Former Red Roberto Kelly quits as Manager for Panama's Baseball Team

[CincyReds2003]

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/worldc...ory?id=2342301

PANAMA CITY, Panama -- Roberto Kelly has quit as manager of Panama's team in the World Baseball Classic, complaining he didn't get enough support from local baseball officials.


"I can't work with the federation in the way it's being run," Kelly said in a local radio interview this week. He was with the San Francisco Giants spring training camp in Arizona, where he is an instructor.


"If they don't give us the backing we deserve as manager, we don't have any reason to be in charge of the team," Kelly said.


He complained that local officials held some players back from the Classic so they would play in the Panamanian championships and alleged that he had been the target of racist comments.


He was replaced by Anibal Reluz, a veteran of the local league.


Federation president Franz Weaver acknowledged some players had stayed with their teams, but said he did not think that was the reason for Kelly's resignation.

[Chip R]

They probably called him "Bobby" one too many times.

[KoryMac5]

Maybe it was because they asked Paul O'Neil to manage first.