The White Falcon - 26.11.1980, Blaðsíða 4

4 White Falcon November 26, 1980
An interview
was a little tough because most of
the fans and members of the press
wanted Whitey back. Their feelings
toward me was "who is Jim Frey."
Nobody had ever heard of me. I just
hope in time they will feel the same
about me as they did Whitey.
WFs Going into the playoffs, what
did you feel your chances were
against the Yankees?
FREY: We didn't feel that we could
sweep the series like we did. The
entire organization had a monkey on
its back because the press continued
to talk about the Yankees beating
the Royals three years in a row. I
was the new manager and wasn't with
the ballclub when they lost those
three years. I didn't feel any of
that. The one edge I felt we had
was that we had beaten them eight
out of 12 times during the regular
season. You can't predict to win
three games in a row, but I did feel
that we had the better team.
WF: Did you have any preference of
who to play in the World Series?
FREY: No. I didn't know enough
about either club. The scouting re-
ports said the Houston team had
better pitching and speed, and the
Phillies had more power and better
fielding.
WF: Did the three day layoff before
the World Series have any affect on
the team?
FREY: No there are some people who
felt we should have gone back to
Kansas City and celebrated winning
the pennant. People are trying to
figure out why we lost and that's
one of the excuses they are using.
I don't think it has anything to do
with it. We had a four run lead in
the first game and we lost, a two
run lead in the second and we lost,
and a lead in the ninth inning of
the fifth game and we lost. We
could have won all three of those
games. So I don't think going back
to Kansas City had anything to do
with our losing.
WF: If you had it all to do again
would you do anything differently?
Like use Paul Splittorf more?
FREY: No. Paul Splittorf pitched
one and a third innings and gave up
four hits. The reason I didn't
pitch him more was because I felt he
couldn't hold the Phillies. The one
time I used him they hit four balls
right on the nose. I don't have any
second guesses about that at all.
WF: Will you be back as manager
next year?
FREY: Unless I die or a plane
crashes somewhere, yes.
WF: What are the Royal's chances
next year?
with K.C.’s James Frey
FREY: We won 97 games this year,
and I hope to have a better year in
1981. We improved our pitching
about six or seven tenths of a run
this year and I feel we can improve
it about four tenths of a run next
season. We score over 800 runs a
year, so if our pitching improves I
feel we can win the division again.
WF: Will the club trade for a
pitcher if the opportunity presents
itself?
FREY: Yes. We are looking to trade
for a pitcher. We want a lefthanded
starter. But that doesn't mean we
won't take a righty or a reliever.
If we can obtain a good pitcher
without giving up too much, we will.
WF: Who was your most valuable
player in the World Series?
FREY: Amos Otis.
WF: Do you agree with Billy Martin
being named manager of the year?
FREY: Yes. Billy Martin took over
a club that played 24 games better
in '80 than in '79. Our team played
13 games better this year. His club
was picked to finish last while our
club was picked to finish second in
most of the preseason polls. He was
the logical choice. In one poll
that I was asked to vote in I voted
for Billy Martin.
WF: To what do you attribute the
low number of Kansas City players
testing the Free Agent Draft?
FREY: The general manager gives
long-term contracts to the good
players.
WF: Do you feel long-term contracts
are more important to players than
con’t from
a lot of money?
FREY: Ball players want money.
There is nothing else they want.
When they get enough money, then
they start worrying about other
things. You hear players after they
sign million dollar contracts saying
"I love this community, I want to be
a part of this community, my
children are going to school here
and my wife loves the new house."
That's all a bunch of bull. Money
is the answer in our business. Any-
thing else someone tells you is
baloney. The reason I am managing
in Kansas City instead of coaching
in Baltimore is money. My wife and
I do like Kansas City and the fans
but we are there because I can make
more money managing.
WF: How long of a contract do you
have?
FREY: My contract goes through the
1981 season. It's a one year deal.
But that doesn't worry me because I
have been on a one year deal for 31
years. If I lose this job, I'll get
another somewhere else.
James Frey is a candid man who
tells you exactly whats on his mind.
And if the Royals repeat as division
champions next year, the fans of
Kansas City might just forget the
man he replaced. You know his ni
err, uh,.......Whitey Herzog.
Regular sports coverage
returns next week
Home Freys
THE FP.EY FAMI LY--L1 tt 1 e James
family portrait. Looking on
James, the grandfather, Joann,
by SN Karen Dean Guise)
WU II C I

ricy ib
(left to right) are Joan, the grandmothe
the mother, and James, the father. (Ph