Reds sack coach David Bell at strange time

Maddon last served as a major league manager for the Los Angeles Angels in 2022. From 2015 to 2019, he was manager of the Chicago Cubs, a rival of the Reds in the National League Central. This was Bell's first season as Cincinnati manager. The Cubs replaced Maddon with former Reds player David Ross.

“The timing is really odd,” Maddon said. “Everybody has injuries. Everyone has to win even though they're injured. Frankly, I think managers are less blamed for underperforming these days, and I think that has a lot to do with the analytical influence on decision-making. In other words, the manager isn't as autonomous as he once was. His decisions aren't necessarily questioned. So a situation like this tells me there's something wrong with them, that they kind of don't like the clubhouse. Or the conversations have gotten to the point where they don't like it. More than anything, more than the decision-making. Because the players are hurt. Everyone gets hurt. But again, the decision-making. A lot of the things that managers have to do on a daily basis come from a different thought process and not necessarily his.”

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