It's official: Trey Hillman will be the Royals' next manager

That was the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters clinching the Japan Series in 2006 over the Chunichi Dragons. I can imagine a similar scene playing out in Kauffman Stadium in two years, with David DeJesus or Joey Gathright playing the role of Shinjo (are they weepers?) and Billy Butler as Morimoto.

At the 2:40 mark, you'll see a handsome man who slightly resembles Dennis Quaid appear on screen. That's Trey Hillman, the winning manager.

And now he's our manager.

Speculation has turned to fact, it seems. Predictably, this has gotten the Royals' slice of the blogosphere chirping, from The Royal Tower to Royals Review, Lee Warren to Bradford Doolittle. Royals Authority also has a lot of words and links on Hillman, and leave it to FanHouse to give us the lighter side of the news. Way to circle the wagon, everyone.