Disgusted by the Royals’ 2-12 start to the 2006 season? Insisting that something be done? The club’s No. 1 fan is right there with you.
And owner David Glass, often criticized in the past for his patience, is promising swift action if his Royals continue to bungle their way toward another cheerless summer.
“It has to change quickly,” Glass said. “We are not willing to wait to see if it gets better. We have to make it get better. As a fan, you lose games and it just sticks with you. You dwell on it. Each loss makes it worse.”
Glass’ comments come as the Royals prepare to open a nine-game home stand tonight after concluding an 0-9 trip through New York, Tampa Bay and Chicago. The Royals have lost 10 straight overall.
“If it doesn’t turn around,” Glass promised, “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 declined to specify a timetable or what changes he has in mind, but any major shake-up seems likely to start with general manager Allard Baird, whose rebuilding plan is entering its sixth full season without measurable progress.
The Royals are 370-551 since Baird became general manager on June 17, 2000, and have lost 100 or more games in three of the last four seasons.
This year’s disappointing start comes after Glass authorized a payroll increase to $50 million or more, which allowed Baird to spend nearly $25 million on veteran players to supplement a youthful roster that, too often, found itself overwhelmed a year ago.
“We all know we’re a better club than we’ve shown,” Baird said. “Offensively, guys are pressing. It doesn’t help that we’ve faced a lot of good pitching. But, that said, you have to figure out a way.
“Our pitching, we’ve got some guys out (with injuries). That’s not an excuse. It’s something you deal with. But the bottom line is we need better results.”
Baird acknowledges that pressure is mounting because of the club’s poor play, but he continues to insist that the organization’s top prospects — Alex Gordon, Billy Butler, Justin Huber and others — won’t be summoned to the big leagues to appease the public.
“We can’t go against the plan and start rushing guys up here,” Baird said. “We’re just not going to do that. That said, none of us are content and in a pause mode to see what happens.”
A switch in general managers usually triggers sweeping changes within an organization, which is why in-season moves are rare unless it involves an in-house promotion — such as when Baird replaced Herk Robinson.
But Glass nearly fired Baird after last season and admits his frustration is growing.
“You don’t want to do things too quickly,” Glass said. “We spent all winter and all spring putting this thing together, and we thought we were on the right track. But we need to see results.
“You want me to give you a date? I can’t do that. You have to evaluate it on a day-to-day basis. If I say it has to be better by the All-Star break, that might be too late.
“If we see improvement in some areas, we do something different than if we don’t see any improvement at all.”
One possible factor in whether Glass sticks with Baird is the Royals have the No. 1 pick this June in the amateur draft for the first time in franchise history. That player, whom the general manager selects after evaluating staff reports, seems certain to command a signing bonus in excess of $4 million.
The poor start is killing attendance. The Royals expect crowds of just 15,500, 16,000 and 11,000 for the three games this weekend against Cleveland at Kauffman Stadium.
The Royals seem certain to exit April without a winning record for the 16th time in 17 years. They are already 7½ games out of first place and, barring a major turnaround, will be 10 games back or more by Memorial Day for the 10th time in that span.
The club’s baseball operations staff, which Baird oversees, is increasingly on edge in anticipation of possible changes. Several members said Baird is telling them the same thing he tells players: Don’t worry about what you can’t control.
Players are also starting to brace for changes — in the clubhouse, as happens with any struggling team, if not in the front office.
“It’s bad right now,” said outfielder Reggie Sanders, one of Baird’s new free-agent acquisitions. “It’s a big hole, and it’s kind of baffling — because there are times when you see the actual potential of what we have.
“I just don’t know what it is, but it’s like a virus.”
Manager Buddy Bell, whom Baird hired last May 31, continues to insist the Royals have the personnel to pull out of their spin.
“You’ve got to give guys a chance,” he said. “I believe if you stay positive enough and patient enough and keep it in perspective, everything works its way through.
“In time, you might have to make changes to find a combination that works. But you’ve got to give guys a chance.”
What the Royals need most is a couple of victories this weekend over the Indians and a winning home stand.
“It has really been awful,” Glass said. “I know I’m wearing people out talking about it. Disbelief is the first stage. You just can’t believe this is happening.
“But then the reality sets in. It is happening. So what do we do to stop the hemorrhaging?”