Buddy Bell was going to pitch batting practice before his Rockies played the Reds Tuesday night, but when the rains came and b.p. moved under cover, he took the opportunity to make some phone calls.

        He emerged from behind his closed office door about 6:50 p.m., 45 minutes before game time.

Reds broadcaster and former pitcher Joe Nuxall, left, shares a laugh with Rockies manager and former Red Buddy Bell Tuesday. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        “Sorry about that,” he told a reporter. “I had some family matters to take care of.”

        Bell, the Colorado Rockies' first-year manager, is the early favorite for National League manager of the year because the Rockies have overcome an offense-happy home ballpark and are neck-and-neck with Arizona in the NL West.

        Bell's juggling act extends beyond Coors Field. The former Reds third baseman, a Cincinnati native, is a long-distance dad more often than he likes. All three of his sons (David, Mike and Rick) play pro baseball, and his two daughters (Kristi and Traci) are still at home with mom, Gloria.

        Well, sort of at home. This week, the Bells are living at a hotel in Cincinnati while Buddy's in town. When Buddy's not in town, the Bell girls stay with Gloria's sister. They will make the full-time move to Denver after the All-Star break.

        “Now, that's really weird, coming into Cincinnati and staying in a hotel,” Buddy said, smiling.

        The Bells are going to keep a small place in Cincinnati, returning in winter.

        Two years ago this month, it was Gloria who found herself in an uncharacteristically public spot: front and center. Her battle with tonsil cancer was chronicled by The Enquirer. Gloria had radiation treatments 35 times in 1997. It knocked out the cancer.

        The radiation destroyed her salivary glands, Buddy said.

        “She can only eat certain things. But she's tough. And it certainly beats the alternative. The doctors are hopeful (the salivary glands) will come back.”

        With the Rockies a half-game behind the D'backs entering Tuesday night, Buddy was here to take care of business. He was asked whether he has had to pull a Roger Craig, i.e., convince his Rockies players they could win in an abnormal ballpark (Coors Field) the way Craig did when managing the Giants at windy Candlestick Park.

        Not at all, Bell said. The Rockies' front-office people understand the game well and the players “have made it easy.”

        Among those are former Reds Jeffrey Hammonds, Stan Belinda and Gabe White. Bell recalled how much he liked Hammonds during the latter's days as an Oriole.

        “I liked his effort,” Bell said. “He had some injuries that sat him down at times. I can see why now. He plays a little bit out of control at times ... I would never suggest he (tone it down). Those guys, you usually just need to let 'em go.”

        With White, the Rockies knew that except for last season he'd had a decent track record. And they desperately needed a left-handed reliever.

        “Gabe's been exceptional for us,” Bell said. “I can't imagine any reliever (in baseball) having a better year than he's had. He's a tough kid. He takes the ball and throws strikes.”

        Despite the success of his club, Bell has days when he wonders whether being a big-league manager isn't overrated. He also once managed Detroit.

        “It's easy to get so hooked on this,” Bell said. “I know I like it, I know I love it, but I don't know how obsessive I am. There are places I'd rather be at times.”

        Because of family?

        “Yes,” he said. “But this is about the only thing I want to do and I do enjoy it. The game has a hold on me.”

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