Buddy Bell named new manager

The Royals front office wanted major league experience. They got it in Buddy Bell. Baird didn't say the new manager's experience had to be with winning, and that's a good thing, because Buddy Bell isn't used to winning.

The Indian bench coach has a lifetime managerial record of 345-462, a winning percentage of .428. After being fired by the Tigers in 1998 and the Rockies in 2002 for abysmal starts, it appears that he'll fit right in here in Kansas City.

"We're in a rebuilding mode," Baird told ESPN.com, "and it's all about direction, development and winning ball games. Buddy has been involved in a rebuilding mode in Cleveland for a couple of years, and he has a presence about him.

"The other thing I like is that he was brought to the big leagues at 20 years old, and by age 21 he was on his first All-Star team. He knows the challenges for young kids, and we have a lot of 21, 22 and 23 year-old kids."

If it's all about direction, development and winning ball games, why hire a guy who has no experience in turning around young teams? Bell was an outstanding player and he certainly knows the challenges that young players face, but that doesn't always translate into wins. Tony Pena was a good player in his day too and he was a terrible manager.

The veterans on the team know that they need someone who is the anti-Pena. Listen to some of these comments from players in a recent KC Star article:

"Tony was the type of guy who wouldn't embarrass you," Matt Stairs said. "If he had one downfall, it was that he was too nice.

"I want the next manager who comes in, if he walks through the clubhouse and a phone rings in a locker, to blow the guy up. Same thing if you're five seconds late for stretch. Whatever. Establish some respect."

When some of the players nonchalanted their way through pre-game warm ups in Texas last week, Mike Sweeney was quoted as saying this in the article:

"I blew up on the team after that," Sweeney said. "That why we had that meeting Friday before the first game against the Angels. There are definitely guys in here who need a wake-up call."

And then we have these comments from Brian Anderson:

"The No. 1 thing a guy has to do when he steps in here," Anderson said, "is change the atmosphere and the attitude of the team. And by attitude, I don't mean the attitude on the field. I think Schaef has us focused on the field. You just continue that.

"But a new guy, or Schaef if he gets the job, needs to ensure that guys do things the right way. Rules that have been in place for three years on this team, how about one time we follow them?

"It's not just what happens between the white lines from 7 o'clock to 10 o'clock."

As you know, I was against hiring a manager this quickly. But since he's on board now, let's see what he actually does. I'd love to have a guy who actually demands fundamentals and who manages in a tough, traditional fashion. If Bell turns out to be that guy, I'll be ecstatic.