Manager Mike Matheny and pitching coach Cal Eldred were fired by Kansas Royals Co on Wednesday night, shortly after the struggling franchise ended the 65-97 season with a listless 9-2 defeat to Cleveland Defenders.
The Royals exercised their option on Matheny’s 2023 contract during spring training, as the club hoped that it would move from a run-to-candidate perspective. But hampered by poor pitch, struggles from young players and a lackluster group of veterans, the Royals were largely out of the playoffs in midsummer.
The disappointing product on the field prompted owner John Sherman last month to fire longtime office executive Dayton Moore, architect of the American League champions and World Series champions. 2015. He was replaced by one of his longtime cadets, JJ Picollo, who made the decision to fire Matheny hours after the season ended.
“Management of the Royal Family is a real privilege,” Matheny said in a statement. “I thank so many people, mainly Dayton Moore, and the coaches and players that I have worked with. I would like to thank Mr. John Sherman and the ownership team for the opportunity to manage their team and everyone involved in this great organization.
“I come to the Royals knowing it’s an excellent and careful organization, and I get to show that care every day. Royals fans will be thrilled with this group of players and I’m looking forward to seeing it. they keep growing.”
Matheny spent part of seven seasons managing St. Louis Cardinalseach finished with a winning record and won the National League pennant in 2013. But after his lay-off in mid-2018, he was hired by the Royals in an advisory role, and then tapped. to succeed longtime manager Ned Yost when he retires before 2020. Season.
Tasked with rebuilding the works, Matheny led 26-34 in the first season that shortened COVID-19, then seemed to show progress last season, when the Royals opened up a series of developments. young hope and finished with the score 74-88.
Expectations were another step up this season, but the Royals instead spent September fighting off 100 losses.
Matheny hit a record of 165-219 during his time with the Royals, although the number that is perhaps more important for the club’s future is 29 – the number of players who made Major League debuts during his tenure. .
“We are grateful to Mike for guiding us through some of the unusual times over the past three seasons,” Picollo said in a statement. “He took on those challenges and helped us move forward in a positive way. We thank him for his leadership and know that his influence will have a positive impact. Future.”
Matheny becomes the fifth major league coach to be fired this year.
PhiladelphiaJoe Girardi’s was replaced on June 3 by Rob Thomson, who made a miraculous change to send the Phillies into the knockout stages. The Angel replace Joe Maddon with Phil Nevin four days later, TorontoCharlie Montoyo’s was succeeded by John Schneider on July 13 and Rangers‘Chris Woodward by Tony Beasley on August 15.
Chicago White Sox Coach Tony La Russa left the team on August 30 for a medical and said on Monday that he would not return in 2023.
Add Doa, MiamiDon Mattingly said late last month that he would not return next season.
While he is a huge favorite at the Kansas City club, it seems unlikely that Matheny will be granted another season when Moore was sacked last month. At the time, Sherman pointed out, the change in leadership of the baseball operations division was just the beginning of what was expected to be widespread change throughout the organization.
The Royals have struggled for years to develop pitching technique – they have the fourth-worst ERA and worst WHIP to date of any staff member in the majors this season. And the constant struggles by their latest wave of young arms were a big reason for Eldred, the pitching coach from 2018 to leave.
“The bottom line here is that it’s time for a change,” Sherman said last month. “There’s a gap right now between where we are and where we expect to be. … I feel like in 2021 we’ve made progress, and in 2022 it’s not That’s how I feel. There have been some bright spots – I love seeing young players – but in 2022 we are not where we expected to be.”
Associated Press report.
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