GOODYEAR, Ariz. – David Bell admits he never looked forward to the length of spring training as a player, believing it was a tad too long, and he thought the same thing in his first few years as the Cincinnati Reds’ manager.
Last year changed his mind.
It was a condensed three-week camp because of a lockout, about half the normal length, and the spring training sprint swallowed the Reds. There was almost a new roster move each day, including some trades that devastated the clubhouse. It’s not a coincidence they started with a 3-22 record, the worst in team history.