http://espn.go.com/mlb/news/2002/0508/1380011.html KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Allard Baird's search for a new manager for the Kansas City Royals is nearing an end, and an announcement could come as early as next week. Fans can expect someone with experience managing in the minor leagues, such as Houston coach Tony Pena, whom Baird planned to interview Wednesday. "I want a guy who is high-energy," said the Royals general manager, who narrowed his list to five men. "I want a guy who has understanding of pitching, who knows how to handle pitchers. We're going to have a lot of young pitchers trying to make their mark at the major league level. "All five are very well-qualified candidates." The other two names on the short list that are known beyond Baird's inner circle are interim manager John Mizerock and Bucky Dent, manager of the Royals' Triple-A team in Omaha. Baird declined to identify the others, but one who is not there is former Gold Glove second baseman Frank White, who was told on Tuesday that he will remain in the front office as a special assistant to the general manager. Since firing Tony Muser on April 29, the Royals were just 1-6 under Mizerock going into Wednesday night's game at Minnesota. Outside candidates believed to be on the Royals' initial list include Arizona bench coach Bob Melvin, Braves hitting coach Terry Pendleton, Yankees coach Willie Randolph and ESPN analyst Mike MacFarlane. Other names rumored include ESPN's Buck Showalter and a couple of former longtime Royals players -- Cookie Rojas and Lynn Jones. Mizerock was a manager in the Royals' farm system for nine years before he was elevated from Omaha to be bench coach in Kansas City. He was replaced this year by Dent, who gained fame while playing with the New York Yankees but ended his career with the Royals. Minor league managing experience would help satisfy the main criteria that Royals' owner David Glass has voiced. "I want a communicator at the minor league level and at the major league level," Baird said. "I want somebody who can motivate and relate. I want somebody who has a defined approach, who is able to take an organization's plan and execute it." Pena, 44, meets the criteria of somebody with experience. For the past three years, he managed Houston's Triple-A team in New Orleans, which was co-champion in the Pacific Coast League last season. In addition, he has plenty of experience working with pitchers because he was a five-time All-Star during an 18-year career as a major league catcher. "We want somebody who will be up front with the general manager, the staff and the players," Baird said. "I'm looking for somebody who feels like he's a big part of the team, a guy who has passion. And most of all, somebody who puts the organization above himself. "Now we've got it down to a short list of five. There are some second-tier guys we may have interest in at some later date but right now there are five."
ahh hell...if we lose Pena now after we hired Jim(m)y Williams instead of promoting Tony, I will be pissed pissed pissed pissed pissed pissed PISSED PISSED. I really think Pena is a better coach, and certainly is better at dealing and teaching young players, which this team has now in spades. Please stay, Tony!
Yeah, I know a lot of you guys wanted to see Pena get the job. I always assumed that Pena was brought up to the major league team to sort of be groomed into becoming the new manager whenever Jimy got fired or retired or whatever. It would totally suck to see a promising young manager go elsewhere when you could have just hired him yourself...
If it were anyone but Baird, I would be worried . . . . But if Baird hires Pena away, I will be pissed, as well.
Well, by the time we fire Jimmy, the Royals will have fired Pena because he will never win in Kansas City no matter how good a manager he is, so it'll be perfect.
http://msn.espn.go.com/mlb/news/2002/0515/1382622.html Pena to be named Royals' new manager The Kansas City Royals will announce the hiring of Houston Astros bench coach Tony Pena as their new manager at 2 p.m. ET today, ESPN.com's Jayson Stark reports. ESPN analyst Buck Showalter, interim manager John Mizerock and Triple-A Omaha manager Bucky Dent were also on the final list of candidates to replace Tony Muser, who was fired April 29. Mizerock was Kansas City's bench coach before being elevated when Muser was fired. His future role with the Royals is not known. The Royals were 5-8 under Mizerock. Pena spent about 90 minutes huddled with Astros manager Jimy Williams after Houston's 5-1 victory over Philadelphia. When Pena emerged, he reportedly said, "Talk to me in the morning." Pena, 44, became Houston's bench coach this season after spending the last three years as manager of the club's top affiliate, Triple-A New Orleans. Pena has been highly regarded as a managerial candidate by Astros owner Drayton McLane, a close friend of Royals owner David Glass. In addition, he has plenty of experience working with pitchers because he was a five-time All-Star during an 18-year career as a major league catcher. "We want somebody who will be up front with the general manager, the staff and the players," Royals general manager Allard Baird said last week. "I'm looking for somebody who feels like he's a big part of the team, a guy who has passion. And most of all, somebody who puts the organization above himself."
