Saturday, May 13, 2006
Royals Deny Firing Baird, Downplay Gordon Callup
The Kansas City Royals have denied a radio report that general manager Allard Baird will be fired to be replaced by ex-Mets GM Steve Phillips. The club also downplayed widespread MLB Rumors that No. 2 overall draft pick Alex Gordon is on the verge of being called up to replace struggling 3B Mark Teahen. Teahen, meanwhile, went 0-4 for his second consecutive game. Speculation that Teahen would be replaced by Gordon was fueled after Royals owner David Glass promised a team shakeup. Gordon, 22, hitting .313 with 17 RBI and seven homers in 32 games for the AA Witchita Wranglers, plays a respectable third base, runs well and hits for average and power to all fields. But many wondered whether Gordon might be being rushed if he were called up so soon. Gordon signed only last year.
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Doctor X -- the 'Baseball Medic' -- is an anonymous U.S. government trauma specialist with a Duke University sports medicine background and more than 20 years experience in emergency medicine. From time to time he considers MLB rumors, events and news reports as they pertain to baseball players' injuries, illnesses and various other disabilities, both on the field and off.
MLB Rumors editor Greg Fieg is a former sports news editor and award-winning writer whose bylines have appeared on the wires of the Associated Press and in numerous publications, including San Antonio Express-News, San Antonio Light, Houston Chronicle and Philadelphia Bulletin. He formerly was posted in various positions on the U.S.-Mexican border with Freedom Newspapers, and was a regular, independent contributor to United Press International.