Sportswriter Bob
Dutton has been a stalwart on the staff of the Kansas City Star for
years, delivering solid news stories while higher-profile columnists get the
name recognition and glory. Dutton has followed the general manager fiasco
with the Kansas City Royals from the onset and now has broken the story that
Allard Baird has been fired and Dayton Moore will assume GM duties.
What's particularly
distressing to some in the sports media is that WHB-810 is running a series of
spots that indicate one of its reporters broke the story. However, the
story was on the Star's Web site first thanks to Dutton:
Posted on Wed, May. 31, 2006
Royals fire Baird, ready to hire Moore as
GM
By BOB DUTTON
The Kansas City Star
OAKLAND, Calif. — The Royals fired general manager Allard Baird this morning in
anticipation of announcing the hiring of Atlanta assistant Dayton Moore as his
replacement.
The club declined official comment regarding the moves, but Baird confirmed he
had been fired.
“I was told this morning,” he said. “Beyond that, I don’t have anything to say.”
Sources say Moore is getting a five-year contract and complete control over
baseball operations in a commitment to turn around a franchise that has lost 100
or more games in three of the last four seasons.
Moore, 39, is expected to take control, officially, next week upon completion of
baseball’s two-day draft. Sources said assistant general manager Muzzy Jackson
will replace Baird on an interim basis.
Moore could not be reached for comment.
Club owner David Glass signaled Baird’s job was in jeopardy April 20 after the
Royals fell to 2-12 after a winless nine-game road trip through New York, Tampa
Bay and Chicago.
“It has to change quickly,” he said. “We are not willing to wait to see if it
gets better. We have to make it get better… If it doesn’t turn around, we’ll
have to change things.
“We can’t wait too long. I’m not willing to go through a season like we did last
year. None of us are.”
Glass’ patience seemed exhausted by May 4 when he declared: “I’m out of
patience. I have never been this frustrated. I’ve got to do something. This
can’t continue.”
It was at that point, from all indications, that Glass accelerated his search
for a new general manager. He initially hoped to complete the process within a
day or two.
It soon became an ordeal that lasted nearly four weeks and effectively paralyzed
the organization as Baird’s administrative effectiveness steadily waned amid the
mounting speculation of impending change.
Baird, 44, finally called publicly for “closure” earlier this week.
The Royals, ironically, entered Wednesday’s game in search of their first sweep
in a road series in nearly three years after victories Monday and Tuesday over
the A’s in Oakland.
Even so, their 13-37 record is the worst in baseball and matches the worst in
franchise history through 50 games. They were also 13-37 last season, when they
finished 56-106.
Moore, 39, will be the sixth general manager in franchise history. He is
currently responsible for overseeing all aspects of the Braves’ scouting and
player development as an assistant to general manager John Schuerholz.
The Star reported Saturday that Glass offered the job to Moore after more than
10 days of discussions. Sources said Moore wanted written assurance that he
would have full and final authority on all baseball-related decisions before
accepting the offer.
The Royals were 381-576 in Baird’s tenure, which began June 17, 2000, when he
replaced Herk Robinson. He spent 12 previous seasons in the organization in
various roles.
The organization’s primary failure under Baird was in its inability to draft and
develop high-quality players in recent years. The current 25-man roster has only
two players — outfielders David DeJesus and Shane Costa — who were drafted in
Baird’s six seasons.
Further, several recent lineups mocked the very idea that the club is engaged in
a rebuilding plan. The Royals started five players Tuesday against Oakland who
were 30 years or older.
While Baird and his staff succeeded in uncovering some real bargains on the
free-agent fringe, they proved far less successful in obtaining top value when
forced by financial considerations to trade players such as Johnny Damon, Carlos
Beltran and Jermaine Dye.
It was the Beltran trade — on June 24, 2004 — that marked the latest full-scale
effort to rebuild their roster. The Royals received catcher John Buck, third
baseman Mark Teahen and pitcher Mike Wood in return.
They are also 99-206 since that point.
This year’s disappointing performance comes after Glass authorized a payroll
increase that allowed Baird to spend nearly $25 million in the off-season on
veteran players to supplement a youthful and often-overmatched roster.
The anticipated mix has been derailed by injuries.
Three of the club’s anticipated starting pitchers — Mark Redman, Denny Bautista
and Zack Greinke — have spent time on the disabled list. Greinke and closer Mike
MacDougal have been out all season.
Another starter, Runelvys Hernandez, required three-plus weeks of additional
conditioning time in the minors before joining the club. He was recently
optioned back to Class AAA Omaha because of poor performance.
Injuries also sidelined two of the club’s key regulars: DeJesus and DH Mike
Sweeney. DeJesus returned Monday after a 34-game absence, while Sweeney, who has
already missed 26 games, isn’t expected back for several more weeks because of a
bulging cervical disk in his neck.