Bell hiring resonates with K.C.

KANSAS CITY — Buddy Bell faces a daunting rebuilding project with a team that could be headed for record losses, and he’s promising no quick turnaround for the Kansas City Royals.

The team’s new manager started on Tuesday, with his first game against the New York Yankees. He was given a contract through 2007, even though returning the Royals (13-37) to respectability could take longer.

Bell, 53, became the Royals’ 14th manager Tuesday when he was hired to replace Tony Pena, who resigned May 10.

Bell met owner David Glass’ insistence that the new manager have previous major league managerial experience. Bell replaces Tony Pena, who resigned on May 10.

Bell, a five-time All-Star third baseman, was bench coach with the Cleveland Indians. He takes over a franchise that hasn’t made the postseason since winning the 1985 World Series and is on pace to have one of the worst seasons in modern baseball history.

“We’re very excited about this,” general manager Allard Baird said. “He’s been there and has experienced it as a player and as a teacher. He has patience but is extremely demanding.” Bell will need patience.

Lacking speed, power and experience, the Royals went into Tuesday night’s game 20 1/2 games behind the Chicago White Sox in the AL Central. Their record after 50 games is the same as the 1962 New York Mets, who lost a major league record 120 games, and the 2003 Detroit Tigers, who lost 119.

A lack of discipline and continued mental lapses have plagued the club the past two seasons. Knowing their manager is signed only through 2007, might some malcontents be less inclined to pay him much attention?

“I don’t think managers are as concerned about the length of the contract as much as how players perceive it,” said Joe Torre, manager of the New York Yankees. “A lot of times if you have some things you’re trying to get across and the players sense they’re going to outlast you, then it could become a problem.”

The 53-year-old Bell compiled a record of 345-462 between 1996 and 2002 in Detroit and Colorado. He is the first Royals manager in about two decades with previous experience as a major league skipper, and plenty of his experience is with struggling teams.

Dick Howser was the most recent manager with previous big-league experience. He managed the Royals in from 1981 to 1986, going 404-365.

In 1996, Bell’s first year with the Tigers, Detroit lost 109 games. But Bell rebounded the next year to go 78-83, a 26-game improvement that had him second in voting for AL manager of the year.

He was hired by Colorado in 2000, but fired in 2002 when the Rockies started 6-16.

“He was tough,” said Jose Lima, who played for Bell in Detroit. “I liked him. He don’t take nobody’s (backtalk). He will tell you to your face the way it is. He’s old school. He likes to win.”

Glass said he saw Bell’s managing experiences as positive ones.

“Managers change jobs. Managers seemingly don’t manage one team for a long period of time,” Glass said. “With an experienced manager, you get someone who’s tried it and failed and is a better man because of it in almost all cases.”

Bell said he didn’t mind the challenge of taking over a struggling team.

“Over the years, I have made a lot of friends in this great game of ours, and I don’t necessarily have to manage,” he said. “If I was going to manage again, it was going to be in an organization that I can help thrive.

“This was the best situation for me and the Kansas City Royals, and that was very important to me.”

He said the key to success is not asking players to do more than they’re capable of.

“Now that it is settled, we can settle in and can grow together,” said rookie third baseman Mark Teahen. “Hopefully he comes here and we have an exact plan and stick to it and we have success with it.”

Bell said it was hard to leave Cleveland, and Indians manager Eric Wedge said it was hard to see him go.

“It’ll be different seeing him across the field,” said Wedge. “It was tough for him to leave here ... but ultimately he has a passion for the game and a passion for managing and it was something he wanted to do.”

Glass said he looked forward to working with Bell and said he would help develop the Royals’ young players.

“We’re very excited to get him,” Glass said. “He’s tough but fair, and I think he will make a very good manager for the Royals.”