A heat wave has been scorching the United States over the last week and a half, but some managers in the majors are feeling more heat than they did back in April. Lindsay Foltin of Fox Sports pitched nine MLB managers that were on the Hot Seat going into the 2017 season. Let's see how hot they are feeling right now.
Clint Hurdle, Pittsburgh Pirates
Hurdle is in the final year of his contract, and the Pirates have a 30-35 overall record despite being just 3.5 games out of first place in the division. The Pirates have had trade rumors surrounding former MVP Andrew McCutchen, and just can't seem to ever get over the hump.
The Pirates have an opportunity at hand. The team has won four games in a row, and their next three opponents are in the division, with the Chicago Cubs, Milwaukee Brewers, and St. Louis Cardinals coming up. The next month will determine if the Pirates are buyers or sellers at the trade deadline.
Bryan Price, Cincinatti Reds
Price has been at the helm since 2013, but the Reds have made no noise during his tenure. The Reds are 29-35, and are in last place in the division.
Price has young talent on the roster, but the Reds need to decide if they are going to be good enough in time for Joey Votto to be around. Votto is 33 years old, and could be part of a potential package this trade deadline. The Reds are looking like a last place team again, and it is unlikely to see management pick up his 2018 club option.
Mike Scioscia, Los Angeles Angels
The Angels are 34-34 and are tied with the Texas Rangers, 1.5 games back of the second wild card spot. The team will have to be buyers at the trade deadline for Scioscia to keep his job. Ricky Nolasco as your number one starter is not going to cut it. Who knows how they are going to do it, though?
The Angels don't have a single prospect in MLB.com's Top 100 Prospects.
With the Angels' lack of farm system, they are going to have to rely on their team. Their team has been average, and will have to play better if Scioscia wants to be back for a 19th season. Remember, general manager Billy Eppler has no ties to Scioscia.
Paul Molitor, Minnesota Twins
After a 103-loss season, nobody expected the Twins to lead their division with a 33-28 record. They also just used the number one draft pick on Royce Lewis. The team also has the No. 42 rated prospect in Nick Gordon, who is a shortstop, and could look to use him in a deal.
The Twins are going to need another starter. They can't ride Ervin Santana's 2.20 earned run average all season. All other starters have an ERA over 4.00. Their team is young with not a lot of post-season experience. Regardless, Molitor was expected to bring success in year three of his regime, and even if they lost the division lead, this has been quite an improvement.
Joe Girardi, New York Yankees
The Yankees have only three players in their everyday lineup that are making less than 10-million dollars, and they are 38-24 with a first place lead in their division. CC Sabathia's 25 million dollars comes off the books this season. Plus, the Yankees are young in the field, and have the number two ranked prospect in all of baseball in Gleyber Torres. Girardi probably has the winter feel in June right now.
Terry Collins, New York Mets
The Noah Syndergaard and Jeurys Familia injuries were low blows, but the Mets still have a strong rotation of Jacob deGrom, Matt Harvey, and Steven Matz. They also have capable hitters in the field, but sport a 29-35 record.
The Mets are 11-wins lower than the second best wild card team, the Arizona Diamondbacks, at this point.
The Mets would have to string together a lot of victories to close the season after the hole they have dug. The odds are that they will not catch the Washington Nationals in the division, whom they trail by 9.5 games. The Mets may not find anyone better than Collins, who took them to the 2015 World Series, but management tends to overlook that when the team doesn't make the playoffs in back-to-back years.
Dusty Baker, Washington Nationals
The Nationals are 39-25 and are looking to send three starters to start in the All-Star game. Everything is clicking right now. However, the regular season will not define whether Baker is removed or not. It will be the post-season that defines him, and Baker will need to make the next round.
Baker's contract ends this season, and fans are tired of first round exits.
Brad Ausmus, Detroit Tigers
Ausmus does not have a bright future as of today. The Tigers are 30-33 and are four games back in the division. The team has spent a lot of money to bring in Justin Upton and Jordan Zimmerman. They have aging players in Ian Kinsler, Victor Martinez, and Justin Verlander. The team has missed the playoffs for two straight years, and could add a third. Ausmus does not have security after this season. Fans have been calling for him to be fired since 2015. If the Tigers do not make the playoffs, expect a new manager.
John Farrell, Boston Red Sox
Farrell has a club that features Cy Young winners in Rick Porcello and David Price, and a future Cy Young winner in Chris Sale.
The team has a 36-28 record, three games back of the Yankees for the division lead, but hold the first wild card spot if the playoffs began today. The Red Sox have some of the best young players in Mookie Betts, Jackie Bradley Jr., Andrew Benintendi, and Xander Bogaerts.
The Red Sox made the playoffs last season, but were swept by the Cleveland Indians. With three stud pitchers and this corps, a World Series run is expected. The Red Sox will be buyers at the trade deadline to bolster this already powerful team. A first round exit could land Farrell with Baker.
