Rockies Hire Bell To Manage

October 19, 1999 / 2:33 PM EDT / CBS/AP

Describing himself a player's manager who will emphasize defense and team chemistry, Buddy Bell was hired Wednesday as the Colorado Rockies' new manager.

Bell, 48, who managed the Detroit Tigers from 1996-98, becomes the third manager in the Rockies' seven-year history, succeeding Jim Leyland, who retired after this season.

Bell, who worked for the Cincinnati Reds for the past year, most recently as director of player development, signed a three-year contract believed to be worth about $2.25 million.

Dan O'Dowd, hired as general manager a month ago, called Bell "the perfect fit for this ballclub. He knows the game. He knows how it should be played, and he will demand that from each and every one of our players. He understands the importance of creating an atmosphere where every player has the potential to play to the best of his ability."

O'Dowd also promised that Bell will be surrounded with talent "to give Buddy the chance to put the kind of product on the field to realize our mission: having a championship-contending ballclub each and every year."

Bell didn't have those assurances in Detroit, where he guided the Tigers back to respectability but was fired late in his third season.

He finished runnerup in the 1997 AL Manager of the Year balloting after leading the Tigers to a 79-83 record, a 26-game improvement over the previous year. But the Tigers cut their payroll for 1998, and Bell was fired on Sept. 1, 1998, after a 52-85 mark.

"My run in Detroit was great as long as it lasted," Bell said during a news conference. "I think it taught me I could manage. It also taught me about getting along with people in the organization, how important scouting and player development are, the business side of things. Everybody has to work together. When you're a player, you don't necessarily understand that."

One of the best fielding third basemen of his generation, Bell played 18 seasons in the majors for Cleveland, Texas, Cincinnati and Houston. A five-time All-Star, he hit .279 for his career with 201 homers and 1,106 RBIs.

Bell worked with O'Dowd when they were in the Cleveland organization.

"My initial appeal for this job, obviously, was because of Dan O'Dowd," Bell said. "I trust Dan's leadership, I enjoy his aggressiveness and I understand his plan."

"But Dan O'Dowd is not the only reason that I'm here. I had other opportunities. I am not going to pick up my family and move to Colorado if I didn't think this was a great move."

In the negotiating process over Bell's contract, one of the final pieces to fall into place was Bell's willingness to move to Denver from his home in Cicinnati.

The Rockies, who finished 72-90 this season, want to avoid a repeat of this summer when Leyland lived in the Colorado clubhouse while his family stayed in Pittsburgh. The Rockies also want their new manager to be more involved in the community and to have input in trade discussions and free-agent decisions.

"I like players," Bell said. "I prefer to give them the benefit of the doubt. I can be demanding at times, but I also understand how hard this game is to play. And I think that gives me a little edge on some other people."

Bell said getting adjusted to the high-altitude dangers of Coors Field will take some time, but he has some theories.

"This is an offensive ballpark," he said. "Defense has to be a priority. You can't walk people, you can't make errors, you can't give up the extra base."

Bell is expected to retain Rockies hitting coach Clint Hurdle and third base coach Rich Donnelly from Leyland's staff. The team also has had discussions with Marcel Lachemann about becoming the pitching coach.
"I need good people around me," Bell said. "There are some guys I want to bring over here."

He said chemistry "is a major part of any successful team. Look at the Yankees. They might not have the best talent, but they have the best team because they have guys who can play together. It's not necessarily the most talented team. I prefer that."

O'Dowd held interviews with several other candidates, including Arizona bench coach Carlos Tosca, Cincinnati coach Ken Griffey and Florida minor league manager Lynn Jones. O'Dowd also spoke with New York Yankees coach Willie Randolph by phone.