As ESPN MLB writer Tim Kurkjian put it, “Managing in the Major Leagues is a really hard job.”
And to tell you the truth, he is absolutely correct.
Case in point: A.J. Hinch, who along with GM Josh Byrnes were relieved of their duties as Manager and GM of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The D-Backs, once the darlings of 2001, have the second-worst winning percentage in the National League, trailing the Pittsburgh Pirates (whose skipper John Russell is in the managerial hot seat as well).
And so we enter the first of July and already four managers (Trey Hillman, Dave Trembley, Fredi Gonzalez, and now Hinch) are out of a job.
It’s used to be that the MLB manager has a cushy job security compared to NBA and NHL coaches since the team can fire either a pitching coach or hitting coach (compared to the NBA and NHL who have assistant coaches).
But this year could be like 2002 when seven teams made midseason managerial changes—we may very well have as many as ten skippers out of a job before the 2010 season is over.
Here are the job security status for the remaining managers, not counting Bobby Cox and Cito Gaston who will retire after this season:
Joe Girardi, NYY—safe
Terry Francona, BOS—safe
Joe Maddon—iffy
Ron Gardenshire, MIN—safe
Jim Leyland, DET—iffy
Ozzie Guillen, CWS—iffy
Manny Acta, CLE—iffy
Ron Washington, TEX—safe
Mike Scioscia, LAA—safe
Bob Geren, OAK—iffy
Don Wakamatsu, SEA—out
Charlie Manuel, PHL—safe
Jerry Manuel, NYM—iffy
Jim Riggleman, WSH—iffy
Dusty Baker, CIN—iffy
Tony LaRussa, STL—iffy
Ken Macha, MIL—out
Brad Mills, HOU—iffy
John Russell, PIT—out
Bud Black, SD—safe
Bruce Bochy, SF—iffy
Joe Torre, LAD—iffy
Jim Tracy, COL—iffy
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