The Kansas City Royals took a beating with their choice of Buddy Bell as manager.

He’s a loser, critics railed. Bell had a 345-462 record with Detroit and Colorado. He’s a member of the old-boys network and lacks vision.

A quick history lesson is in order.

When New York Yankees general manager Bob Watson hired Joe Torre as manager before the 1996 season, the move triggered overwhelming skepticism.

One tabloid responded with a blaring back-page headline of “Joe Who?”

Torre had reached the playoffs only once and had a losing record (894-1,003) with Atlanta, St. Louis and the New York Mets.

Watson had played for Torre in Atlanta and understood his strengths. Torre commanded respect from players without being a tyrant. He had the patience to weather tough times.

The rest is Yankees history.

Bell resembles Torre. Bell has a commanding presence. He understands what it takes to play at the highest level.

All he needs are players.

Bell may never realize the success Torre has had with the Yankees. Bell does give the Royals a chance to break the apathy that surrounds the club.

“I want to be part of turning this around,” Bell said at a news conference. “I would not be here if I did not believe we could be patient through this process and get it done.”

A lack of patience has caused Bell’s undoing in his previous stops.

His first managerial job was with Detroit in 1996, as Sparky Anderson’s successor. The Tigers went 53-109 in Bell’s first season but improved to 79-83 in 1997.

They slipped back in 1998, and that cost Bell his job. In September of that season, Bell asked management about his future with the club. The Tigers responded by firing him.

“The problem in Detroit was we weren’t patient enough,” said Bell, a four-time All-Star with the Rangers and a member of the club’s Hall of Fame.

“I’m very impatient with impatience. If this is going to happen, we need to understand it is going to take some time to turn the attitude around.”

The Colorado experience was similar.

Bell started with his only winning season, when the Rockies improved by 10 wins to 82-80 in 2000.

The Rockies changed their approach, brought in high-priced free-agent pitchers Mike Hampton and Denny Neagle after that season but dropped to 73-89 in 2001.

Bell’s relationship with general manager Dan O’Dowd deteriorated. The Rockies, puzzled as to why Hampton and Neagle did not bring a pennant, fired Bell early in 2002.

“I probably said some things I shouldn’t have said,” Bell said. “But I have a lot of confidence in my ability to teach and get along with people. I was fine (in Detroit and Colorado) with that part of it. I’ve learned a lot, too.”

He’ll have to show that in a hurry. The Royals guaranteed Bell’s contract only through 2007. If Bell turns around the Royals by then, it will be a remarkable feat.