Barry Larkin's comments suggest David Bell could be replaced as Reds manager

The noise surrounding David Bell's job security is getting louder. Some former Cincinnati Reds players seem somewhat united in their disappointment of this year's team. Barry Larkin was the latest Reds' great to voice his opinion.

Many fans were probably nodding in agreement on Tuesday night when Larkin used his platform as an analyst on Bally Sports' broadcast of the game between the Reds and St. Louis Cardinals to speak about Cincinnati's lack of success this season.

Larkin cited the superstar talent within the organization (obviously speaking about Hunter Greene and Elly De La Cruz) as a reason that this year's Reds team should be competing for a division title, not just a .500 record. Larkin said, "You don't win playing .500 baseball." While there's not much profundity at all in that statement, it's true.

Barry Larkin's comments suggest David Bell could be replaced at Reds manager

But Larkin didn't stop there. Larkin spoke about his friend and former teammate Eric Davis pushing him to be the best player he could be. The Hall of Fame shortstop then talked about his former manager Lou Piniella, and this is where things got a little interesting.

Larkin spoke about Piniella's expectations, and said that the former Reds skipper did not accept his team merely going out and competing — he expected his team to win ball games.

Now, not once during his diatribe did Larkin throw David Bell under the bus or claim that the current Reds manager has lost the clubhouse. Most of his players actually enjoy suiting up and playing for Bell. He's well-liked in the clubhouse. But maybe that's where the problem lies.

Reds manager David Bell has failed to produce results

Bell is undoubtedly a players' manager. In fact, a large majority of the men occupying those roles could be categorized that way. There's been such an emphasis on analytics in today's game, and that much of managerial decisions are made before a pitch is even thrown. More times than not, advanced metrics dictate decisions rather that gut instinct.

Nothing is wrong with that in and of itself. But if the leader of the team allows himself to be coerced constantly by a sheet of paper or an iPad rather than what his eyes are watching unfold in front of him, the players are going to see that. A manager's decision-making then becomes rather robotic and the passion and fire required to win at the highest level can be muted. That's where Bell falls short.

Yes, Bell sticks up for his guys and they love him for it. Watching Bell tear into an umpire after his batter was hosed by a horrible call is wildly entertaining. But the Reds fanbase is starved for a winner, and this year's team has the talent to at least make a run at the postseason rather than accept the mediocrity that comes with a .500 record.

Bell is on thin ice heading into the final month of the 2024 season, and even his three-year contract extension last summer may not be enough to save him. Larkin just said what a number of Reds fans already have — at some point, you have to start winning. To date, Bell has failed to do that and it may cost him his job once the season is over.

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