Cincinnati Reds: Shortened season offers little patience for Raisel Iglesias

Reds manager David Bell needs to have Raisel Iglesias on a short leash.

It happened again. Cincinnati Reds manager David Bell called on closer Raisel Iglesias in a non-save situation. With the score knotted in the top of the ninth inning, Iglesias surrendered the eventual game-winning home run and was hung with his first loss of the season. In a 60-game sprint to the finish line, Iglesias cannot be given too many chances to improve.

Whether you agree with Bell’s decision to bring in Iglesias or not is irrelevant. I’m of the mindset that two things were accomplished during that tragic ninth inning. First, Bell established that he’s not changing his philosophy; he’ll call on Iglesias regardless of the situation. Second, Iglesias must turn things around, and quickly.

Bell showed a propensity last season to call upon Raisel Iglesias regardless of whether a save was on the line or not. This was a point of contention last season, especially in the early-going, when Iglesias voiced his displeasure with the manner in which he was being used.

David Bell’s philosophy was quite simple; Iglesias was the most accomplished pitcher in the Reds bullpen and he would call on the right-hander when the game mattered the most. Iglesias’ mindset was not the same, stating that he preferred not to come into the game in non-save situations.

In a battle of wills, David Bell is going to win this one. He’s the skipper, the captain of the ship, and he’ll do what he thinks is best for the team. Personally, I agree with Bell’s stance; if Iglesias is as good as we all know he can be, then he needs to perform regardless of the situation.

However, this back and forth game between Bell and Iglesias cannot go on during this abbreviated season. The Cincinnati Reds squandered a game against a Detroit Tigers that should have been sent packing after six amazing innings from Luis Castillo. Instead, the bullpen imploded and the Reds are sitting at 1-1 instead of 2-0.

During a 162-game season, that loss isn’t going to sting too much. But, with only 60 games in the 2020 season, every games takes on a great deal of significance. Bell cannot afford to let Iglesias “figure it out”. If Raisel Iglesias can’t get the job done, David Bell needs to turn to another pitcher in the Reds bullpen.