Cincinnati Reds new executive Buddy Bell: An old-school numbers guy

GOODYEAR, Ariz. — In the great old-school scouting versus new-school analytics, Buddy Bell would seem to fall solidly on the old-school side.

He’s the middle generation of a three-generation baseball family. He played. He managed. And he worked in the front office before Sabermetrics became part of the baseball lexicon.

But Bell embraces the numbers, rather than scoffs at them — even if some of the guys he played and worked with don’t see things that way.

“I have friends who think it’s cool not to have a computer,” he said. “They think it’s cool not to have a smartphone. That’s not cool. You have to move along.”

Bell goes so far as to turn around the analytics-will-never-replace-scouting theory.

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“I don’t think a scout’s eyes or a manager’s eyes are ever going to take the place of analytics,” Bell said. “It’s a huge part of the game now. You’d be ignorant not to take advantage of it, at least to confirm and see things you don’t see with your eyes.”

All that said, I thought Bell was the biggest acquisition the Reds made over the winter because he brings a player/manager perspective to the front office.

That’s why the president of baseball operations, Dick Williams, brought Bell in.

“Professionally speaking, Buddy’s done it all, which is nice for us to have in the front office,” Williams said. “He’s played and been in the dugout on the managerial and coaching side. That’s something I didn’t have a lot of. We have front office executives. But I wanted that person who had been in the dugout and on the field.”

Bell, 66, is the son of Reds Hall of Famer Gus, and the father of former big leaguers David and Mike.

Buddy played in majors for 18 years, including four with the Reds. He won six Gold Gloves and made five All-Star teams. He managed for nine years — with stops in Detroit, Colorado and Kansas City. He spent 14 years with Chicago White Sox, the last five as vice president/assistant general manager.

When Bell made himself available, Williams jumped at the chance to hire him.

“It would never have happened without the Cincinnati history,” Williams said. “Buddy wanted to come back here. This is the place where his family got their start.”

Bell’s early impressions of his new team?

“Well, I think the first thing that jumps out at me is the young arms,” Bell said. “The one thing you’re hoping for is how quickly they develop. The good thing is they got some experience last year, which really helps. That kind of speeds up the development going into this year. That’s the thing that really impressed me.”

Bell has also been impressed with his coworkers in the front office.

“I’ve been here two weeks and I’ve learned a lot,” Bell said. “I sat with Joe Morgan. I’ve known Joe forever. Sitting with him, I learn stuff. You can always learn something. It doesn’t have to be Joe Morgan. It doesn’t have to be Lou Piniella. It can be Mark Heil or Bo Thompson or Sammy Grossman.”

Heil, Thompson and Grossman are analytics people.

“The analytics department we have here is really talented,” Bell said. “We have kids who are really good listeners. The combination of that and listening to guys who have been around a while, you can learn a lot.

“It’s kind of cool. Dick does a nice job of including everyone. And it’s getting better. They’re all somewhat young. At that age, we all need a little help. It’s an easy place to work. But it’s pretty intense as well. I like that way.”