PITTSBURGH — There was no announcement or grand proclamation, but as of about two weeks ago, Josh Bell has been the Pirates everyday, all-day first baseman.
Bell, who had been frequently defensively substituted for at the beginning of his career, has played all nine innings in each of his last six starts, and they haven’t all been blowouts, either. He remained in the game through close victories against Miami and Colorado, and Friday night against Chicago as the Pirates took a one-run lead into the ninth.
If you missed the memo about Bell being an all-nine guy, don’t fell bad.