Torey Lovullo, Diamondbacks: The Diamondbacks picked up Lovullo’s option for this season last August, and that remains the extent of their current commitment. The Angels are middle of the pack according to the advanced defensive metrics, but they will need to play cleaner to make the playoffs for the first time since 2014. One disturbing sign: The team is tied for the major-league lead with 32 errors, demonstrating the kind of poor fundamental play that often gets managers in trouble. 500, in contention for both the AL West title and a wild-card berth. Yet for all that, the Angels are two games above. Anthony Rendon was suspended four games for confronting a fan, and is now on the injured list with a left groin strain. Shohei Ohtani is not the same as a pitcher. When owner Arte Moreno shifted course in March, deciding to keep the club, the dynamic essentially remained unchanged: The Angels probably need to make the playoffs for Nevin, 52, to keep his job. Phil Nevin, Angels: The Angels signed Nevin to a one-year contract last October while the team was for sale. If for some reason he does not stay with the Brewers and still wants to manage, he will be the hottest name available this offseason. He played for the Brewers and worked in their front office before becoming the team’s manager in May 2015. “I’m content with where we’re at.”Ĭounsell, 52, was raised in Milwaukee. As he told reporters at the start of spring training. Counsell, however, seems comfortable waiting for his situation to resolve. Worth noting: Baker has deflected questions about whether he wants to remain manager, a change from last season when he spoke openly about his desire to return.Ĭraig Counsell, Brewers: The winningest manager in Brewers history and longest-tenured manager in the NL also is a lame duck, managing in the final year of his contract. But if the Astros’ season ends in disappointment, Crane might prefer a fresh start. Baker, who turns 74 next month, seemingly has no such conflicts with the owner, and has led the team to at least the ALCS in each of his three seasons. Such a comparison might be unfair, considering how much the relationship between Crane and Click had deteriorated. So do those who might as well be relaxing in a BarcaLounger. Others say the current pool of managerial candidates is shallow, an assessment that surely would prompt all those former managers, current major-league coaches and minor-league managers waiting for their chance to say, “Excuse me?”Īll right, time for a status check with the comfy-chair set. Many executives understand that in-season firings often amount to nothing more than a desperate attempt to reverse a team’s course, a form of public-relations eyewash. Four other clubs, the Marlins, White Sox, Royals and Rangers, hired new managers during the offseason. Thomson, Schneider and Nevin all returned this season, shedding their interim statuses. The Angels’ 46-60 record under Phil Nevin was worse than their 27-29 mark under Joe Maddon, and the Rangers’ 17-31 record under Tony Beasley was worse than their 51-63 mark under Chris Woodward. On the other hand, the Angels and Rangers demonstrated anew that changing managers often accomplishes little for teams with major flaws.The Blue Jays’ removal of Charlie Montoyo for John Schneider at 46-42 also produced a positive result, with the team finishing 46-28 and advancing to the postseason before losing in the wild-card round to the Mariners.The Phillies’ firing of Joe Girardi at 22-29 was an unqualified success the team went 65-45 under Rob Thomson the rest of the way and advanced to the World Series.In many cases, the firing of a manager would shift the scrutiny to the executive who makes that call, scrutiny the executive almost certainly would prefer to avoid.įour teams made in-season changes last season, all between June 3 and August 17: The front-office emphasis on collaboration with field staffs, however, makes it more difficult for teams to place blame solely on managers.
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