Royals Hire Hillman

[love_that_reefer]

The Royals could announce Friday that they've agreed on a contract with Trey Hillman to become their next manager. The 44-year-old Hillman used to manage in the Yankees' minor league system and has spent the past five years managing the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters in Japan. He's certainly worthy of this opportunity based on his record.

This is basically a done deal. I heard Hillman's name as a possible replacement for Torre so maybe this guy is pretty good. The Royals need a real leader on that team so we will see what happens.

[HollywoodLeo]

He was in consideration for the Padres job last off season before they went with Black.

I believe they were pretty high on him.

[trevortime101]

the guy has sucedded everywhere he went. A great move for KC in my opinion

[love_that_reefer]

ESPN Radio said he is in the middle of the Japanese World Series. Not a very good time to tell your team you are leaving don't you think?

[catman]

That is a strange time to make an announcement this big, I agree. The timing may have been forced, however, as the Yankees could have offered him a bigger contract, with better salary and a better chance to make the post-season immediately.
With the Royals, he will not have the pressure to succeed next year, and will be able to build the team he wants, the way he wants to. Plus, the cupboard is not bare. He has quite a bit of talent available to him.

[catman]

As things turn out, it was announced earlier this season that this would be his last in Japan.
Here is his bio from Wikipedia:
Trey Hillman - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia