Hillman-kantoku Crosses Pacific Again
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Re: Hillman-kantoku Crosses Pacific Again
[ Author: Guest: Cheese | Posted: Oct 20, 2007 8:44 PM
]
A very challenging appointment, but no more challenging than the one he walked into all those years back when the Fighters were the Pa League's basket case.
The AL Central has arguably been the toughest division in baseball over the last few seasons, so he's already up against it. There seems to be some improvement with KC avoiding 100 losses for the first time in a few seasons (I think they played over .500 ball since the all-star break), and some young talent coming through with the likes of Alex Gordon and pitchers Bannister and Greinke starting to step up. I thought their big off-season signing, Gil Meche, had a good season despite a deceptive 9-13 record. That's more indicative of his lack of run support as he finished with a decent ERA of 3.67 in a division tough on pitchers.
Speaking of the Royals' disastrous last few seasons, interestingly no team finished with 100 wins or losses this year. It might be too early to tell, but it certainly looks as though revenue sharing and the luxury tax is really starting to even out the competition.
The AL Central has arguably been the toughest division in baseball over the last few seasons, so he's already up against it. There seems to be some improvement with KC avoiding 100 losses for the first time in a few seasons (I think they played over .500 ball since the all-star break), and some young talent coming through with the likes of Alex Gordon and pitchers Bannister and Greinke starting to step up. I thought their big off-season signing, Gil Meche, had a good season despite a deceptive 9-13 record. That's more indicative of his lack of run support as he finished with a decent ERA of 3.67 in a division tough on pitchers.
Speaking of the Royals' disastrous last few seasons, interestingly no team finished with 100 wins or losses this year. It might be too early to tell, but it certainly looks as though revenue sharing and the luxury tax is really starting to even out the competition.
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Mired in last place in a very competitive American League Central division and narrowly avoiding 100 losses for the third straight year, the Royals have found an able replacement for the retired Buddy Bell who stepped down after the 2007 season to spend more time with his family.
"We would be remiss if the Kansas City Royals didn't thank the Nippon Ham Fighters for graciously allowing this process to take place during a very exciting and busy time in their season," said Royals general manager Dayton Moore. "We wish them the very best as they continue their march to what all of us hope is a second consecutive Japan League title."
Sources: Buster Olney, a senior writer for ESPN The Magazine, and The Associated Press.
[The rest of these reports had been moved to the Nichi-Bei forum.]