Frank White... GONE *Denny Matthews Voice*

[gblowfish]

The Royals facebook page has erased every comment made about Frank White. Sad that they can't stand the heat in the kitchen:

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/Royals

Royals "official" release is up on their site:

KANSAS CITY -- Frank White, a Royals Hall of Fame member, will not be back as the team's television broadcast analyst next season.

The Royals and FOX Sports Kansas City announced on Friday that White, whose role in the TV booth grew to full-time status over the last three years, would not have his contract renewed. Also dropped was longtime TV producer Kevin Shank.

Replacements are being sought, the club said.
Frank White worked in the Royals' front office, managed the club's Double-A team and was the ALCS MVP in 1980. (AP)

"They were both FOX employees, and we had conversations about their positions and the decision was made to just go in another direction," said Mike Swanson, Royals vice president of communications and broadcasting.

White, 61, wasn't surprised by the decision -- "I knew it was coming," he said -- but he was upset enough to declare that he's severing ties with the team.

"I'm not going to work for the Royals ever again," he said. "I am done with the Royals in entirety. I can't deal with them anymore."

White, an eight-time winner of the American League Gold Glove at second base, grew up in Kansas City and has been a public face of the Royals for many years. His 20 is one of three numbers, along with George Brett's 5 and Dick Howser's 10, retired by the club. His statue stands inside Kauffman Stadium.

What was White, who said he had a mutual option contract with FOX Sports to return in 2012, told about his dismissal?

"When I talked to the guy at FOX, it was all about the Royals. They thought the broadcast was negative and they wanted to bring somebody in that was more in line with the thinking of the organization," White said.

White didn't feel that he was negative on the air.

"I didn't say anything negative about this ballclub last year," White said. "I just tried to be a coach and show people different things on defense and on offense that could help them understand the game a little bit better. And I've gotten so many comments from people that say, 'I really enjoy you on the broadcasts, I really learn something every time I watch the game.'"

White drew on vast experience and success as a player. He appeared in seven postseasons with the Royals and was the AL Championship Series MVP in 1980 when he hit .545 and the team went on to its first World Series appearance. In the 1985 World Series victory over St. Louis, he batted in the cleanup spot and led the Royals with six RBIs. He was inducted into the Royals Hall of Fame in 1995.

His TV role grew with the illness of Royals Hall of Fame pitcher Paul Splittorff, the TV analyst who died last May 25 of cancer.

"What got lost in this, and needs to be remembered, is that Frank was called in for a difficult situation when Paul was sick, and I don't know that Frank was ever the full-time analyst. He was holding Paul's place until Paul could come back," Swanson said. "And, obviously, Paul didn't come back and now that we're beyond that situation, both parties [FOX and the Royals] have decided it's time to move on."

Before becoming involved in team broadcasting, White had been a Royals coach (1997-2001), in the front office (2002-03), and was manager for their Double-A team at Wichita for three years (2004-06). More recently, White worked in community relations for the team but resigned as a full-time employee last January over what he called "a two-thirds cut" in salary. He continued to work as a part-time Spring Training instructor and in his TV role for FOX.

But it's his 18 years on the field, during which he became one of the Royals' most revered players, that made him a Kansas City icon. He's the first graduate of team founder Ewing Kauffman's experimental Royals Academy to make the Majors. He's second on the team's career charts in games played (2,324), at-bats (7,859) and hits (2,006). His defensive play around second base earned him the nickname of "Smooth."

Swanson was asked if he expected a backlash from Kansas City fans over White's departure.

"I would expect our fans to continue to respect and appreciate everything Frank did for this organization," Swanson said. "I don't think any of that is diminished in this. Frank stepped up for us at time and we gave Frank an endorsement with FOX at a time we were really scrambling. And Frank stepped up for us. I hope this doesn't change people's views -- Frank will always be a very popular figure in the eyes of the Kansas City Royals."

Left fielder Alex Gordon, who played under White at Wichita, was surprised by the news.

"He's been with the Royals ever since I've been here, so it's kind of sad to see him go, but hopefully he can move on and find something for himself," Gordon said. "He was a very intelligent baseball person and knew what he was talking about and brought a lot of knowledge to the game. So I know myself and a lot of other guys are going to miss him."

The Royals have no formal list of candidates to replace White, but former closer Jeff Montgomery, who did pre- and postgame work and a few games as an analyst last season, is certain to be on it.

"Ultimately, it'll be FOX's hire with our input," Swanson said.

Shank had been the Royals' TV producer for 17 years and before that worked as a technician on baseball telecasts since 1983.

"FOX Sports Midwest general manager Jack Donovan told me that it was a joint decision between FOX and the Kansas City Royals, and the Royals were unhappy with the job that I was doing," Shank said. "Jack Donovan said that FOX was very happy with the job I had been doing since I'd been working for them."

Shank said Donovan indicated the Royals felt the telecasts sometimes were too negative.

"I strongly contradict that, because I've been a Royals fan since 1969 and I always tried to put the team in the best light in every telecast for over 17 years. And it's a shame that I can't do that anymore," Shank said.

Ryan Lefebvre, who had been the FOX TV play-by-by voice, was considered for the Minnesota Twins' vacant radio job in October, but that possibility ended a month ago. Swanson indicated that the Royals and FOX are working on a long-term deal to keep Lefebvre in Kansas City.

Meantime White, whose only time in another baseball organization was with Boston in 1992-96, is uncertain of his future.

"All I want to do is work for another five years, retire and enjoy my grandkids and have some fun," White said. "And I thought I was going to do that with the Royals."