Glass likes way Royals are playing the game
You won’t get Royals owner David Glass to gloat. Not yet at least.
But deep down inside, you know Glass is loving the fact that his small-market Royals with a payroll under $60 million have had their way with the big-spending Tigers — the Yankees of the Central Division — and the financially-bloated Yankees themselves.
As always, Glass is preaching the message of spending money wisely (something the Royals haven’t always done, mind you).
“It really comes down to the fundamentals,” Glass told me. “The Twins have proven over the years that (it’s not about payroll). If you execute and play the fundamentals and don’t beat yourselves, you can compete and you can win.
“What I have liked so far is that we’re not beating ourselves. Last year and the year before, you could sense that there were games we lost just because we beat ourselves. I think we’ll do a lot less of that this season.”
Trying to buy a pennant — something the Tigers obviously think they can do — isn’t necessarily the guaranteed route to go.
“Smaller markets can’t do financially what the bigger markets can do,” Glass said. “But we can compete if we execute. That’s why I really like our new manager and what he’s trying to accomplish.
“You take the players you have and get the most out of them and then if you need to possibly add another piece (in August), you can still do that.”
Guillen’s influence
Glass did drop $36 million on one piece to the puzzle — cleanup hitter Jose Guillen. So what does Glass think of that investment?
“I think he’s going to be fine,” Glass said, “and I think he’s going to end up being a good influence on our younger players. I really do.”
Busy Self
KU coach Bill Self certainly is seizing the opportunity to be heard around the nation — that’s smart recruiting.
The morning after the national title game, after Self got a call from President Bush, Self was on ESPN’s “Mike and Mike” show, then dashed to a morning news conference in San Antonio. Then he flew home for the celebration in Lawrence.
Wednesday morning, Self appeared on Fox Sports Radio, and then was on ESPN News. After that, he taped a segment for “Jim Rome is Burning.” Then he taped a segment for “Best Damn Sports Show Period.” Thursday he was scheduled to do a spot for “Sporting News Radio.”
“We’re getting four or five requests at a time,” said Kansas assistant athletic director/media relations Chris Theisen.
“Everyone now thinks they’re coach Self’s best friend. But he’s been really great about it all. I just take all the requests to coach and he gives me a ‘yea’ or ‘nay’ on each one. ”
To reach Jeffrey Flanagan, call 816-234-4492 and leave a message or send e-mail to jflanagan@kcstar.com
