Moore says Yost's job is safe, shoulders blame for Royals' struggles

Moore says Yost's job is safe, shoulders blame for Royals' struggles

Published May. 30, 2014 7:00 a.m. ET
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KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Royals shuffled their coaching staff on Thursday in an effort to jumpstart a lackluster season, naming Dale Sveum their new hitting coach. But general manager Dayton Moore doesn't believe the team's problems are tied to manager Ned Yost.

Moore told FOXSportsKansasCity.com that although the Royals were three games under .500 before Friday's 6-1 win at Toronto, and the season hasn't panned out as expected, Yost's job is safe.

"Yes, I have faith in Ned," Moore said by phone before Friday night's victory. "He is doing what he can."

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Moore added that he still believes Yost is the manager who can get the Royals to the playoffs this season.

Moore also said that if there is any blame to pass around, it should fall squarely on the general manager's lap.

"Here's the bottom line: It's not Ned, it's not Pedro (Grifol), it's me," Moore said. "I'm responsible. It's all on me. At least that's the way I feel about it.

"It's my job to give the managers and the coaching staff the right players to succeed. I have to be able to give them the tools to win. So if we're not succeeding, ultimately the responsibility comes back to me. No one else."

Moore, however, did believe it was time for a shakeup of the coaching staff and agreed it was time for a new hitting coach to replace Grifol.

"Pedro did a wonderful job of pulling us out of it last season," Moore said. "For whatever reason, it's not happening now like it did in the second half last year. Sometimes having a different voice makes a difference.

"But again, it comes down to the players performing. And the person who brings the players in is me. So it's not Pedro, it's me."

You can follow Jeffrey Flanagan on Twitter at @jflanagankc or email him at jeffreyflanagan6@gmail.com.

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