Hillman to be Royals Manager in 2010....

[petegz28]

Well, there goes my re-newing season tickets...

http://www.kansascity.com/sports/story/1332649-p2.html

Another heads-up came in a few days ago. These can put Trey Hillman in a bad mood. They seem to be coming more often now.

Here’s how it usually goes: someone close to Hillman reads or hears something bad, something critical, someone saying the Royals have an ineffective manager and, well, wouldn’t the team be better off with a change?

Hillman swears he doesn’t read the newspaper, doesn’t listen to sports talk radio, doesn’t check out any blogs or message boards. But much of what’s out there gets back to him.

Some of it he wants to hear, it’s part of his job, he says, a way to monitor what fans are thinking and what reporters may be asking. Some of it, though, he’d rather do without. It’s tough to read that people want you fired.

“Does it bother me?” he says. “On occasion? Yeah.”

A year-and-a-half into the job, Hillman is trying his best to block out the growing criticism from fans and media around one of the most disappointing Royals seasons in recent memory.

This was the year the Royals were supposed to compete in a weak AL Central, remember? Sure looked that way when the team started 18-11, in first place and with starter Zack Greinke the talk of the bigger baseball world.

That’s all been swallowed up in a remarkable fall, losses in 42 of 61 games, turning a three-game division lead into an 11 1/2 -game deficit, turning May hopes into July anger. Much of that has been directed at Hillman, fueling speculation about his job security.

So it’s interesting that general manager Dayton Moore — who is taking criticism himself — now tells The Star that Hillman will remain with the Royals not only this season, but next season as well.

“Absolutely,” he says. “We’re all in this thing together. You can’t keep changing managers and coaches. Continuity is very, very important. If you’ve got people who work hard and people who care and are smart, you stick with them. Because if you stick together through the tough times, we’ve got a chance to win here and do something special long-term.

“You just can’t keep reshuffling

Fan bases of most every team in baseball criticize their manager, of course. It’s part of the job. The list of criticisms of Hillman is long.

He’s been knocked for bunting too much, bunting too little and bunting in the wrong situations. He’s taken hits for his handling of Joakim Soria’s shoulder injury, for leaving Gil Meche in games too long and taking Greinke out too soon.

Meche, who struggled early in the season with back issues, threw 132 pitches in a complete-game shutout. He then complained of having a “dead arm,” struggled through a couple of terrible starts, thought about skipping his turn in the rotation, and then was allowed to throw 121 pitches in his next start. He is now on the disabled list.

Hillman’s substitutions have started arguments among fans. Once in Cleveland, he used Luis Hernandez as a pinch hitter when he had Mark Teahen available. Teahen later came in as a pinch runner.

The bullpen was supposed to be one of the team’s biggest strengths this season. Even with Soria’s shoulder problems, most observers thought there was enough depth to be one of the AL’s better units. Instead, the Royals already have nearly matched last year’s total of blown leads in late innings.

Other criticisms are more big picture. He’s not an effective motivator. He’s too sensitive. He juggles the lineup too much. The Royals have regressed defensively and on the basepaths in each of the last two seasons.

[Pioli Zombie]

Ah there's good news tonight!!!!!!!!!!!
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[petegz28]

This part was enough to solidify my decision.....Moore is a dumbass

Moore’s lists of defenses for Hillman are as long as the criticisms. Hillman is accountable, Moore says, with “tremendous” leadership skills, good preparation and work ethic.

He’s smart and passionate, and those are two things Moore likes. Moore says he hopes Hillman doesn’t change anything, because “Trey has the chance to be one of the very best baseball men in a generation.” He then mentions that Tony La Russa, Bobby Cox and Joe Torre each took harsh criticism early in their careers.

The injuries are skewing the Royals’ win-loss record, Moore says, and with it the judgments of Hillman’s performance. Moore still believes in his guy, as much as he did the day he made the hire.

And no matter what anybody else thinks, Moore’s opinion is the one that matters most.

“I anticipate us having a strong second half,” Moore says. “I expect Trey Hillman to be a big part of that in the second half, and in the future. I expect him to be a big part of it.”

[PHOG]

I'm curious to see what his 91st different line-up will look like today.

May be a slight exageration, but not by much.

[ChiTown]

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!

[DaWolf]

“I anticipate us having a strong second half,” Moore says. “I expect Trey Hillman to be a big part of that in the second half, and in the future. I expect him to be a big part of it.”

When this doesn't materialize, I think the pressure will build to fire the guy. Moore's neck is on the line as well.

But I don't disagree with him in general. I think this franchise does need some continuity, not going out and finding the next guy who is going to lose 100 games. But I just think Hillman was the wrong choice, and Moore is going to go down with this decision...

[Coach]

Originally Posted by DaWolf

When this doesn't materialize, I think the pressure will build to fire the guy. Moore's neck is on the line as well.

But I don't disagree with him in general. I think this franchise does need some continuity, not going out and finding the next guy who is going to lose 100 games. But I just think Hillman was the wrong choice, and Moore is going to go down with this decision...

I don't think it will all tie directly into getting Hillman, but his baseball decisions may do him in. Getting Kyle Farnsworth? Mike Jacobs? Even getting Sidney Ponson and shelling out 2 years, $6 million to Yasuhiko Yabuta, who is currently in the minors....

[Farzin]

Seriously..you should all forget about the Royals next year and go see the Wizards

[petegz28]

you go 19-42 over a 61 game stretch and the manager's job is safe??? The Royals will be lucky to win 60 games this year

[Sure-Oz]

I knew he wouldn't be fired after this year, hell everyone knew that he'd atleast get 2010

anyway this can be moved to the royals repository??

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by Sure-Oz

I knew he wouldn't be fired after this year, hell everyone knew that he'd atleast get 2010

anyway this can be moved to the royals repository??

No. This sort of suckage desreves its own thread

[Sure-Oz]

Originally Posted by petegz28

No. This sort of suckage desreves its own thread

Who knows, in the NFL that is usually the kiss of death, but i somehow doubt it in this case. Granted DM gave Hillman really nothing to work with this year but the last 2 games have been very painful on his moves....Soria could've pitched 2 easy last night

[Farzin]

I'd love to see George Brett do another interview. He was more than happy to stick up for Trey Hillman and tell the media they don't know what they're talking about. Where is he now? Does he still respect Hillman for his managing abilities? He was sick and tired of the media criticizing him. I wonder if he's sick and tired of all this losing..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GS9ft...e=channel_page

[Sure-Oz]

George has hid, there is nothing to defend

[Reaper16]

Yeah... we'll see after the season whether the song stays the same.