The rap on David Bell, the Cincinnati Reds’ first-year manager, is that he’s actually a pretty even-keeled guy. He grew up around the game, his father and grandfather each having played for the Reds in lengthy big league careers. He knew his way around the clubhouse, and around managers, after his own 12 years in the majors.
That’s what makes Bell’s first year as the Reds’ skipper that much more peculiar: he’s getting ejected a lot.
How many times, you ask? Seven times in 96 games, going into Sunday’s game against the St.