Our beloved yet beleaguered Royals have FINALLY fired sad-sack manager Tony Muser.
Link to KC Star Column

Kansas City loves baseball, and loves to attend games at "The K", probably the best 60's/70's era stadium built in the U.S. However under Muser, the team has not given the fans a reason to attend the games (yet attendance has been -- well -- not completely awful). Hopefully this signals the beginning of many more changes to come in the Royals organization.

[ April 30, 2002: Message edited by: maxallen ]

At least--another confessed Royals fan! I have followed the Royals diligently for years, and I get SO discouraged by their abysmal starts that leave them out of contention for the season.

Mike Sweeney is a great player, and Knoblauch is a good addition to the team. The pitching (other than Byrd) seems to be a huge problem.

Was the interim manager's leadership in Omaha good? It's great to see a promotion from within, rather than the tired hiring of managers displaced by other teams.

I look back with fondness to 1`985!

[quote]Originally posted by Brian Handy:
Knoblauch is a good addition to the team

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Just don't sit behind first base without making sure your health insurance is paid up!

Rumor has it Buck Showalter will be taking the helm in KC. Wonder why he'd want that job?

I've never been a huge follower of baseball, except that I can usually name who won the past year's World Series, and I know that the Royals suck. I've always been a gymnastics and figure-skating kind of sports fan. Well, by reading the articles and postings here at Outsports, I'm starting to get more knowledgeable about, and interested in baseball and other sports.

My point is, I did not know who Buck Showalter was until I read your post, George, which prompted me to do some searching, where I learned a little about his impressive background. I certainly know now why the Royals front office wants him: After sticking with Muser for way too long, they have to do something to show the fans that they really do want to win some games. I can't say why Showalter would want the job, except that he apparently is in need of a job right now.

Here's what a K.C. Star columnist says about Showalter:

Reasons he will get hired: He's the only proven winner in the bunch -- he made the playoffs with two different teams. Brings instant credibility. His game preparation is almost legendary. Nobody in the game works harder to put players in position to win.

Reasons he won't get hired: Some say he's too rigid and that he wears on players. A few unhappy players essentially got him fired in Arizona.

Outlook: It's amazing how Showalter went from a non-candidate to the leader for the clubhouse. Sources indicate that the Showalter interview went brilliantly, and that Baird was quite taken. There are still people who wonder how Showalter might do in a small-market environment, but it seems like Showalter put those worries to rest. And, remember, the last time the Royals hired a winning Yankees manager, it was a guy by the name of Dick Howser.