KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Mike Sweeney will get another chance to help the Royals make the playoffs.Their longtime first baseman and arguably one of the most popular players in Royals history was hired Friday as club’s special assistant to baseball operations. Sweeney will help at spring training and assist general manager Dayton Moore and others on various projects.“We’re thrilled as an organization that Mike will be joining our baseball operations department,” Moore said. “He’s a tremendous leader and I’m confident that he will impact our players and staff in positive way.”Sweeney was a five-time All-Star for the Royals, and the cornerstone of the franchise from 1995-2007.