Tuesday, October 22, 2002
Bell goes from uncertainty to Series
Moeller High grad perfect fit with Giants
By John Fay
The Cincinnati Enquirer
SAN FRANCISCO - During the last offseason, David Bell couldn't help but wonder how things were going to work out for him. Now, he can't imagine how things could have worked out any better. Bell, a Moeller High graduate, is playing third base for the San Francisco Giants in the World Series and loving it.
“It's all worked out great,” he said.
Bell would have settled for a solid situation last winter. He was a free agent coming off a good year with the Seattle Mariners, who won 116 games but lost the American League Championship Series to the New York Yankees.
A lot of teams, including the Reds, showed interest in Bell, and a few made offers. But none were very good ones.
An uncertain labor-contract future made it tough on all but the most elite free agents.
“A lot of guys went through the same thing,” said Bell's Cincinnati-based agent, Joe Bick. “There was significant interest, but it was strange marketplace.”
In the end, Seattle offered Bell arbitration. But it was clear the Mariners, who had signed free-agent third baseman Jeff Cirillo, had plans to trade Bell.
They did so on Jan. 25, sending him to the Giants for utilityman Desi Relaford.
It was a perfect fit. Bell played a solid - if not Gold Glove-caliber - third base. He hit .261 with 20 home runs and 73 RBI. He was one of the Giants' best in the clutch, hitting .317 with runners in scoring position.
San Francisco manager Dusty Baker knew what he was getting shortly after the team made the deal. Baker saw Ron Fairly, a longtime major leaguer, at spring training and got his assessment of Bell.
“He told me what a great fielder David was,” Baker said. “Ron had watched him in Seattle. He told me what a good ballplayer he was; that he would never complain. He could bat leadoff, second, ninth in Seattle.
“Ron said (Bell's) probably one of the most heads-up player he's seen in modern times. That's a pretty high compliment coming from someone of Ron's stature.”
It's also not surprising. Bell, 30, is a third-generation big leaguer. His grandfather was Reds Hall of Famer Gus Bell. His father, Buddy, played 18 years in the big leagues, including four with the Reds.
Bell's brothers, Mike and Ricky, are both in the minors. Rick played with the Los Angeles Dodgers' Triple-A team. Mike played with the Colorado Rockies' Triple-A team last year and is currently a free agent.
Most of the Bell family, including Buddy and David, has relocated to Arizona.
“My wife (Kristi's) family is still in Cincinnati,” David said. “So we get back a lot.”
David and former Red Reggie Sanders were two of the last pieces added to the Giants' mix this year. Both signed $1.75 million, one-year deals with a mutual option.
It was money well spent by San Francisco.
Bell led the Giants in games played (154), hit in six different spots and started at all four infield positions. His style and toughness didn't go unnoticed: He was given the Willie McCovey Award as the team's most inspirational player.
“You don't even notice he's there because he's so steady,” Baker said. “He has a magnificent glove, he rarely throws the ball away. He gave us much-needed stability over there since Billy Mueller left.”
Bell, a quiet, nice guy, could fit in with any team. He's gotten along fine with the Giants' biggest star, Barry Bonds.
“He's a great player,” Bell said. “He's a great teammate. I think he's misunderstood.”
If Bell sounds like he's interested in returning to San Francisco, that's because he is.
“I'd like to come back,” he said.
Bell has 10 days after the World Series to inform the Giants if he wants to return. The club then has five days to accept or reject.
The way it worked out this year, that would seem like an easy decision.
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Bell goes from uncertainty to Series
