The Reds are parting ways with a number of coaches on the heels of a disappointing season. The team announced Thursday that hitting coach Alan Zinter, bullpen coach Lee Tunnell, first base/infield coach Delino DeShields, advance scouting coach Cristian Pérez and assistant coach Rolando Valles have all been let go. Bobby Nightengale of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports that senior director of performance/health Geoff Head also will not be offered a new contract.
Manager David Bell will return in 2023, tweets Charlie Goldsmith of the Enquirer. It’ll be the fifth season at the helm for the 50-year-old, who signed an extension last September that runs through the end of next season.
Cincinnati’s coaching changes wrap up a frustrating year for the organization. The Reds lost 100 games in 2022, tying them with the Pirates for the third-worst record in the majors. They dropped 21 games in the standings relative to last year’s 83-79 mark. Cincinnati’s only postseason appearance since 2013 came as part of an expanded playoff field during the shortened 2020 season.
As one would imagine for a team that won just 62 games, the Reds underachieved in a number of areas. Both the starting rotation and bullpen finished 28th in ERA (4.97 and 4.75, respectively). Those dismal results weren’t unforeseeable. The Reds had one of the league’s worst relief units in 2021 and were without two of their better late-game arms — Tejay Antone and Lucas Sims — for most or all of this season.
Over the past calendar year, Cincinnati also parted with all four of its top starting pitchers. Wade Miley was waived to shed $10MM from the books last November, while Sonny Gray was traded to the Twins in Spring Training. Luis Castillo and Tyler Mahle stuck on the roster until the summer but were flipped to the Mariners and Twins, respectively, before the deadline. Cincinnati wound up giving 62 combined starts to the rookie trio of Hunter Greene, Nick Lodolo and Graham Ashcraft. While each of them showed promise, they all battled injuries and Greene and Ashcraft were up-and-down from a performance perspective.
The club’s issues weren’t limited to the pitching staff. Despite playing in one of the sport’s most hitter-friendly home environments, they finished the year ranked 23rd in runs scored. The Reds placed 21st in batting average (.235), 24th in on-base percentage (.304) and 26th in slugging (.372). By measure of wRC+, which accounts for the ballpark, Cincinnati’s lineup was 15 percentage points below league average. Only the Pirates, A’s and Tigers were less productive.
That’s certainly not all the fault of Zinter, who’d coached Reds hitters for the past three seasons. Cincinnati dealt Jesse Winker to the Mariners to get out from under the remainder of Eugenio Suárez’s contract this past offseason. (Somewhat ironically, Winker was just alright in Seattle while Suárez had his best season since his 49-homer campaign in 2019). Promising young catcher Tyler Stephenson suffered a trio of freak injuries that kept him to 50 games and derailed what looked like a breakout season.
Nevertheless, there were a number of disappointing performances throughout the lineup. Of the 14 Reds hitters to tally 200+ plate appearances, only three had a wRC+ above the 100 league average. Offseason minor league signee Brandon Drury was excellent and flipped to the Padres midseason. The only other above-average hitters on a rate basis were outfielders Jake Fraley and TJ Friedl, both of whom played just under half the team’s games. Reigning NL Rookie of the Year Jonathan India took a step back, hitting .249/.327/.378 through 431 plate appearances. Former top prospects Nick Senzel and José Barrero haven’t yet shown themselves capable of hitting big league pitching.
The Reds will go in a new direction on the staff in search of better offensive results going into 2023. Cincinnati is facing an uphill battle to compete next season, but they’ll hope a new voice can help unlock stronger play from a number of their young hitters.
It was clearly their fault.
Lol. Em dudes are partying in the streets tonight !
Their GM’s have been confusing. They always seem to ream other teams out of top minor league talent in fire sales (e.g. Mahle) but never seem to be any good, you’d think with all those top prospects they’d eventually be playoff contenders.
Castellini, Krall & Bell are all clowns who don’t know their a*** from a hole in the ground. Next! Ahahaha!
Given that it’s the Reds, are they planning to just go without those positions next season? You know the budget and all.
They might actually end up with a better record.
Kyle Farmer will be retained to coach himself as he covers the left side of the infield and provide hitting instruction to any remaining teammates.
They’ll bring in 3 more third basemen and position change them to fill the staff
Not enough. Krall needs to completely clean house and go hire someone out of the organization to skipper the team and let that person do as they will. Clearly picking from a family tree of generational losers hasn’t worked in cincy. Try something else !
And go lock up your young talent !
Yeah because all these minor league players that no one else wanted should’ve been all stars
Smh
Just confirming end next season means end of 2023 right?
It’s like a fart in the super market aisle, who do you blame it on?
Was it in the Cheese aisle? Curly it could of been the sample person who cut the cheese.
We should stop counting 2020 for anything.
Nothing to do with the skin flint owner. Nope. Nothing at all .Coaches are certainly at fault.
I wish the Angels would part ways with their hitting coach.
I agree. I like Tori Hunter as the Halos BC. His first order of business. Mentor Adell with his bat and glove. He helped Trout a lot.
Why would Hunter want to be a hitting coach?
If you were successful big-league hitter, then you probably don’t need the money are probably not inclined to give up eight months of your life every year traveling, with little chance of getting any recognition.
I read a article where Torii is as active as ever. He owns resturants, housing developments. In the article Torii stated that people come up to him and tell him If I made the money you have I go lay on beach somewhere. Torri’s reply is “Thats why you ain’t me”
While the Manager/coaches are used as scape goats maybe this should be some kind of a wakeup call to teams that hiring career minor leaguers to coach Major League players usually doesn’t work
HAHAH what?
Theres only one thing not working here and that’s your logic and knowledge of history lol
There were 20 new hitting coaches in MLB this season. 10 had never coached in MLB, 4 never played affiliated ball of any kind, and 1 was a Pitcher. The average tenure is down from 3.1 years to 2.3 years and hitting league wide is horrendous. Major League hitters hit a combined .243 this season, the worst combined mark since 1968. If not the tutelage (which is unfortunately forced by a lot of front offices) maybe the problem is too many hitting coaches as 20 teams have at least 2 (the Angel have 3)
Maybe the pitching coaches are out pacing their hitting counterparts. Is technology helping pitchers be more dominant ? Maybe. Possibly. Not sure, but that would be my guess on league wide horrendous hitting. Aaron Judge and couple of others excluded.
I’d this Comic relief?
Is this comic relief?
Has nothing to do with the coaches…
apnews.com/article/mlb-sports-baseball-rob-manfred…
I dont know about everyone else, but I think the Twins get an A+ for their returns for Castillo, Gray, Winker, Suarez, Mahle and Drury.
They got a lot of bigger name prospects, but the dark horse imo is Christian Encarnacion-Strand, just a monster bat.
Twins?
Don’t think Bell’s the problem, but don’t think he’s the answer either.
All franchises that succeed – particularly those in small markets – start with a plan for the style of play they want out of the ML team; and what sort of players they’ll be looking for to accomplish that. They have philosophies for drafting / acquiring players and developing them at all levels. The FO personnel lead by the Baseball Ops person / GM work in harmony with the manager, his coaching staff, and instructors through out the farm system.
Mr. Krall has been there 2 years. Mr. Bell 3.
I have no idea what they’re trying to do – other than keep their jobs. It could well be owner interference. There doesn’t seem to be a coherent anything that’s discernable to anyone following their actions.
I’ve a friend who has a spouse working for the Reds…Krall objected to the payroll cuts. Bell fiercely advocated for this players when they were getting thrown at by Pirates players, they love him and respect him.
Can’t win much when you strike out constantly on draft and international prospects and have less than half the payroll of playoff teams. Can’t attract good FA pitching when you built a ballpark for sluggers. Can’t slug baseballs if they can’t foul off a breaking ball or play small ball as needed. Can’t build around groundballs if your defense is poor. Much like the Bengals did for years they seem to always go for raw tools instead of smart, adaptable, teachable players with good discipline.
Why haven’t my Rangers blown out their entire coaching staff yet? It should have been done first thing this morning.
The new manager they hire should be able to bring in ALL of is own guys.
The amazing thing to me about Reds owner Bob Castellini is that he has an undergraduate degree in Economics from Georgetown, and an MBA from the Wharton School – recognized as the best business school in America. Additionally, he had previous experience and holdings in the Orioles and Cardinals franchises.
It seems he’d have an idea of how to structure an MLB franchise.
Attending a prestigious school is no guarantee he learns anything
I remember Lee Tumnel pitcher with the Bucs.
Very confusing move, almost all coaches fired but the manager remains, never seen that before.
I’m betting a bunch of it has to do with contracts expiring etc. Bell has one more year on his contract and will helm a team of almost all younger players. He has a player development background why not keep him one more year to try to develop some of the young guys, especially when there’s ZERO pressure to win next season. If they fall on their faces again then they can cut bait.
Might have something to do with wanting to keep the pitching coach, Derek Johnson. That, and they’re already committed to paying Bell for 2023 anyway.
There’s a ton of pressure on David Bell. He aged 15 years this season, did you see him? He’s probably hoping to get out of town, away from the Castellini’s.
happens multiple times every year
The one who should have been fired was the inept cheapskate owner. Simply embarrassing and all his fault.
Reds dismissing coaching; Royals fire Matheny; Marlins and Mattingly parting ways…and some coaches to be fired later.
Seems like front office and ownership using a scapegoat season.
I would say they overachieved having that lineup and finishing with a better record than two other teams.
Only the Reds would fire the entire coaching staff (with at least some hired at Bell’s recommendation) and yet keep the manager on. Smh, the coaches work for the manager, if they failed, it’s on Bell for choosing an incompetent staff and thus as much a failure on Bell’s part as anyone. So now what, the FO will pick his coaches for him? He clearly can’t. They’ve just said as much by making this move.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a team do this. Bell would be gone if it were any other organization. For years this FO has lacked the stones to address issues with an iron hammer. Arguments addressing how much or little Bell is the problem are irrelevant. If you’re going to clean house, clean house. Nick Krall should go as well. The nepotistic nature of this organization is ludicrous. And if you’re name is Bell…well, I guess you’re part of the family.
Bell should have been fired also. Probably his dad saved him from the chopping block. The whole front office is a joke. Fans should stop supporting the REDS until new ownership. Since Castellini bought to team the Reds only had 2 winning seasons and only 1 playoff appearance. I’m sick of every darn year being a rebuilding season. How much longer Reds fans should take this?
Bob don’t want to pay for a manger, néw one When he has a cheap one.
Lol, Everyone knows who’s to blame. Spend no money bob c, Owner who traded payroll. Please sell this team to someone who wants to try to win.
Alan….give Chip in Tucson a call.
Couldn’t hurt and we love our own!
Lettuce Head Bob should fire himself and his son.
Bob, take your stupid son Phil and go back to selling produce! Whata horrible season. #SellTheTeamBob
Normally I think coach firings are a weak move to disguise blame, but in this case I think the housecleaning was overdue. The coaches can’t control how much talent is on the roster, but they can teach fundamentals and instill an attention to detail, a commitment to hard work and caring about the team and the game, and pride in one’s play. I saw little of that on the field for the Reds this year once Votto got hurt, but changing the team culture now is a good step in the right direction for if and when the front office finds the desire and dedication to put a competitive team on the field.
Of course the awful owners blame it all on the coaching staff and thus show them the door.
Once the early 2010’s era Reds teams dissolved, the team relegated itself to baseball irrelevance.
The team/coaching/management have made blunder after blunder from talent choice to coaching choice.
They gave Homer Bailey (not Jonny Cueto) over 100 million (110 I believe) dollars to pitch around 85 innings or so after signing that contract just to have him experience recurring elbow issues.
They gave Ryan Madsen 10 million and he didn’t even make it to spring training.
They gave Joey Votto 225 million dollars. I love Joey, but the effects of his contract are ever reaching in a “small market” club. It’s as simple as the law of diminishing returns.
Let’s not neglect to mention the Billy Hamilton, Bryan Price, bringing back Bronson Arroyo experiments.
When the time had come to move on from Dusty Baker, they should have gone with John Ferrell, not Bryan Price.
They grew their farm talent in Winker, Grandal, countless others to let them go.
The team can’t do the small things like swing for contact with 2 strikes, sacrifice bunt people into scoring position, bring guys in from scoring position with less than 2 outs.
I could go on….but for a club with such rich baseball history…they need a complete culture change. Not a few coaches.
This will still not make them good next season, it’s the Reds…
A couple of overall things to note. Since 1991, 31 years for those mathematically challenged the Reds have been to the postseason a total of 5 times. Four of the five they did not make it to the second round. Lost 88 games or more 11 times. Castellini has owned it since 2006. He owns only 15% of the team. It just so happens that amounts to a majority share. The other 85% is owned by a multitude of people. I am not sure how much Castellini is to blame. It seems to me the more shareholders you have the more you are worried about keeping everyone happy and making a profit. That means keeping team salary down. It’s a balancing act to see how long they can keep the faithful placated with mediocrity or until the thin mist of the big Red machine finally fades away. Before Castellini and crew was Marge Schott and Carl Linder Jr.
Believe it or not the only owner who took us to the promised land was Schott in 1990. Current ownership better hope that this rebuild takes hold and they better spend some money on a few solid players to round out the roster and be in contention for playoffs. Otherwise their balancing act with the fans might just tip to 8,000 attendees per game and that would be on a good nights. I am sick of other clubs fans going to GABP and outnumbering and out shouting the Reds fans!
There is emotion and there is facts.
The offense and the bullpen were lousy so I can see why those guys let go. Also there was some iffy defensive play. Senzel never really took to the outfield. Probably all reasons certain guys are looking for work.
On the other hand, Bell and Johnson have contracts and House is great with the catching, so I see why they are still around. The Reds have not been known for paying guys to do nothing. Another curse of rooting for a small market club, which you guys rooting for teams on the coasts and maybe Chicago, St. Louis, that throw money around have no clue about.
Are the Reds going to resign Votto and MAG after next year, NO so eat the contracts and play younger people while having two more players on the 40. You can hope all you want for good play from them and a mid season trade, but it is not going to happen.