JUPITER, Fla. • Bench coach David Bell, manager for a day for the Cardinals as they played a split-squad doubleheader, was matched up here with Washington Nationals manager Dusty Baker in one of the games. Bell played one year for Baker in 2002 as the San Francisco Giants, whose star was Barry Bonds, won the National League pennant and finished one win shy of capturing the World Series.
“It was a great year and great experience being around (Baker),” said Bell before the game. “I’ve actually stayed in pretty close contact with him.
“More than anything, the environment he created was so relaxed.