Angry Royals owner promises changes
An angry David Glass vowed Friday that “significant changes” are coming soon to the woeful Kansas City Royals.
“I’m not willing for us to sit and wait to see if it gets better,” the Royals owner told The Associated Press on Friday. “We’ve got to figure out what we’ve got to do to make it better. And that’s what I’m working on.”
Normally unruffled and self-composed, the man who was the driving force behind Wal-Mart Stores Inc. becoming the biggest retailer in the world seemed agitated.
“I think I’m probably more frustrated than anyone,” he said. “I’ve never experienced anything this frustrating.”
A 1-0 victory at Minnesota on Thursday night left the Royals 6-20, a major league-low .231 winning percentage heading into a three-game series with the Chicago White Sox.
The win allowed Glass’ injury-ravaged Royals to avoid tying the major league record of 13 straight road losses to start a season. But it did nothing to give the owner hope that an organization that lost 106 games last year and 104 the year before is about to turn things around.
Glass declined to specify what moves he is contemplating or when he might act. But there has been a public clamor for a change in general managers. Allard Baird, who became GM of the small-market operation on June 17, 2000, has acknowledged his job could be on the line.
“I’ve got a bunch of balls in the air right now and I’m going to catch some of them,” Glass said.
•Baird said he’s asked veteran right-hander Joe Mays to accept a demotion to Triple-A Omaha.
Mays, an All-Star in 2001, has struggled this year with a 10.27 ERA and a 0-4 record in six starts. The Royals also recalled outfielder Aaron Guiel from Omaha and sent third baseman Mark Teahen down before the series-opening game against the White Sox.
Kendall suspended; Lackey fined
Oakland Athletics catcher Jason Kendall has been suspended four games for charging the mound and Los Angeles Angels pitcher John Lackey was fined for his actions in the altercation during Tuesday’s game.
Kendall also was fined an undisclosed amount by Major League Baseball three days after going after Lackey in a game at Anaheim. Kendall appealed the suspension and was in the lineup as the A’s opened a three-game weekend series against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
Clearing the bases
Two San Francisco Chronicle reporters who wrote a book about Barry Bonds’ alleged steroid use were subpoenaed to testify before a federal grand jury regarding court documents they used in their articles, the newspaper reported. The subpoenas of the authors of “Game of Shadows,” Mark Fainaru-Wada and Lance Williams, called for them to turn over their copies of grand jury transcripts from the 2003 investigation of a steroid distribution ring based at the Bay Area Laboratory Cooperative, or BALCO, according to the Chronicle. … Colorado activated first baseman Todd Helton and sent outfielder Ryan Spilborghs to Triple-A Colorado Springs. Helton went on the DL last month with an intestinal infection. … Washington Nationals shortstop Cristian Guzman will miss the entire season after the team decided his right shoulder needs surgery. … The Philadelphia Phillies put starting catcher Mike Lieberthal on the 15-day disabled list with a bruised left knee.