On this very blog about six weeks ago, I wrote about the Kansas City Royals baseball club. I went to the opening day game at Kaufmann Stadium and watched as everything went perfectly for the Boys in Blue that day. I commented at the time that hopefully things would continue to go well, but GM Dayton Moore's decisions would be judged over the entire season, not just the first game.

I don't need to tell you, things went downhill after that. They went subterranean as the Royals have now settled into their customary place at the bottom of the American League. First, let's acknowledge the big decision Dayton Moore got right. He signed pitcher Gil Meche for a whole pile of money and took a lot of criticism for it. The naysayers were wrong. Really wrong. On this one, Moore looks like a genius. Meche has been one of the best pitchers in the league, giving KC great outings every time out there. He's been worth every penny.

That's about it for the good news from this Royal season so far. So what to do now? Just accept that KC is a small market team and live with it? I don't think that's Moore's style. I do however, think he needs to consider making at least one major change. Buddy Bell needs to go.

Bell is, by all accounts, a great baseball guy. He was a very good player for many years, comes from a baseball family, and knows the game inside and out. He also overcame a serious health issue last year to return to the club at full strength. But this is his third stint as a big league manager and he simply hasn't gotten the job done. In fact, he's got the second lowest winning percentage EVER for a skipper who has managed as many games as he has. Admittedly, he hasn't had great talent at any of his stops, but has he gotten the best out of the players he does have? I think the Royals need a fresh start, some new blood, someone who can take Alex Gordon, Billy Butler, and Mark Teahen to the next level.

Bell will probably finish out the season, but look for a move over the winter unless the Royals really turn things around. When Dayton Moore was in Atlanta, he had one of the top managers in Major League history at the helm with Bobby Cox. I think he'll soon be looking for someone new here in Kansas City.