The Kansas City Royals had to do something.  It wasn't that Trey Hillman was an awful manager, it's just that the Royals aren't making any progress.  So yesterday, PRIOR to the Royals win over Cleveland, Hillman was told he was gone.  Unlike broadcasting, were immediately after you are fired armed guards escort you from the building, Hillman was allowed to manage the club one more time, a curious yet classy move by Royals GM Dayton Moore.

The responsibility for getting the Royals to the next level now falls squarely on the shoulders of former Brewers pilot Ned Yost.  Yost, who trained at the knee of Bobby Cox for many years in Atlanta prior to his four and a half year stint in Milwaukee, takes over a team that, as usual, is going no where fast.  A fourth place finish for Kansas City would be worthy of a manager of the year award.

Yost is a good guy and a solid baseball man.  The downside to him is he is wound very, very tightly.  When it comes down to crunch time, Yost takes on a Captain Queeg like persona minus the ball bearings and the strawberries.  He is good at developing young players and may get this team to a competitive point before he is asked to leave the stadium.

I've often wondered why someone like Ned Yost would take over a team like the Royals.  Don't get me wrong, I'm sure that he wants to manage, but taking on a dead end team like the Royals is not necessarily something you want on your resume.  There are a lot of managers who have piloted dead end teams never to get the opportunity again.  This would be Yost's second shot.  If this one doesn't work out there is a good possibility, given his age (55) that he may never get another.

On the other hand, he who restores a frachise to prominence signs his own ticket. Clint Hurdle with the Rockies, Charlie Manuel with the Phillies, Mike Hargrove with the Indians and Cox with the Braves all took franchises that were struggling and helped them turn the corner.  For Yost, turning around the Royals will not be easy.  The ownership operates on a very lean budget and players are either young and untested or veterans non one is interested in.  Can Yost galvanize this motley crew into something to compete with the Twins, Tigers and White Sox?  Time will tell.

I like Ned Yost and hope he is successful.  At least I hope he is successful beginning Monday.