Duck season! Rabbit season! Duck season! Rabbit season!
Nope, its Manager season!!!!
Yes, folks, it is that time of year. Time for to start making some heads roll for teams not performing up to expectations and, as always, the first heads to roll are those of the managers. Nobody has gotten the axe yet this season, but thanks to recent events (hello, Brian Fuentes), that could change in the very, very near future.
What managers are feeling the hot seat’s heat? Let’s find out:
Bob Geren, Athletics – In case you missed it, Brian Fuentes unloaded on his manager in the media earlier this week after Geren demoted Fuentes from the closer job… but forgot to tell him first. Fuentes may have been running his mouth when he shouldn’t have, but he seems to have blown the cover off the fact that Geren is a poor communicator and thus may not have the collective ear of the clubhouse. Don’t believe me? Ask Huston Street who went out of his way to confirm Fuentes’ accusations by calling him a terrible communicator and his “least favorite person in sports” ever. With Oakland mired in a slump and not looking like a dark horse contender for the division crown like many thought they could be, Geren very well could be shown the door to try and inject some life into the team. His one saving grace might be that the rest of the AL West has been almost as mediocre as the A’s, so if he can just keep Oakland within striking distance, he might be able to keep his job too. Hot Seat Temperature = Liquid Hot Magma
Ozzie Guillen, White Sox – With all of the antics that Ozzie has pulled off over the years, it is hard to believe that the Pale Hose will ever deem one of his offenses egregious enough to give him the boot. Heck, the guy went on a Twitter rant after getting ejected from a game this season and it was essentially laughed off because it was just “Ozzie being Ozzie.” If Guillen is going to get fired it is going to be because the team just isn’t winning. Guillen may seem like a lovable cad when the ChiSox are in contention, but one would imagine he’d quickly morph into an unwanted nuisance once the White Sox completely drop out. And they aren’t real far from being “out” right now as they sit nine games behind the Indians. Chicago is starting to come around though, going 5-1-1 in their last seven series, so Ozzie may right this ship yet. But if they are still taking on water come July, don’t be shocked to see the White Sox show Guillen the door (and probably block him on Twitter too). Hot Seat Temperature = It’s So Damn Hot, Milk Was a Bad Choice
Jim Riggleman, Nationals – It isn’t like anyone expected big things from the Nats this season and they certainly didn’t expect even small things from them after Ryan Zimmerman got hurt back in April. Still, Riggleman is a contender to have his managerial year cut short. Nonetheless, things are starting to go a bit sideways for Riggleman in then nation’s capital. He has recently suffered such indignities as being on the receiving end of a dugout tirade from Jason Marquis and getting himself ejected a mere two pitches into a game with the regional interleague rival Orioles. What really make Riggleman fireable though is that he is on the last guaranteed year of his contract, so the team has no financial disinecentive when it comes to letting him go mid-season. That will make it an easy call for managment to make if clubhouse chemistry continues to turn rotten. Don’t expect anything to happen soon though since GM Mike Rizzo recently gave him a vote of confidence to the media. Then again, the fact that he needed a vote of confidence in the first place doesn’t exactly register as a positive sign. Hot Seat Temperature = Hansel, So Hot Right Now, Hansel
Brad Mills, Astros – The Astros are the worst team in the National League, which is usually a bad omen for a manager’s employment prospects. However, it won’t be the losing ways of the ‘Stros that could cost Mills his job. Sure, Mills has his shortcomings as a big league skipper, but there isn’t a manager alive that could do much with Houston’s current roster. No, Mills job is on the line because the team is in the process of being sold to Jim Crane, who could take over control of the team by the end of July. If that happens, Crane might just decide that he wants to clean house and the first place that would likely start would be by jettisoning the incumbent manager so that Crane can hand pick his own. That sort of nastiness probably won’t happen until after the season, but you never know with these new owners. Some of them like to announce their presence with authority and what better way to do that than by handing a pink slip to the manager? Hot Seat Temperature = It’s Cool, Ese
Ron Gardenhire, Twins – There is a good chance that I am going to be banned from entering the state of Minnesota for even suggesting that Gardenhire could be fired, but since the Twins own the worst record in baseball, it has to be at least mentioned. Considering that Gardenhire has been helming the Twins for so long, there is no chance that they kick him to the curb because the team has had their seasons ripped apart by injuries. Hot Seat Temperature = Alright, Everyone. Chill!
Joe Girardi, Yankees – I wouldn’t be doing my bloggerly duties if I didn’t throw one name into the mix for sheer shock value. As such, join me on a little thought exercise, won’t you? Yes, Girardi won a World Series in 2009 and was handed a three year contract before this season, but no manager is ever truly safe in the Big Apple. After getting upset in the ALCS last season, what would happen if the Bronx Bombers missed the playoffs? That isn’t all that far-fetched. The roster is showing its age and there has already been some unrest in the clubhouse, and with the AL East proving to be competitive from top-to-bottom, it isn’t impossible to think they could somehow end up on the outside looking in. Should that happen, you have to think that with all that Steinbrenner DNA will make Hank want to follow his late father’s lead and start firing managers as soon as possible. Could Joe Girardi be Hank’s Billy Martin? Hot Seat Temperature = Harry, Your Hands Are Freezing!
