The Kansas City Royals announced yesterday that Tony Pena will replace interim manager John Mizerock as the team's full time manager. Pena has been working as the Houston Astros' bench coach this season, but the Astros granted Kansas City permission to interview him for their managerial job. He signed a three-year contract that will take him through the 2004 season.

Prior to joining the major league coaching staff this season, Pena managed the Astros' AAA franchise for three seasons. He began managing in 1998 following his 1997 retirement from an 18-season career as an All-Star and Gold Glove catcher. During his catching career, he played for Pittsburgh, St. Louis, Boston, Cleveland, and split his final season between the Chicago White Sox and Houston. The White Sox gave him his first managerial position with their Rookie ball Arizona League team. Houston hired him the following season to manage the New Orleans Zephyrs in the Pacific Coast League. In the 2000 off-season he managed the Maryville Saguaros in the Arizona Fall League. He's also managed in the Dominican Winter League.

Kansas City hopes that his minor league experience will not only aid him as a manager but also in relating to their young players. Pena feels that he know the Royals organization fairly thoroughly on the basis of competing against their AAA franchise. Unless he's done additional research, I find that assertion to be a bit of a stretch.

Additionally, the Royals feel that his Latin background will be an asset to the club, as Baird commented that an estimated 40% of the player population by 2004 likely would be from the "international market". Pena also reportedly relates well with pitchers due to his background as a catcher.

Prior to the season, the Boston Red Sox asked for permission to interview Pena for their managerial opening, but Houston would not grant the request. However, Astros' owner Drayton McLane and Royals' owner David Glass supposedly are close friends so Pena was able to seize this opportunity.

Some members of the organization were concerned that the players might not accept Pena right away, since they have bonded with Mizerock and many reportedly hoped he would receive the full time position.

The Royals were 5-8 under Mizerock, losing the first 6 games he managed. Mizerock will stay on as the bullpen coach. The rest of the coaching staff will reportedly also remain for now.

However, the introductory meeting went well and players had good things to say afterwards. AP Sports Writer Doug Tucker reported that Pena had the following to say in answer to a question regarding his first message to his players, "I am the new DJ. I play the music. You are to dance. If you don't know how to dance, get off of the dance floor."

Pena lost his debut game as a major league manager as the Twins beat the Royals 8-6 at Kauffman Stadium last night. Starting pitcher Blake Stein was pulled after 4 innings and 74 pitches in his first start of the season. He struck out 4 but walked 1 and allowed 6 hits, including a homer, for three earned runs. The bullpen then proceeded to allow five more runs, though Carlos Febles contributed to the problem by committing two throwing errors that left four runs unearned. Dan Reichert (1.2 IP), Brian Shouse (1.2 IP), and Corey Bailey (2 IP) were used in relief.

Shouse, a 33-year-old left-handed reliever, recently returned from a trip to the DL for a sore left elbow. Closer Roberto Hernandez was activated from the disabled list when Shouse went on the DL. Hernandez strained his right elbow late in Spring Training and missed the first month of the season. When Shouse returned, the Royals DFA'd Dave McCarty.

Kansas City demoted Brad Voyles and activated Mark Quinn from the DL on Sunday. Quinn missed the first month and a half of the season after he cracked a rib Kung Fu fighting with his brother before Spring Training. He's started every day since his return, playing three games at DH and one in RF.

Voyles was called up to replace Nathan Field on the roster at the end of April. The 25-year-old Voyles received a brief major league call-up last season, jumping from AA directly to the majors. He's worked exclusively as a reliever in the minors and has good skills, though his BB/9 is generally a bit elevated. However, he likely could have used more time at AAA before spending significant time in the big league pen.

The Royals placed Brent Mayne on the DL on May 7th and called up Brandon Berger. Mayne is battling back spasms and the Royals have not yet announced when he might return from the DL. Berger broke camp with the team but was demoted for Bryan Rekar at the end of April. The 27-year-old outfielder received a short call-up last season, also jumping from AA. He has good power and moderate speed, but his plate discipline needs improvement. While he could probably really use at least a year at AAA, the Royals may be just as well off trying to utilize his talents during his peak.

After two starts in which he struck out 2, walked 6, and allowed 12 hits in 7 IP, Rekar was sent back to AAA; the Royals called up Juan Brito to replace him on the roster. Brito, a 22-year-old catcher, spent two years jumping back and forth between four different affiliates before remaining at AA Wichita for all of 2001. He doesn't appear to posses either power or speed, and though his plate discipline has occasionally shown promise, he would need more minor league work to truly develop his strike zone judgment. As Brito is on the roster as the back-up backstop and defensive fill-in, A.J. Hinch will receive the majority of the time behind the plate with Mayne on the DL.