Though the 2009 season started this week, there are several baseball managers on the hot seat. These five mangers will need more than luck if they have any hope of managing their baseball team at the end of the season.
5. Cecil Cooper – Houston Astros
In 2008, Cecil Cooper did the impossible. He had the Houston Astros in contention for a wildcard spot, despite the fact the team end the season with 31 runs less than their opponents. The main factor that has landed Cooper on this list is the Astros impatient owner, Drayton McLane.
In the past five years, the Astros have employed three managers and three general managers. If Cooper is going to save his job, he will need to find quality starting pitching for the Astros. After the team’s ace, Roy Oswalt, the Astros have a questionable rotation that went 14–12 in 2008.
4. Ron Washington – Texas Rangers
During the 2008 season, the Rangers rebounded from an awful April to finish four games below .500. Washington was able to improve on the team’s 2007 record but they were still 21 games behind the division winner, Los Angeles Angels.
Though Washington altered his approach with the players during the off-season, he is in the final year of his contract. If the Rangers show no life during the season, team ownership may decide to give Washington his walking papers.
3. Jim Leyland – Detroit Tigers
The writing is on the wall for Jim Leyland. His contract was not renewed at the end of the 2008 season and team ownership has shown no signs of straying away from the hard decisions by releasing high priced talent whose production was lacking.
If the aggressive off-season moves do not pay off for Detroit and they are in last place in the Central by the All-Star game, fans will see some changes. Not only will several players be traded to free up some money, but Leyland could find himself looking for a new job.
2. Joe Girardi – New York Yankees
The mere fact that Joe Girardi still has his job in 2009 is somewhat of a miracle. During his first season at the helm, Girardi managed the Yankees to an 89–73 record and out of the playoffs for the first time since 1993.
To make matters worse, the Yankees will be without their best regular season offensive threat, Alex Rodriguez, for at least two months of the 2009 season. All eyes will be on Girardi to see how he handles his players as the season slowly unwinds.
If New York doesn’t find themselves in the playoff hunt, Girardi could be looking for a new job before the season is over.
1. Jerry Manuel – New York Mets
The ownership of the New York Mets has shown their desire for success by bringing in high-priced talent like Francisco Rodriguez and J.J. Putz to shore up their bullpen. They have also shown that they are not afraid of making significant changes to their team, especially the manager.
That fact will keep Manuel on his toes, even though he is signed through the 2010 season. Manuel knows if the team fails to reach the playoffs for the third season in a row, and even more so if the team has a late season collapse.
If the Mets are nowhere near the top of the division by August, Manuel may not have the chance to see this season through.
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