level.


The takeaway is that Jim Leyland would have been hated by RZ.

There was quite the discussion about it at the time. 1st inning leadoff man gets on and Bell would be bunting.

[oregonred]

I sat near his wife during the 1990 NLCS. Pretty cute if I recall

Maybe she sit on the bench too?

[757690]

I have no problem with the Reds bunting more, as long as they are as good at as Jay Bell was.

[oregonred]

I have no problem with the Reds bunting more, as long as they are as good at as Jay Bell was.

The problem wasn't so much as bunting as the complete lack of ability of anyone not named Arroyo and Leake to actually show a level of competence during Buntapooloza.

[puca]

I have no problem with the Reds bunting more, as long as they are as good at as Jay Bell was.

I think the biggest difference was that the Pirates had Van Slyke/Bonilla/Bonds following Jay Bell. Unlike Reds opponents last year, no one would walk/pitch around Van Slyke to face Bonilla/Bonds.

[Beer&Bourbon]

The problem wasn't so much as bunting as the complete lack of ability of anyone not named Arroyo and Leake to actually show a level of competence during Buntapooloza.

Agreed. I don't have a problem with bunting unless every past attempt has led to problems. Far too often I watched as the Reds bunted only to get an easy out with no advancement of the runners. Good bunting would be a welcome change.

[PepperJack]

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/mlb/jay-bell-leaves-pirates-to-become-reds-bench-coach?ymd=20131112&content_id=63860714&vkey=news_mlb



The main reason Bell left the Pirates after one year is the opportunity to again join forces with Price. Bell and Price were Arizona manager Bob Melvin's bench and pitching coach, respectively, in 2006 and altogether shared four years in the D-backs organization.



"But you don't get an opportunity every day to work with a great friend," Bell added.

Due to that friendship, Bell almost never made it back to Pittsburgh. He revealed having been all set to join Price last season in Miami -- until Mike Redmond instead became the Marlins' new manager.

"Now Bryan has that opportunity to manage, and we're both excited about it."

[Tom Servo]

The Brennamans are going to LOVE this hire.
Thom probably loves it on the basis that it's a guy who played/coached for Arizona while he was there. Dude still regularly brings up Bob Brenly unprompted.

[757690]

Thom probably loves it on the basis that it's a guy who played/coached for Arizona while he was there. Dude still regularly brings up Bob Brenly unprompted.

"How in the world, and I'm not saying the guys hired didn't deserve it, but how in the world could there be around a half a dozen managerial jobs open every year, and not once did you hear, and I mean not even a whisper, the name of Bob Brenly? He only won a World Series in his first year! It baffles the inquiring mind."

[nate1213]

"How in the world, and I'm not saying the guys hired didn't deserve it, but how in the world could there be around a half a dozen managerial jobs open every year, and not once did you hear, and I mean not even a whisper, the name of Bob Brenly? He only won a World Series in his first year! It baffles the inquiring mind."

Sadly, that sounds like just Thom lol.

[NeilHamburger]

Is Brenly considered a bad manager?

I didn't really follow the Diamondbacks.

[RedsBrick]

Manager- Bryan Price
Pitching coach-Jeff Pico
Asst Pitching coach- Mack Jenkins
Bench coach- Jay Bell
Hitting coach- Don Long
1st base coach- Billy Hatcher
3rd base coach- Mark Berry

I hope they find a place for Miguel Cairo as well.

[traderumor]

I am getting a feel that Pryce's staff is going to be much more cerebral in their approach to the game than Dusty's overall culture of gut feelings and political considerations.

[redsmetz]

I am getting a feel that Pryce's staff is going to be much more cerebral in their approach to the game than Dusty's overall culture of gut feelings and political considerations.

It's going to be a long tenure in the new manager's career if we don't remember which name gets the letter "Y". Bryan Price.

And perhaps we can remember it's not Hannigan, but rather Hanigan...

[Not aimed at this particular poster - but we best get it right early]

Pet peeve rant over.

[Tom Servo]

There is no real basis for it, but I am really liking the way Price's coaching staff is shaping up. He seems to be surrounding himself with experienced guys who are kind of getting their first (Pico) or another (Long) shot at the big time, and guys he has worked with before (Bell).

[cincinnati chili]

Is Brenly considered a bad manager?

I didn't really follow the Diamondbacks.

The conventional wisdom was that the D'Backs won the WS despite him not because of him. I'm surprised he never got another chance to manage.

[traderumor]

There is no real basis for it, but I am really liking the way Price's coaching staff is shaping up. He seems to be surrounding himself with experienced guys who are kind of getting their first (Pico) or another (Long) shot at the big time, and guys he has worked with before (Bell).
:lol:

[membengal]

I hope he always stops and asks himself...

WWGSD?*









*What would George Scherger do?