Royals stumble out gate once again

~ Kansas City is 2-13 and in the midst of an 11-game losing streak.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Fans may be ready to fire general manager Allard Baird in the wake of Kansas City's 2-13 start, but owner David Glass says he's not.

Glass did add, however, that he will not tolerate a third straight season of triple-digit losses.

"We're less than three weeks into the new season. Right now, I don't have any plans to do anything in the immediate future," he said in a telephone interview Friday with The Associated Press. "This thing has to have a chance to play out."

Glass said he planned to meet this weekend with Baird, team president Dan Glass and manager Buddy Bell. Partly because of injuries, especially to pitchers, the Royals have a major league-worst 2-13 record and an 11-game losing streak.

"If we continue to play like this, all of us are going to have to do something different, change this thing," Glass said. "I said repeatedly there was no way any of us ought to have to go through another year like last year. And we're not going to."

He declined to say what changes he might consider.

But Baird, who became general manager during the 2000 season and has had three seasons of 100 or more losses, is taking increasing criticism from fans. Although Baird's minor league system seems to be in the process of developing a number of promising young players, fans are running short on patience.

Glass declined to say how long he would give the team to begin heading in a positive direction.

"I don't think you can set a date, because it depends on how your team is playing. If we continue to lose games, then I've got a short fuse. We have to see how this thing plays out," he said.

The Royals boosted their payroll to nearly $50 million this year and signed a number of veterans they hoped had some good years left, including outfielder Reggie Sanders and infielders Doug Mientkiewicz and Mark Grudzielanek.

A strong spring training

Kansas City was 17-10 in spring training, just a half-game back of the Los Angeles Angels for first place in the Cactus League, and showed signs of regaining respectability.

Then the Royals were swept in New York, Tampa Bay and Chicago on an 0-9 road trip. Kansas City has been swept in four of the five series it has played.

"The best way I can describe it is that I am very disappointed but not discouraged," Glass said.

"This team is better than its record. I absolutely think we will see the team we saw in spring training and felt good about."

One obvious problem has been injuries, especially to pitchers. Starters Denny Bautista and Runelvys Hernandez are unavailable, and closer Mike MacDougal began the season on the disabled list. In addition, starter Zack Greinke missed most of spring training when he returned home to deal with emotional issues. Greinke reported to the training complex in Arizona this week, but the Royals have no timetable for his return.

"I listen to the things that are said, problems with MacDougal being out, Hernandez having to work in the minors, and Greinke not being there," Glass said. "You can go on and on, but those things happen. That's part of baseball, and we've got to be good enough to get beyond that."

Baird's strategy this season was to sign the veteran free agents and stave off a second straight 100-loss season while the young players had time to season in the minors.

"I supported all the moves Allard made during the offseason," Glass said. "I didn't direct those moves, but I was very supportive. For me to even think about making a change at this time is premature. If we won the next six games, would that change everyone's opinion? I think it would."