The Cincinnati Reds have not been having a good week against the Chicago Cubs, and things reached a boiling point for manager David Bell on Thursday night.
Bell managed to get himself ejected in the bottom of the third inning after starting pitcher Luke Weaver had walked four batters in the inning.
In Bell's eyes, he should not have walked four batters and was emphatically expressing his anger over the strike zone.
Have a look.
Reds manager David Bell has been ejected in the third inning at Wrigley Field. pic.twitter.com/lZVAFov53a
— Bally Sports Cincinnati (@BallySportsCIN) August 4, 2023
While there were some borderline calls in the inning, nothing really seemed egregious from the umpires. The bigger issue is that Weaver just didn't have it on this night. Maybe Bell was just trying to spark his team or stand up for his pitcher. Whatever the reason, he was heated.
This is the second time in less than a month that Bell has been ejected for arguing balls and strikes, and the second time he has emphatically objected and caused a scene. It was only a couple of weeks ago that he drew an outline around home plate in the dirt while also arguing balls and strikes during an ejection.
Thursday's ejection is the 26th for Bell in his managerial career, and if that seems like a lot, it's because it is.
David Bell has been ejected 26 times in his managerial career. He has been a manager for 5 seasons.
— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) August 4, 2023
Dusty Baker has been ejected 26 times in his managerial career. He has been a manager for 26 seasons.
That is impressive work by both Baker and Bell for very different reasons.
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