By Sean O’Reilly

The Reds have fired Cincinnati native, manager David Bell Sunday night after six seasons.

The team announced the surprising move a few hours their 2-0 loss to the arch-rival Pittsburgh Pirates. Bench coach Freddie Benavides is the interim manager for the last five games of the season. That is what is surprising. A move like this will not make a difference since the Reds aren’t in the playoffs. They could’ve waited until season’s end after next Sunday. But probably had seen enough of Bell.

With a week left in the season, the Reds are 76-81 and in fourth place in the NL Central, 13 1/2 games behind division champion Milwaukee. Cincinnati closes out the season on the road with 2 at Cleveland and 3 at the Cubs.

“David provided the kind of steadiness that we needed in our clubhouse over the last few seasons. We felt a change was needed to move the Major League team forward. We have not achieved the success we expected, and we need to begin focusing on 2025,” President of Baseball Operations Nick Krall said on a statement posted on the Reds’ social media sites.

Under Bell in 2020, the Reds earned a postseason berth in his second year, the shortened 60-game COVID-19 season.

The 52-year-old Bell, a member of the famous Bell baseball playing family. His grandfather, Gus and father, Buddy both spent part of their careers playing for the Reds. David was hired by the Reds in October 2018. His 6-year record is 409-456.

Bell’s teams were exciting with speed, power, youth and good defense but lacked the consistency needed to overhaul the Brewers, Cardinals and Cubs in the NL Central Division.

ALSO CONTRIBUTING TO THIS STORY: Goody Tate, J.Y. Mortimer, Bert Leeson and Snuffy Smith