Sports...Delivered. Sign up for our sports newsletters and stay in the game!
Record rain swamps South Florida in waist-deep water
Marlins temporarily bounce Bell from closer role
Juan C. Rodriguez, Sun Sentinel
SAN DIEGO Heath Bell after blowing his fourth save in seven opportunities late Friday forced manager Ozzie Guillen's hand. For the immediate future, the Marlins no longer will use Bell in save situations.
Pitching again in San Diego, where he topped the 40-save mark in each of the last three seasons, Bell surrendered back-to-back doubles to pinch-hitter Jesus Guzman and Cameron Maybin to start the inning. That made it an 8-8 game, and the Marlins' ultimately won it in 12 on Omar Infante's RBI-double and thanks to three shutout innings from Steve Cishek.
"I like the way he's throwing the ball," Guillen said. "The ball is coming out of his hand pretty well, but the location is not there. We're going to move him down for a few days to get him back on track. It's not like I'm removing him from his job. I made it clear to him if we're going to be the club we think we should be, it's easier for him to be where he's supposed to be.
"I talked to Bell, had a great conversation. He understands my point. I remarked to him we are a better club, a better pitching club, with him to be the closer. Right now he's going through a tough time, a combination of making bad pitches and not catching any breaks. That happens to the best."
Bell has allowed runs in four of his last five outings. Friday, he intentionally walked a pair of hitters but managed to keep it a tie game and force extra innings. His ERA actually went down from 11.74 to 11.42. Through 8 2/3 innings (11 appearances), Bell has given up 15 hits, walked 10 and struck out six.
After Friday's game, Bell said: "Right now I just can't get a break. I have the confidence. I have the ability. I don't know why the Lord is testing my right now, but he's breaking me right now. Maybe he's molding me into a better man, a better person.
"I feel really bad because I feel like I keep letting my teammates down. They keep patting me on the back and saying, 'Keep going. You're going to be the guy.' That's a great feeling for me. I'm just going to keep plugging along and keeping trying to do my best every outing."
Guillen said he would likely use Cishek in save situations, but he won't be available until next week. Cishek on Friday threw a career-high 52 pitches. On Wednesday in San Francisco, he replaced Bell in the ninth inning and was charged with a blown save, but he ended up with the win after tossing two scoreless.
The Marlins are hoping to stay away from Cishek until Tuesday in Houston. If a save situation arises Saturday, Guillen said he'd likely use Randy Choate or Ryan Webb. Edward Mujica is unavailable as well.
"I told [Cishek] to go back to the hotel because I see him in uniform I want to put him back there," Guillen joked. "I'd rather lose a game than lose a pitcher. We're not going to abuse this kid. I think we already did. We have to be careful about it and make sure he's back on the mound when he needs to be back on the mound.
"This kid has shown everyone how effective he can be. I think he's ready to help us in that [closer] role when we need him…He's got good stuff. He's got great stuff. On top of the great stuff he's got confidence and he throws strikes, and he has the desire."
No one questions Bell's desire. His track record earned him instant respect upon his arrival, but the fact he hasn't performed for his new team is killing him.
"This team is amazing, plain and simple," he said. "These guys are fighting hard. If one of us lets the team down like I'm doing right now they're picking me up and winning games. That's why we're a good team, or a great team. Man, if I could just get a lucky rabbit's foot or something and I start getting the job done look how much better we're going to be. All I can do is keep watching video, keep doing scouting reports and try to keep making my pitches."
jcrodriguez@tribune.com or @JCRMarlinsbeat on Twitter.
Copyright © 2020, Sun Sentinel
Heath Bell
Ozzie Guillen
Omar Infante
Jesus Guzman
Randy Choate
Hurricane Prep