Williams: How Cincinnati Reds manager David Bell handles high expectations entering season

Two years ago, the Cincinnati Reds blew up their roster and finally implemented a player-development plan designed to help the club sustain success.

The Reds lost 100 games in 2022. They were projected to be bad again last year, but some of the talented young players arrived ahead of schedule and the Reds were a surprise wild-card contender even amid a rash of key injuries. Suddenly, the expectations are high entering the 2024 season − something no one foreshadowed at this time last year.

Manager David Bell and this team were built for each other. Bell is a team-first, clubhouse-culture guy, lessons the Cincinnati native learned while growing up around the game in a three-generation, big-league family.

I had a wide-ranging conversation with Bell during spring training talking about his approach entering his sixth season leading the Reds.

Question: Much different expectations this season. Do you feel more pressure than the last two seasons?

Bell: This year, our expectations as a team, players included, are higher. I want that. Part of the reason we finished above .500 last year is we didn’t pay attention to outside expectations. We really committed to caring about what we could control in the clubhouse and on the field.

We talked about (outside expectations) a little bit at the beginning of spring training last year. It wasn’t, "Hey, we’re going to show everybody." It was more we believe in ourselves, and we know we can be a lot better. It makes it almost impossible if you pay attention to all (the outside expectations).

The first big team meeting of spring training is something you think about for four months. You get everything out there. This year, it was: “How do we keep getting better?” Last year created an identity that we all can be proud of. It’s super simple who our players are. They work hard. They absolutely play together better than anybody that I’ve seen. There’s no giving up. They fight to get better. We want to build on that and stay true to that.

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The Reds last season quickly developed a reputation for being tough, gritty and resilient − part of what endeared them to the fans. They not only had to overcome a lot of injuries, which have already plagued them this spring. They also had several players play through injuries, including outfielder Jake Fraley playing with a broken toe.

Question: Do you see this as a tough team?

Bell: There’s a lot of toughness. There’s a lot to that. Yeah, we’re good at (pain tolerance), too. The toughness comes from doing the right things. Caring about doing your job. Caring about your teammates. If it’s all about you as a player, you may want to wait to be 100 percent (healthy) before you take the field. But if it’s bigger than you, you find ways to do what’s best for the team. I give a lot of credit to our organization – the scouts, Nick (Krall) for prioritizing character. The players in our clubhouse, the level of character, it’s so enjoyable to be around. It makes it so pure.

Why David Bell enjoys his job more now

Question: Have you changed anything since you first became manager in 2019?

Bell: I enjoy all of it more. A lot of that has to do with good players. A lot of it has to do with players in our clubhouse. It’s not so much about decision-making. It’s more of enjoying every moment. Our staff is the best it’s been since we’ve been here. It’s like being around your friends and family all the time – and you get to play baseball.

Cincinnati Reds manager: Baseball's lessons on handling failure

Question: How do you handle losing?

Bell: I don’t know if I’m good or bad at it. I will say I’ve been fortunate to be around the game since I was kid, and I know the game can be an emotional roller coaster. It takes everything you have to be good. Knowing that you have to somehow, some way find a way to shower that off and turn the page – not only to the next day, but we have families and things we care about – you’re going to give up all of that if you’re not able to (handle failure).

When you take it home with you, sometimes it’s just going to happen. But if it becomes a habit of you can’t turn it off, it’s going to cost you your family, your health and it’s going to make you worse at doing your job. I’ve learned that since I was kid. I didn’t always do it right. Thankfully, I had people around me who were patient and understood. Maybe it was why we (Bell and his wife, Kristi) never had children until after I was finished playing. Losing affected me for sure.

Going through some of those experiences allowed me to gain a better perspective. Back when I was a minor league manager, I thought, “How do we care about it more than anything in the world for three hours and do it in a healthy way that allows you to have a life?”

It's been a process. I’ve gotten better at it. You’re going to play worse if you don’t do it.

Contact Enquirer columnist Jason Williams at  jwilliams@enquirer.com

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: How Cincinnati Reds manager David Bell handles big expectations