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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Baseball notebook: Royals fire manager

Associated Press

Trey Hillman became the first manager to get fired this season when the Kansas City Royals let him go Thursday after a final win.

Former Milwaukee manager Ned Yost, who joined the Royals’ front office in January, immediately took over the struggling team and will remain as manager the rest of the season.

The Royals announced the move after beating Cleveland 6-4, a win that left Kansas City at 12-23 and last in the A.L. Central. Hillman was told of the decision Thursday morning and given the option of managing the game, which he accepted.

“Trey Hillman is an incredible leader and a very special leader who’s touched the lives of many people in this Kansas City community and throughout baseball,” general manager Dayton Moore said. “The recent struggles of our baseball team, however, require a change.”

The 47-year-old Hillman was in his third season with the Royals and went 152-207. Kansas City was 75-87 in 2008, then dropped into a last-place tie in 2009 at 65-97.

Yost managed the Brewers from 2003-08, when he was fired late in the season. The Royals hired him last winter as a special adviser for baseball operations, starting speculation that Hillman was on his way out.

“I’m thankful for the opportunity to get to manage today,” Hillman said. “You don’t want to go out on a seven-game losing streak.”

Selig fine with site

Baseball commissioner Bud Selig is ignoring calls to move next year’s All-Star game from Phoenix because of Arizona’s new immigration law.

Asked about such demands at a news conference following an owners meeting, he responded with a defense of baseball’s minority hiring record.

“Apparently all the people around and in minority communities think we’re doing OK. That’s the issue, and that’s the answer,” he said. “I told the clubs today: ‘Be proud of what we’ve done.’ They are. We should. And that’s our answer.”

Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said he wouldn’t participate in next year’s All-Star game if it remains in Arizona because of the law, which empowers police to determine a person’s immigration status.