The Reds are proving David Bell was never the real problem

Two years after firing manager David Bell in September 2024, the Cincinnati Reds continue to face major performance struggles. Under manager Terry Francona, who took over for the 2025 season and reached the postseason before a swift elimination, the Reds sit 12 games under .500 and 26 games behind the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central.

Following a 9-1 defeat against the Chicago Cubs, analyst Barry Larkin stated that the franchise remains far behind the competition. The Reds won 77 games in Bell's final year and improved by only six wins to 83 during Francona's first season.