Former Norwich Navigator manager Trey Hillman was fired today by the Kansas City Royals.
Managing the Royals is a doubled-edged sword. There's the expectation to win, yet the team doesn't spend much on free agency and has an average farm system. Lots of early potential but rarely do their players pan out. It also hurt Hillman than Cy Young winner Zack Grienke had little run support this season.
People say managing the Yankees is the toughest job in baseball. Aside from the Pirates, I'd think the Royals gig is toughest. Unless you win with a shoddy job by the front office, you are doomed. You either look like a managerial god turning a team like that into anything close to a contender or you get fired for doing what anyone else would do with vastly limited resources.
I spoke with Hillman two years ago and he reflected fondly upon his time in Norwich and how after leaving he really developed a love for New England.
My guess is he will land a hitting instructor position on the Triple-A level, or maybe a base coach on a big league team in 2011. He did spend a few successful years in Japan. Don't be surprised if Hillman ends up there again.
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