Ned Yost is getting a second managerial chance. The record indicates that he is clearly deserving of this opportunity.
Yost is taking over as manager of the Kansas City Royals from Trey Hillman, who was dismissed Thursday.
Hillman had two-plus seasons with the Royals. He was hired largely on the basis of his success managing in Japan. He was advertised as a charismatic figure who could galvanize the Royals roster and inspire this club to greater success. But he was generally up against at least three clubs in the American League Central with significantly better talent than his own. No major miracles were accomplished on Hillman's watch, and although he alone cannot be blamed for that, a regression in record last season and a 12-23 start this season meant that it was someone else's turn.
That turns out to be Yost, who had been brought into the Royals administration as a special advisor to baseball operations. Both Yost and Royals general manager Dayton Moore were with the Atlanta franchise during the glory years of the Braves. They both saw firsthand how success is achieved. They do not have to guess at how success is achieved.Yost is an interesting choice, to say the least. The majority of his tenure as Milwaukee manager -- two weeks short of six seasons -- has to be judged as successful. He took a club that was basically in baseball oblivion and changed the culture. Accountability improved. The work ethic improved. And gradually, the Brewers' record improved, too, to the point where the club became a postseason contender in 2007 and 2008.
Yost was widely praised in baseball circles for his work in Milwaukee, but his term there ended in an unusual, if not bizarre fashion. The Brewers had come into September 2008 with a five-game lead in the National League Wild Card race, but then had gone 3-11.
The Brewers let Yost go, replacing him with third-base coach Dale Sveum. The Brewers reached the postseason for the first time in 26 years, but Sveum was not brought back as manager. Ken Macha got the job, although Sveum is still with the Brewers as hitting coach.
The dismissal of Yost, in the midst of a race for the postseason, was shocking, but Yost conducted himself with dignity."I'm going to do this right," Yost told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel about his dismissal. "I have nothing to be ashamed about. I'm walking out with my head held high."
Criticisms of Yost at the time included the fact that he stayed with players who struggled mightily. It could be argued that his faith in second baseman Rickie Weeks may have cost him his job. He also refused to publicly criticize players who were struggling. This may have been frustrating to media and fans, but it is a managerial trait that Yost learned from none other than Bobby Cox, and it certainly has worked for Cox.
There was also speculation that Yost's normal intensity, the same quality that led him to succeed in the first place, appeared to the players, in the heat of a race for the postseason, as basically an excess of tension. Whether or not this was the case, Yost could not be accused of being wired too loosely.
One thing that could be observed was that as years went on, even while Yost built up a reservoir of success and respect, he seemed to become more defensive when faced with questions that he viewed as potentially troublesome. He should be bigger than that at his second managerial stop.
Having said all that, his dismissal in Milwaukee still was unfair. Yost demonstrated an ability to take a very bad situation and turn it into a functional situation. He could clearly take a club from Point A to Point B. He was not allowed to see if he could get the same club from Point B to Point C.
The Kansas City situation will be no walk in the park, either. The Royals, as we speak, are 11th in the American League in runs scored and dead last in team earned run average. Given those numbers, fifth place in the AL Central does not seem like an illogical position.
Based on Ned Yost's work in Milwaukee, the Royals will improve their level of play with him as manager. This will not transform them into the Minnesota Twins, but there is every indication that with Yost at the helm, this will become a more competitive club.
Hillman was sort of a New Wave choice as manager. Ned Yost is old-school, nuts-and-bolts. With just one winning season since 1994, the Royals probably need to regroup. They are headed back toward the basics with Yost. Achievements
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