MINNEAPOLIS – The Kansas City Royals addressed their pitching problems Sunday by releasing pitching coach Brent Strom.

Strom, 52, was in his second season with the Royals, whose bullpen ranks last in the American League, despite the efforts to shore up that area by signing Doug Henry and trading for closer Roberto Hernandez during the offseason.

"It was a lack of results," manager Tony Muser said. "High walk ratio. High home run ratio, especially late in games. Brent did a great job of improving people, but sometimes that doesn't lead to results."

Muser and bench coach Jamie Quirk will take over Strom's duties until Monday, when bullpen coach Tom Gamboa will take over on an interim basis.

Brian Poldberg, a Royals roving catching instructor, will join the team Monday or Tuesday as the temporary bullpen coach.

The Royals were wrapping up a three-game series Sunday with the Minnesota Twins at the Metrodome in Minneapolis.