Ozzie Guillen keeps confidence in Heath Bell despite another poor outing - MLB Update
Heath Bell continues a rather forgettable time on the mound as another day with a melt-down late in the innings has him struggling miserably. Given a two run lead against the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday, Bell had another chance to turn his fate around
and respond well to rising criticism at him, as he failed again.
It was no more than a surprise when Ozzie Guillen, Miami Marlins’ manager spoke of his trust in his abilities. Despite all the trouble he is sending the Marlins every time he is being pushed on the mound as a closer, he terms him an important player for
their season prospects.
The manager explains his indifference to public outcry and believes in his plan to use him to a great advantage of his side during the season. Considering his sacking as a great setback to his plans, he says, he knows what he is going to turn out in days
ahead.
“That’s what we want. That’s what I want,” Guillen said. “I never manage for the fans. I never manage for the owners. I never manage for the media. I manage for the ball club ... and I’m going to give Bell every opportunity to go out there to fail again.”
Bell is having few problems with his location. Unable to entice desired swings, as he losses focus on other areas of his strength and all this results into a flurry of hits and runs on his entry to the mound.
In almost every game, he is throwing in no-strike zones and is walking the batters until the bases are loaded. While his talent is undoubted considering his 137 career saves and 500 strike-outs, only if he can plug this area of his weakness, he can be right
back in his groove.
It is only a matter of confidence, which he lacks severely at the moment. Guillen understands this well and has time-and-again spoken of his talent as an excellent closer, just to give him a boost.
Couple of good games can liberate him from the confusion he is currently handicapped by.
Instead of following a text-book style, which his poor outings have forced him for, by applying his master-stroke throws freely, he can come out of the present mess successfully.
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