Royster steps down as manager of Stars

Jerry Royster says he's loved managing the Las Vegas Stars the last three years.

"I can't think of a better place to manage at the triple-A level than in Las Vegas," he said Sunday night from his West Palm Beach, Fla., home.

But there are two things Royster loves even more: his family and a shot at a big league managing job.

Because of those two reasons, Royster announced his resignation from the San Diego Padres organization, the parent club of the Stars, to pursue other coaching opportunities.

"It was a decision I made based on a lot of things," Royster said.

"It would have been tough for me to go back and manage there for a fourth year even though it would have been easy to do it. I had a great time there and love the city and the people there. I've had a great three years there."

But ...

"This is an important time for me and my family," Royster said, alluding to wife Kathy, and daughters Kristie, 15, and Kara, 4. "Kristie is 15 now and needs a lot more time from me than I've been giving her. And Kara, too."

A few moments later Royster got a click-in on his phone.

"That's Kristie there and I need to talk to her," Royster said politely. "Do you think you can call back in ten minutes?"

Ten minutes later the reporter calls Royster back.

"Sorry about that but it was important," Royster said. "She's having a sleepover."

Quality family time was a big problem at Las Vegas. Although his wife and kids would come out from Florida and spend some time during the summer here, the long road trips and long hours at the park finally took their toll. And if Royster wanted to bring his family along on a trip, he had to pay out of his own pocket. Many big league teams pick up the tab in similiar situations.

Then there was the goal of becoming a big league manager, which still is No. 1 on Royster's list of priorities.

San Diego has a National League manager of the year candidate in Bruce Bochy. And it's well known that one of Bochy's coaches, Davey Lopes, is very well liked by Padres' owner John Moores.

"I wasn't pursuing Bochy's job," Royster said. "It's silly to think that he won't be there for a while. He's done a great job. So at this stage of my career I decided it was time to look elsewhere.

"The Padres made it easy," Royster continued. "They understand what I'm going through. (General manager) Kevin Towers has been great to deal with. Under this scenario, if there is a managerial opening, Jerry Royster is out there. There are no ties. There is nothing to keep an organization from contacting me."

Right now there are no managerial openings at the big league level, although that could change quickly once the season comes to an end next week.

One situation that might be worth watching is that of the Florida Marlins.

Rumors have Jim Leyland leaving after the season, perhaps to Los Angeles to take over the Dodgers or to Chicago to take over the underachieving White Sox. If so, Royster, who is friends with Marlins GM Dave Dombrowski and is a short drive up the coast from Miami, might have a shot at that job.

All Royster would say when asked about potential openings is "I've got some irons in the fire."

If he doesn't get a big league managing job by next season, Royster said he might pursue other baseball related jobs, including announcing.

"I have nothing permanent set up," he said. "We'll just have to wait and see what happens."

Royster compiled a 199-222 record in his three seasons as Stars manager, including 70-72 this past campaign. His brightest moment as a manager came in his first year in 1996, when he directed Las Vegas to the PCL's second half division title.

"Jerry was the first three-year manager we ever had," Stars general manager Don Logan said. "He will be sorely missed.

"I guarantee you there was nobody in the Padres system who was better with dealing with the media, dealing with sponsors, dealing with the fans and all the extras that it takes to be a good triple-A manager."

Logan said he hopes to have a new manager in place "in the next couple of weeks." He said he will talk with Towers and Padres director of player development Jim Skaalen in the next couple of days to go over possible candidates. Those will likely include Mobile manager Mike Ramsey, who directed the Bay Bears to the Southern League championship this year.

"I don't think there's a better place to manage in triple-A than Las Vegas," Logan said. "I'm sure we'll get a lot of phone calls from people who will be interested."

archive