After a month of baseball, the hopes and dreams of many ball clubs have been dashed by poor play. While it is possible to rebound from one bad month, when it comes at the beginning of the season the stress is always magnified.
George Steinbrenner has already been forced to publicly voice his support of manager Joe Torre and the Yankees struggled in the first month to an unimpressive 9 – 14 record. In Philadelphia, a team that was expected to contend for a division title in the National League East finished April only in front of the Nationals with an 11 – 14 record.
Here are Managers and General Managers of four teams, including Philadelphia and New York, who are feeling the heat early in the season.
Joe Torre, Manager, New York Yankees: Any New York manager who struggles early in the season is going to be under a lot of pressure. Torre has guided the Yankees to a division title 10 times in the past 11 seasons, but his last AL Pennant was in 2003 and his last World Series title was in 2000. Steinbrenner’s club typically has a payroll well north of $100 million and it is not enough to just win division titles. Without significant improvement in his team’s record, Torre could be on his way out at the end of the season.
Bill Bavasi, General Manager Seattle Mariners and Mike Hargrove, Manager, Seattle Mariners: Hargrove has the 40th most wins of any manager in baseball history, but in his two seasons in Seattle, he has won just 69 and 78 games respectively. The team has given lavish contracts to players such as third baseman Adrian Beltre and first baseman Richie Sexson. This off season, Bavasi took a gamble retooling the starting rotation veteran pitchers. A month in, the results have been mixed as the team has gone .500. If the Mariners fail to improve on their 78 win season of a year ago, both the Bavasi and Hargrove could be looking for work.
Jim Hendry, General Manager, Chicago Cubs: After spending almost $300 million dollars, and bringing in Lou Piniella to manage the team, the Cubs have to be competitive this season for Hendry to keep his job. The team has slipped from first to third to fourth to last place in the National League Central as Hendry has run the baseball operations. Another season in the bottom half of the division could force him out. The team is currently in the cellar once again, tied for last with a record of 10 – 14.
Charlie Manuel, Manager, Philadelphia Phillies: The Phillies were expected to be the best team in the National League East, and possibly the entire the National League, according to a number of preseason prognostications. The entire team, from superstar slugger Ryan Howard to closer Tom Gordon, struggled early in April. No one appeared prepared to play. Philadelphia finished the month with seven wins in their last ten games, but in a city starved for a championship, pressure is mounting. Manuel probably needs to make the playoffs to save his job.
