Herk Robinson sounded as if he had just hired John Wathan, not fired him.
"Every person, and I mean this as sincerely as I can mean it, every person whose life he has touched in this organization is a better person because of it," said the general manager of the Kansas City Royals. "He's a wonderful, wonderful person."But the Royals, after spending more than $33 million the past two years on free agents, have not been a wonderful team. And on Wednesday, Wathan, 41, became the third major league manager fired this year.
It was a welcome move to most fans and media representatives who had been increasingly critical of Wathan's low-key, unassuming approach. But if it had been put to a vote of players, Wathan would probably still be in charge.
"He's the same guy who won 92 games for us two years ago," said first baseman George Brett, who roomed with Wathan 20 years ago in the minor leagues.
"It's unfortunate for him that we were playing so bad," said pitcher Bret Saberhagen. "But when a team's struggling as much as we are . . ."
"I'm shocked," said outfielder Danny Tartabull. "I thought there had been better communication between the manager and players this year than any time since I've been here."
Immediate speculation to replace Wathan centered on Hal McRae, a member of the Royals' Hall of Fame who turned down the job on an interim basis when Wathan was hired with 36 games left in the 1987 season. Now hitting coach at Montreal, McRae said he had not been contacted but would be interested.
"I'd be willing to listen. If they were interested in me, I think I'd be willing to listen," said McRae, whose son Brian is a first-year center fielder for the Royals and one of the lone bright spots in a miserable start which had the Royals 15-22 when Wathan was fired, in last place in the American League West.
McRae said the Royals' situation seems better than it did late in 1987.
"For 36 games, I was offered the job and there'd be an evaluation after that," McRae said from Montreal. "I didn't think that was a good deal for me."
Also mentioned as possible candidates are Royals pitching coach Pat Dobson, Don Baylor and Pittsburgh coach Gene Lamont.