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Managers – Should they stay or should they go now – 2

And now for the (somewhat) exciting conclusion of a look at the good, the bad, and the ugly of Major League Baseball’s managers.

THESE MANAGERS ARE KEEPERS!

Category: Win or it’s the gangplank for you (AKA, What have you done for me lately?)

Terry Collins (NYM): The New York Mets were not expected to make the playoffs last year, let alone win the NL pennant and go on to the World Series. The Mets won the NL East and then went on to beat the Dodgers in a five-game division series. The next step to the pennant was a four-game sweep of the Chicago Cubs before their dream season ended with a four-game sweep at the hands of the KC Royals in the World Series.

Needless to say, expectations are now very high, especially since free agent slugger Yoenis Cespedes returned to the team, power-hitting second baseman Neil Walker was acquired from Pittsburgh, and the team signed infielder Asdrubal Cabrera. Then of course there is the kiddie-corp of incredibly talented pitchers – Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard, Steven Matz, and (possibly) Zack Wheeler.

Even though he was given a two-year contract extension last November, Collins could be ousted if the team struggles to start the season, as it did last year. The 2015 Mets split their first 82 games, but went on a tear (37-22) over the last two months of the regular season. Collins has been second-guessed by the media and fans throughout his tenure in New York, so the Mets need to get off to a fast start this season to quiet the Collins detractors.

John Gibbons (TOR): It came as a bit of a surprise when Toronto brought back their former manager (2004-2008) in 2013, despite just two seasons above .500 in the prior five seasons Gibbons was at the helm. After a fifth place finish in Gibbons’ first year back, the Blue Jays finished third in 2014 and won the AL East last year. They made it to the ALCS, before losing to the eventual-champion Kansas City Royals in six games.

The Blue Jays lost David Price to free agency, but they traded for reliever/closer Drew Storen from Washington and now have Troy Tulowitzki for a full season (health permitted, as always). Just like with Collins and the Mets, expectations are now very high for the Jays, and Gibbons needs to deliver.

With a new team president/CEO (Mark Shapiro) and a new GM (Ross Atkins), Gibbons’ status is more tenuous than had Alex Anthopoulos remained as GM.

Category: We’re not too old for this  $#!*

Buck Showalter (BAL) and Terry Francona (CLE) have a combined 30 years of managerial experience between them. Showalter has had the misfortune of being known as the guy who has built teams up, only to find himself fired just as that team was poised to win. The Yankees won the Series (1996) a year after Showalter was fired. The Diamondbacks won the Series (2001) a year after Buck was ousted. It took the Rangers a few more years to get to the Series (2010-2011), which they lost in back-to-back years, after Buck was let go by the Rangers in 2006. But William Nathaniel Showalter definitely played a role in building up the Rangers’ team. As he begins his seventh season in Baltimore, Showalter needs to have his team bounce back from last year’s dismal 81-81 showing, just a year after they had won the AL East title. With a contract that runs through 2018, Buck should be safe to help the Orioles turn things back around.

Francona went from being one of the least-respected managers in the game, when he was hired in 2004, to one of the most-respected skippers. That’s what happens when your team rallies back from a 3-0 deficit to the Yankees in the 2004 ALCS and then goes on to win their first World Series in 86 years. “Tito’s” reputation got even more of a boost when the Sox won the Series again three years later. The Red Sox mistakenly fired him after they felt he had lost control of the clubhouse in the 2011 season (and doesn’t help to have your pitchers eating chicken and swilling beer during the game), despite a 90-win season. A year later, the Indians won 92 games in Francona’s first year in Ohio, while the Red Sox floundered in last place under Bobby Valentine.

The Indians’ wins total dropped to 85 and 81 the following two seasons, but like Showalter, Francona’s contract runs through 2018.  He’s got good job security  unless there’s a more precipitous drop in wins, but with a group of good young talent, that is not likely to happen.

Category: Things are all right, deep in the heart of Texas

Texas hasn’t been this excited about baseball since Nolan Ryan pummeled Robin Ventura back in 1993The Houston Astros’ A.J. Hinch and the Texas Rangers’ Jeff Banister are sitting kind of “perty” right now, cowboy. Even John Wayne would have been impressed, pardner. In his first season as a manager, Banister “steered” the Rangers to 88 wins and an AL West title. He did it in spite of a rash of injuries, a shaky bullpen, and having to rely on a number of rookies and other less-experienced Major Leaguers.

Hinch has managed three years overall, but last year was his first in Houston. The team exceeded expectations with 86 wins and a second place finish in the AL West. They beat the Yankees in the Wild Card game before losing to Kansas City in the division series. With a collection of young stars such as Cy Young winner Dallas Keuchel and stud shortstop Carlos Correa, Hinch could take the team to greater heights this year.

They say everything’s bigger in Texas, and the contracts of these two managers may get bigger soon, too. (In fact, Hinch was given an undisclosed contract extension on March 9.)

Category: Rollercoaster of love, say what?

John Farrell (BOS): The one-time highly-praised pitching coach has had a topsy-turvy managerial existence for the past five years. Farrell left his coaching job in Boston to become manager of the Toronto Blue Jays in 2011. Toronto’s front office often butted heads with Farrell and he was gone after two seasons. Farrell was so highly coveted by his former team that the Red Sox had to made a trade (utility man Mike Aviles to Toronto, pitcher David Carpenter to Boston), to get him back.

Farrell led the Red Sox to their third World Series championship in a decade, when they beat the Cardinals in six games in 2013. The next two seasons weren’t nearly as successful – the team finished last in back-to-back seasons in 2014 and 2015. Making things worse, Farrell was diagnosed with cancer last August and sat out the rest of the 2015 season. Before this season even started, Farrell was rumored to be having an affair with Red Sox reporter Jessica Moran, a professional no-no. It was then revealed that Farrell and his wife were getting a divorce and Moran resigned from her position in disgrace.

Despite the understandable sympathy regarding his health issues, Farrell’s world could definitely be turned upside-down again without a big improvement in wins this year.

THESE GUYS ARE ON SHAKY GROUND

Category: Rent, don’t buy

Pete Mackanin has taken over as manager in mid-season or late-season at three different times in his career. He handled the last 26 games for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2005. He managed the final 80 games for the 2007 Cincinnati Reds and last year was the captain of the ship for the last 88 games for the Philadelphia Phillies. At 64 years of age, Mackanin is finally getting his shot at the big time. No matter what the team’s record is, the Phillies should let him manage all 162 games. The man deserves it. That being said, it doesn’t mean the Phillies’ front office will feel the same way.

Category: Running out of bullets

Dusty Baker (WAS): The former All-Star outfielder joins his fourth team in his 21st year as a Major League manager. Baker spent 10 years in San Francisco (one pennant), four years with the Cubs, and six seasons with the Reds. Remarkably, Baker has never lost a job during the season.

He’s not likely to lose a job mid-season now either, but after the dismal collapse the Washington Nationals suffered under manager Matt Williams last year, Baker needs to deliver a playoff team. Baker will be 67 in June, so this will likely be his last shot at managing.

Category: Sorry, we traded your best players again

Bob Melvin (OAK): Kermit the Frog said, “It’s not easy being green”, but it’s not easy being green, white, and yellow either. The Oakland A’s build solid tri-color teams through strong drafts and young pitching, but then dispatch their top players when they are set to rake in the big bucks. It could make the strongest manager break down in tears. Melvin is entering his sixth year as the team’s manager and is probably feeling a little glum.

The team averaged 92 wins from 2012-2014, but recorded just 68 victories last year. As usual, the A’s will depend on their rotation and bullpen, but there are already rumors that #1 starter Sonny Gray may be dealt. Someone had better get to Costco and get Melvin a big box of tissues.

Category: Three words no one wants to hear: We.Are.Rebuilding.

Fredi Gonzalez (ATL): When Bobby Cox retired as the Atlanta Braves’ manager after the 2010 season, Gonzalez was the obvious choice to replace him. He had spent five years coaching in the Braves’ organization and was Cox’s third base coach for four seasons. Under Gonzalez, the Braves won 89, 94, and 96 games from 2011-2013. With quick exits in the 2012 (one-game Wild Card playoff) and 2013 (four-game division series) playoffs, and an off-year in 2014 in which the club won just 79 games, ownership decided it was time to start over.

The teams’ free agents walked and the higher-priced non-free agents were dealt away before and during the 2015 season. It added up to just 67 wins for Atlanta. The team finished in fourth place for the first time since 2008, and it was only the second time the team finished below third place since 1990. Managing a team with few stars and a lot of question marks is not easy for anyone, and that is exactly the position Gonzalez is in. With the oddsmakers figuring the Braves will win around 65 games, Gonzalez could ultimately pay the price and be sent packing.

There you have it. The best and the brightest and the ones who already have one foot out the door, no matter how talented they are at what they do. Good luck to all 30 managers…they’re going to need it.