Reunion time: Bob McClure is back with the Royals after a 29-year absence, while Fred Kendall is back with manager Buddy Bell for a third tour as bullpen coach with a third different club.

The Royals filled the two vacancies in their on-field staff Wednesday by hiring McClure and Kendall away from the Colorado organization.

McClure, 53, replaces Guy Hansen as the Royals’ pitching coach. The Royals chose McClure from a group of four finalists that also consisted of Mark Wiley, Roger McDowell and Mike Mason.

“That was the hardest decision we had to make,” Bell said. “All four of those guys have great ability. And all four were guys I trusted.”

The decision to hire Kendall, 56, was long expected and coincides with the end of his duties with Colorado in the Instructional League.

Kendall played 12 seasons in the big leagues from 1969 to 1980 and served as Bell’s bullpen coach from 1996 to 1998 at Detroit and 2000 to 2002 at Colorado. Kendall spent the last three seasons as the Rockies’ minor-league catching instructor.

“He’s an exceptional catching instructor who understands calling a game,” Bell said. “He’s just a good baseball guy.”

Kendall’s addition requires a shift in staff roles. Former bullpen coach Brian Poldberg is in line to become the first-base coach and inherit much of the administrative duties formerly handled by ex-bench coach Bob Schaefer.

First-base coach Billy Doran becomes the bench coach but retains responsibility as infield coach.

Duties for hitting coach Andre David and third-base/outfield coach Luis Silverio remain the same. All coaches except Poldberg have reached agreements on 2006 contracts.

“These changes,” general manager Allard Baird said, “will put Buddy in a position where he can concentrate on managing the ballclub.”

McClure was the Royals’ third-round pick in 1973 and reached the majors in 1975. He pitched two seasons for the Royals before going to Milwaukee to complete a deal that brought catcher Darrell Porter and pitcher Jim Colborn to the Royals for outfielders Jim Wohlford and Jamie Quirk.

McClure spent 19 seasons in the big leagues, primarily as a reliever, for seven different teams. He was 68-57 with 52 saves and a 3.81 ERA in 698 career games.

“His big-league experience as a player gives him instant credibility,” Baird said. “He has demonstrated strengths as a minor-league coach of getting pitchers to pitch to their strengths and to make maximum use of their best stuff to get hitters out.

“That makes him a good fit for a young staff like we have.”

McClure spent the last seven seasons as a pitching coach in the Rockies’ organization, including the last four at Class AAA Colorado Springs.

“Our pitching needs to get better,” Bell said. “Bobby has a pretty good track record. He’s a guy who won’t panic or get too emotional in the late innings. He’s been there.”
Link