One golden rule about life applies to Major League Baseball managers. The late President of the United States, John F Kennedy, said it best; “Life is not fair.” Or, to put it another way, a baseball adage reminds us that “Managers are hired to be fired.” And in 2022, we will have the combination of managers of teams considered to be good not getting those clubs into full gear and managers of rebuilding teams with no chance at all. It is that second group that should garner the most sympathy. There are countless examples of rebuilding teams with no chance to win firing the manager hired to teach young prospects how to play in baseball history. Subsequently, the new guy usually inherits a ready-made contender. Today we’ll look at the Major League managers that could be facing the firing squad in 2022.
On Thursday, April 7, 2022, the Major League Baseball season will begin with the final day of the regular season on Sunday, October 2, 2022.
Odds Analysis
Handicapping the first manager to be fired is the opposite of picking who will win manager of the year. The easy way to pick is to assess a manager that has been with a good club for multiple seasons no longer getting maximum production out of his players. Aaron Boone of the New York Yankees immediately comes to mind. And then there are managers of teams in a full rebuild that have lost their “new car smell.” David Black of the Chicago Cubs comes to mind.
From there, the relationship of the manager with his general manager and the owner must be taken into account. The late great New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner was known for having no patience in his early years, regardless of a manager’s ability or record. The Boss changed managers like sox. The late Charlie Finely was in that same class with the Oakland A’s. The other extreme was the late Walter O’Malley of the Los Angeles Dodgers. O’Malley kept Walter Alston and his replacement Tommy Lasorda until their retirements.
Another factor to consider is the team general manager and his status. A secure GM may ride out bad times with a good manager. But a GM who is on the hot seat may fire his manager to buy himself time.
2022 MLB Manager First to be Fired
Aaron Boone – New York Yankees
Previous Yankees manager Joe Girardi was not fired for being a loser. Instead, he was shown the door for not winning more World Series titles. Aaron Boone was hired in 2018 to bust the Yankees through. In like manner to Girardi, Boone produces playoff seasons but no titles. Last year the Yankees went through some bad periods of passive play. This year that may not be tolerated anymore. If The Boss were still alive, Boone would have been long gone. Of great concern to Boone is that his roster may be overrated.
Joe Girardi – Philadelphia Phillies
Joe Girardi was one of the winningest managers in New York Yankees history. Since taking over the Phillies in 2020, he has not moved the needle. Girardi has a win percentage of .495 at Philadelphia compared to .562 with the Yankees. It is true that Philadelphia has too high of an opinion of itself. It is also true that if managers don’t meet unrealistic expectations, they are fired.
Bud Black – Colorado Rockies
Bud Black is the victim of managing a Colorado Rockies franchise that is no longer trying to win. Black now has a stripped-down roster. He has also been the manager of the Rockies since 2017. That is a lethal combination.
Chris Woodward – Texas Rangers
Unlike Colorado, the Rangers try to win and invest in free agents. But Chris Woodward enters his fourth season with a win percentage of .417. He is managing a team at a new ballpark that can’t afford to lose fans because they aren’t contending. Woodward is definitely under the gun. Texas has the task of trying to remain relevant in a Cowboys town. Thus, it is win or else for Woodward.
BookMaker Pick: Chris Woodward – Texas Rangers
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