Thursday, March 30, 2000
Bell, Portugal on different paths
BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
SARASOTA, Fla. — The paths of Mark Portugal and Rob Bell intersected Wednesday as part of baseball's inevitable cycle. As one major-league life ended, another began.
Portugal began the day thinking he would pitch in a minor-league game this weekend to prepare for his first start of the season, probably April 9 against Chicago. Instead, the Reds released him.
“So now, I coach Little League,” said Portugal, who does not want to play for a non-contending team.
Bell said he knew he'd have to pack up his apartment soon to get ready to begin the season with Triple-A Louisville. “But I didn't expect to be getting set to ship my car north (to Cincinnati) tomorrow,” Cincinnati's new No.5 starter said.
Portugal probably would have retired after last season, but his sons persuaded him to go to spring training with the Reds, for whom he played in 1995-96.
“I chose to play this year because of the team and because this team has a great chance to win it all,” Portugal said.
If it does, he won't be around.
“I'm just as shocked as anybody,” Portugal said. “There's 25 guys in that clubhouse right now that are shocked.”
Bell knew something was up when he reported to the Reds' training facility. Triple-A pitching coach Grant Jackson had dropped hints that Bell was involved in some personnel intrigue but provided no details.
When Bell was told to see General Manager Jim Bowden, he wondered if he was part of a trade. “It must have been me for (Minnesota's Brad) Radke straight up,” Bell said jokingly.
Then Bowden gave Bell the news.
“It's the realization of a lifetime dream,” Bell said. But, he added, “I told myself that whenever I pitched in the big leagues, I just wasn't going to be awestruck by that.”
Though Bell began the spring knowing he had an outside chance to win the fifth starter's spot, he never allowed the competition to consume him.
“I just wanted to force their hand as much as I could,” he said.
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