The hot seat: These managers could join Ron Roenicke soon
The Milwaukee Brewers reached their breaking point Sunday, firing manager Ron Roenicke just 25 games into the 2015 season. While Roenicke was the first manager let go, he certainly will not be the last. With that in mind, let’s take a look at some managers who are currently on the hot seat.
ROBIN VENTURA, CHICAGO WHITE SOX
The White Sox looked like a possible contender after adding a lot of talent during the offseason. That hasn’t been the case early, as the club has stumbled to an 8-14 start. After suffering their fifth straight loss Sunday, some began to question whether manager Robin Ventura was the right man to lead to team. Ventura received a vote of confidence from star Jose Abreu, but Abreu ultimately has no say in whether Ventura is retained. Owner Jerry Reinsdorf has been patient with his managers in the past, but slow starts can often lead to panic. Ventura has compiled a 229-279 record in four seasons with the club, and you get the sense his leash is getting shorter, even with Reinsdorf in his corner.
BRYAN PRICE, CINCINNATI REDS
Price is only in his second year as the Reds’ manager, but he hasn’t exactly impressed over that period. In fairness, though, that hasn’t been his fault. Injuries were mostly to blame for Cincinnati’s letdown in 2014. With Joey Votto and Jay Bruce back, Price has the Reds hovering around .500. All of that suggests Price deserves more time. However, there are a few things that could sink him. Price’s expletive-filled tirade earlier this season wasn’t a great look for the 52-year-old. On top of that, few expect the Reds to remain in contention as the season progresses. Price’s seat is just warm now, but it could get hot if the Reds struggle during the summer months.
JOHN GIBBONS, TORONTO BLUE JAYS
Toronto entered the season with massive expectations, and have stumbled out of the gate. There’s no reason for full-fledged panic just yet, as the team is just 12-14, but the slow start is concerning. To make matters worse, much of the club’s struggles have been in the bullpen, and that’s the one place where a manager’s decisions really stand out. While it’s not Gibbons’ fault that he’s had to push rookies into prominent roles, he’ll be blamed every time a reliever comes in and promptly gives up runs. A number of the team’s steady, veteran stars haven’t gotten off to great starts, and that could save Gibbons once they all round into form. But if Mark Buehrle and R.A. Dickey are suddenly too old to produce at a high level, and Jose Bautista’s injury turns into something more serious, Gibbons could be on the way out.
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MIKE REDMOND, MIAMI MARLINS
We already know Redmond has been on the hot seat this season. But after an awful start, the Marlins have finally started to turn things around. At the time of the initial report, Miami sat at just 3-10. Since then, they’ve gone 9-3, and are currently 12-13. The recent surge has cooled Redmond’s seat quite a bit, but we’re still dealing with Marlins’ owner Jeffrey Loria here. Loria has shown a willingness to move past managers quickly, and things could change drastically if the club experiences a losing streak. It won’t take much for Loria to act, and we already know he’s considered it this season. One small misstep could lead to Redmond’s dismissal.
MATT WILLIAMS, WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Boy, expectations were sky-high for the Nationals coming into the year. After adding Max Scherzer to an already excellent pitching staff, the team was expected to coast into the playoffs. That hasn’t been the case. A 12-14 record has led to some disappointment in the Nation’s Capital. Williams may have been named the manager of the year in 2014, but his decisions came under huge scrutiny in the playoffs. Combine that with the team’s slow start in 2015, and there’s some concern that he might not be the right man to lead to club to a World Series title. The Nationals could lose a number of talented players to free agency this offseason, so their window is now. If Williams can’t get them into contention soon, he could be ousted for someone with more experience.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
RYNE SANDBERG, PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES
The Phillies haven’t exactly put Sandberg in a position to succeed this season, so it’s tough to see them parting ways with him now. The club won’t be good, and he’s been there for some time, so that makes him a logical candidate to wind up on the hot seat. Philadelphia is expected to make big changes around the deadline, and it’s probably worth seeing how Sandberg reacts to the constant change before handing him a pink slip.
WALT WEISS, COLORADO ROCKIES
Weiss has a lot going against him. The Rockies haven’t put him in a great position to succeed, his team plays in a pitching nightmare and his best players get injured almost every season. Weiss falls into the same category as Sandberg: His team is bad, and he’s been there for a couple seasons. That’s never a good sign. Expectations weren’t high for Colorado entering the year, and that could give Weiss a much longer leash.
Who do you think will be the next manager to go? Let us know on Twitter, Facebook or in the comments.
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Chris Cwik is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Chris_Cwik
