Managerial change in Kalamazoo

The Kalamazoo Kings, off to a 7-31 start, have fired manager Jamie Keefe and pitching coach Brian Lewis. Keefe was replaced by outfielder Matt Maloney. Here is the story from the Kalamazoo Gazette's David Drew:

KALAMAZOO — The struggling Kalamazoo Kings fired first-year manager Jamie Keefe and pitching coach Brian Lewis on Thursday.

With a 7-31 record and a firm hold on last place in the Frontier League’s East Division, Kalamazoo Kings owner Bill Wright said he was not satisfied with the direction the team was headed.

“I didn’t feel the hustle on the field and the behavior off the field represented the Kalamazoo Kings and how I feel they need to be represented,” Wright said. “It starts on the top. A 7-31 record speaks for itself.”

Matt Maloney, who has been serving as a player coach this season, has been named interim manager. Pitcher Tyler Herron will handle the pitching coach duties.

“This is an unfortunate circumstance for me to take over. I have the utmost respect for Jamie and Brian," Maloney said in a team news release. “At the same time, I am eager and excited to turn our season around.”

The Kings sat 18 games behind the first-place Oakland County Cruisers in the East Division entering Thursday night's home game against the Gateway Grizzlies.

Wright said his decision was heavily influenced by a lack of focus on the field.

“It came down to me watching the play on the field and the intensity off the field,” he said. “I demand people to lay it out every single game and not one inning. There are a lot of young men and they need to keep focused.

"If you’re intense and you leave it all on the field, you’ll never have to hear from Bill Wright. I don’t ever expect to say losing is acceptable.”

Wright said he will take the next nine days, which leads into the Frontier League All-Star break, to decide whether to stick with Maloney at the helm and Herron as the pitching coach or to seek out a new coaching staff.

“I’ll be down looking closely to see how the team performs,” Wright said. “I think people need a challenge in life sometimes. I think the team will pull together to help Matt.”

Head of the Kingdom

One of the two remaining managerial positions in the Frontier League was filled this week when the Kalamazoo Kings hired Jamie Keefe, pictured. You might recall that Keefe was manager of the Florence Freedom (2005-08) and Chillicothe Paints (2001-04).

Keefe, who is third on the FL's all-time wins list for managers, replaces Fran Riordan, who is the league's winningest manager. Riordan left the Kings after the 2009 season to become manager of the lake County Fielders, an expansion team int he independent Northern League.

Keefe, 36, did not manage last season.

“We’ve known Jamie for years because he’s been managing in the (Frontier League) and he’s known and respected in the league,” Kings owner Bill Wright said. “He’s a players’ coach.”

Keefe spent nine years as a players in the minors. He was the third-round draft pick of the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1992. He reached the Triple-A level in 1997.

Another managerial opening

A managerial job in the East Division became vacant today when Jamie Keefe informed the Florence Freedom that he will not be returning for the 2009 season.

In four seasons with Keefe, the Freedom compiled a 180-201record and failed to make the playoffs. In 2008, the Freedom were 47-49 and finished in fourth place in the East, 13 games behind division winner Kalamazoo.

Keefe spent four years as manager of the Chillicothe Paints before moving on to Florence. He is third on the FL's all-time wins list for managers with 367.

The River City Rascals recently filled their managerial vacancy by hiring Chad Parker, who recently worked as a scout for the Atlanta Braves. In 2007, Parker was manager of Macon Music of the now-defunct independent South Coast League.