As the MLB regular season starts to wind to a close, some teams face some difficult decision with the future of their managers. Here are six managers that might get the pink slip after the season:
Don Mattingly, Los Angeles Dodgers
Mattingly has posted a winning record in each of his four seasons in Los Angeles, and will do the same this year, but he hasn't been able to bring the Dodgers to the World Series. Pressure will always be high when you have a team payroll over $200 million, and with a new front office team, they may be inclined to find "their own guy" if the Dodgers don't make any noise in the postseason again.
Brad Ausmus, Detroit Tigers
Detroit has playoff expectations every year, and with their disappointing ALDS exit last year, Ausmus needed to make sure he can bring the Tigers back to the postseason. However, Detroit struggled has struggled mightily and wound up being sellers at the deadline. Somehow they're only five and a half games out of the wild card, and they'll probably have to make the playoffs for Ausmus to keep his job.
Lloyd McClendon, Seattle Mariners
The Mariners were the popular pick to win the AL West this year, but they've found themselves fighting to stay out the division basement. Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe reports that McClendon is very much in danger of losing his job, and this team will need to show major signs of life down the stretch for Seattle to even think about keeping him.
Robin Ventura, Chicago White Sox
Ventura is now in his fourth season as Chicago's manager, and it's the third straight year the White Sox find themselves at or near the bottom of the AL Central. After leading the club to a second place finish in the division in 2012, they've finished in fourth and fifth in 2013 and 2014, respectively, and are on pace to finish fourth again this year. Barring a hot stretch at the end of the season, Chicago will likely go in another direction this offseason.
Bryan Price, Cincinnati Reds
The Reds were expecting to compete for a playoff berth this year, but instead currently sit a stunning 26.5 games out of first place in the NL Central. Cincinnati did have a firesale at the deadline and Price only has one more year on this deal, so the Reds might decide to keep him around for one more year. However, it certainly would not be a shock if he's gone after the season.
Matt Williams, Washington Nationals
Washington has had World Series expectations for the past three seasons, and after falling short in the postseason in 2013 and 2014, they're in serious danger of missing the playoffs this year. That may be enough for Williams to lose his job, but CBS Sports' Jon Heyman reports there's a growing disconnect between Williams and the team:
"It's said to be an 'unhappy scene' around the Nats, as manager Matt Williams has not been well-received by many players, who find him 'not loose' and 'never relaxed,'" Heyman wrote.
Unless the Nationals can turn it on at the end of the year and make noise in the postseason, he will be gone.
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