Moore’s Wife May Have Been Ill, Ex-Manager Says

Omaha Royals Manager Sal Rende said he thought that Donnie Moore’s wife was having health problems when the Triple-A Royals released the relief pitcher last month.

“It was almost like he was relieved when we told him” of the release, Rende said after Moore apparently killed himself and shot his wife Tuesday. “He said, ‘Good, now I can go home and take care of some things.’

“He seemed relieved a decision was made, and it came at the same time that he was going to see me. His back was bothering him, and he felt that he couldn’t pitch any more.”

Rende, in Toledo, Ohio, for a series against the Mud Hens, told the Omaha World-Herald in a telephone interview that he was shocked by the news of Moore’s death.

“I’ll be interested to see more on this,” he said. “He had a long and good career. I’d be surprised if baseball was involved.”