The Nuthouse

Here is a transcript of the 13-minute interview I had with former Wingnuts manager Kash Beauchamp shortly after he learned the team, led by general manager Josh Robertson, was not going to renew his contract.

What did (Robertson) tell you, because he told me you guys agreed on (your departure) and I’m not sure if I quite buy that.

I had a one-year deal, and when I took the job it was contingent that it would be renegotiated at the end of the season if they wanted to bring me back. Obviously, due to a lot of different things … I don’t know how much the thing on ESPN had to do with it. I know they’ve taken a lot of grief from the league about it, so obviously I think that had something to do with it. Another thing I think — I think it has to do with the fact that, I mean, I didn’t win, you know? And I came here to win and we were five games under .500. So obviously they think there’s somebody out there better for the job, and that’s the bottom line. And they’ve got to do … Because I love them and and I think they love me. And I don’t think the players like me, to be honest with you. And …

What makes you think that?

Well, I don’t know. Just the way I am. The funny thing is, Josh thinks I’m a players’ manager, and I’m really not. I’m really not a players’ manager. I’m a guy that doesn’t like to lose, that says things when he loses that probably shouldn’t be said sometimes. I think, when all that comes out and people find out how I am when we lose — I mean, you’ve been around the locker room, you know how I am. And I don’t think a lot of players like that. It doesn’t matter if players like me or not, as long as they respect me. You know, I’ve always said that. And I think for the most part, players do. If one or two players don’t, fine. And I don’t know who’s said what to the front office or whatever. I think it’s a players thing, honestly. And I’m good with that. I’m good with that because I want players who want to play for me. I guess the unfair thing is I may be unfair in the realism that I expect players to play like I played. And I just don’t think that that is a realistic thing to ask from a player these days. And that’s why I think I’ve got to reevaluate whether I want to manage anymore.

Here’s why I think Josh would say you’re a players’ manager: Because I think it’s another way of saying you’re a people person. You’re definitely a people person, and I think being a players’ manager is just an extension of that.

I am. Let me say this: My relationship with that front office and my relationship with these fans here is the best that I’ve ever had anywhere I’ve been. So that’s the way I look at it — I look it as, my relationship with the front office — I love every person in that front office like they’re family, dearly. From Sally to Kay to Amy — everybody in that office. Josh, Joel, all of them. I love them dearly. I love the fans here dearly. I think the fans have had my back all year. I think the fans like me — I think there’s always going to be a few fans that think, because of the thing on ESPN, that I’m …. It’s like this, and Josh said this to me. He goes, ‘Off the field, in the public, everywhere — you are a great guy. Something happens when competition starts.’ And I don’t know, it’s been a tough year all around for me. My dad dying, my grandmother falling ill during the season — it’s been a very tough year. And my emotions were probably more raw than they’ve ever been because of that. It’s just a factor that I despise losing. I don’t handle that in the right way a lot of times. I say things — I’ll blow up and say things. And I’ve said some things that I regret saying. But, at the time — I’ve never lied, I don’t think. I don’t think I’ve ever lied. But a lot of guys want to be coddled. It’s just, I was never coddled as a player and that’s why maybe my time is passed, I don’t know.

What will that evaluation process entail? How will you know or not know if you’re going to keep managing?

It would be if I can ever accept failing, accept failure. It’s not accepting it as much as it is dealing with it. There’s a reason why I have five minor league — even though there in the minor leagues — there’s a reason I have five minor league championship rings. I know what it takes to get them, and when I see that not happening I get frustrated and I get angry and I’m an ass. And it rubs people the wrong way. So that’s kind of it — that’s going to go into the evaluation process. Or I’ve just got to find a bunch of guys like me. And that’s very difficult to do in this day and age and that’s the bridge that I’m at right now.

Would 25 Kash Beauchamps win or would they just play really hard?

I’ve got five minor league championship rings; I’d like to say they’d win — if they had the talent to go with it. You know what I’m saying? There’s a talent level there, as well. What do you think?

I agree.

What do you think? Do you think 25 Kash Beauchamps would win?

Well, that’s a good question. Because you don’t like guys like Manny Ramirez. Would you take a guy — what if he was a showboat and he hated losing and he hit 40 homers? What if he was everything you want except for that one thing?

That one thing — the other stuff has to override that one thing, you know? You know what I’m saying? I draw the line when you disrespect the game. That’s where I draw the line, disrespecting the game of baseball. What I’m seeing in baseball is that the players have more power than the manager, and it’s even filtering down into independent ball. That’s one thing that I see. I look at (Sioux City manager) Les Lancaster. He’s probably disliked in his locker room more than I am. And he wins and he’s got a job. He’s disliked by clubbies, he’s disliked by a lot of people. And Les is one of my friends — that’s just his style. That’s the way he does things, and he won this year. I guarantee you this — if I had gone 52-38 or whatever and we had made the playoffs, it would be interesting to see what would happen. I didn’t do that, and that’s what I’m here to do, and that’s why I don’t have a job right now.

Were you feeling the heat at any point this year or did this come as a surprise?

I feel the heat and I put that heat on myself. I didn’t feel it from anybody else. I put enough heat on myself for everybody. So I never felt the heat from the organization. I always felt like they had my back. I felt like the organization had my back as far as that. I told Josh this — I said, ‘You and I are a lot alike. You hate to lose about as much as I hate to lose.’ And I said, ‘Whoever you bring in here ain’t going to hate to lose as much as me.’ I said, ‘That’s the only thing I can tell you about the guy that’s coming in here.’

Do you think (the next manager) will be (Kevin) Hooper?

Oh, probably. I would almost bet my life on it. And it should be. It should be Hooper. He’s ready and, like I’ve said all along, he’s the best player I’ve ever coached. As far as knowing the game from a mental standpoint and a fundamental standpoint, he’s probably one of the best major league manager prospects out there in my opinion.

How good of a start is independent league baseball if you want to move up and be a major league manager?

I don’t know, because it’s never happened before. It’s kind of uncharted territory as far as that’s concerned. One thing about, when you get into independent baseball, you hope major league baseball doesn’t put a label on you as being an indepdendent guy. Becuase there’s a little bit of, not controversy, but there’s a little bit of — I don’t know if it’s jealousy. I don’t know what word to use, exactly. Because independent baseball sometimes infringes on major league baseball’s territory. Even in this situation here. You don’t think the Royals are thinking right now, ‘Why couldn’t we get 3,000 people at (Wranglers) games?’ So there’s a little bit of probably, territorialism may be the best term. Territorialism.