5 MLB managers who are managing for their job in September
San Diego Padres manager Bob Melvin needs to have a strong September
If you think things are bad for the Mets, the San Diego Padres have been just as big of a disappointment, if not worse.
They have been chasing the National League West since Opening Day and they are buried in the Wild Card standings with just too many teams to climb over to steal a playoff spot. Like the Mets, there are many different ways you can go in pointing the finger in Southern California.
There is no shortage of talent on a team that went to the National League Championship Series last October and added shortstop Xander Bogaerts in free agency from the Boston Red Sox. Also added were Nelson Cruz and Matt Carpenter in hopes of adding some key DH at-bats, but Cruz was DFA’d in July and Carpenter is barely seeing any playing time.
Despite their spot in the standings, GM A.J. Preller was a buyer at the trade deadline and not a seller, keeping pitchers Blake Snell and Josh Hader instead of selling high on the free agents to be. September is going to be a long month for the Padres, one where Melvin needs his team to finish the season strong for him to return next season.
New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone needs to have a strong September
The 2023 season is going to go down for the New York Yankees as one where anything that could go wrong, did go wrong.
They have been hit with injuries, and they had an eight-game losing streak in August that sealed their postseason chances and they are likely going to finish in last place in the AL East. The only thing they have to look forward to in September is if Gerrit Cole can stay in the Cy Young conversation despite being on a last-place team.
When they signed Aaron Judge to a big contract last offseason, this was not what they planned on happening. Boone has made plenty of questionable decisions all season long and frustration was showing in his press conferences over the last month and a half.
Would the Yankees actually move on from Boone and GM Brian Cashman? Certainly, there are a lot of fans who think the move needs to happen. Usually when the Yankees have a season where they miss the playoffs, they go shopping in free agency, but it feels like this team needs a lot more than that going forward.
A new voice is needed in the dugout and unless Boone and the Yankees close out the season by playing spoiler for a lot of teams, his return in 2024 is certainly up in the air.
Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider needs to have a strong September
You might think that this is a bit of a reach, but if the Toronto Blue Jays miss out on a postseason berth this season, John Schneider’s job could be in jeopardy.
The Blue Jays have no shortage of talent on their roster and could be considered one of the underperforming teams this season. The Baltimore Orioles have taken control of the division and the Tampa Bay Rays have come back to earth after their torrid start, but Toronto currently finds themselves in a fight for the final Wild Card spot with the Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers, and Houston Astros. At least two of those three teams are getting into the playoffs you would think, but if all three get in, it means that the Blue Jays will be on the outside looking in.
Last season, they were swept at home on Wild Card weekend by the Seattle Mariners, which was a disappointing end to a season filled with a lot of hope. This season, Alek Manoah has struggled and finds himself in Triple-A, baserunning has been bad in spots and offensively, they are lacking power from their big bats when they need it.
Schneider had an embarrassing moment earlier this season when he went out to the mound against the Orioles to calm down Manoah and did not realize that there was already a trip in the inning. When he turned to go back to the dugout, he was informed by an umpire it was the second trip of the frame and he had to remove Manoah. In August, third baseman Matt Chapman was spotted on camera questioning why Toronto pitched to Shohei Ohtani who homered in his first at-bat with nobody on. Not Schneider’s best moments of the 2023 season.
If Toronto misses out on the playoffs, there is a chance that a change could be made as patience might wearing thin in Canada and he could find himself out.
Sep 21, 2022; Arlington, Texas, USA; Los Angeles Angels interim manager Phil Nevin (88) walks back to the dugout during the game between the Texas Rangers and the Los Angeles Angels at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Los Angeles Angels manager Phil Nevin needs to have a strong September
Leading into the trade deadline, there was a lot of speculation as to what the Los Angeles Angels were going to do with superstar Shohei Ohtani. Were they going to trade their free agent to be or be buyers?
They chose the latter and it’s looking more and more like a mistake. After keeping Ohtani and acquiring Lucas Giolito from the Chicago White Sox, and Randal Grichuck, and C.J. Cron from the Colorado Rockies, things slowly went downhill. Mike Trout was returning from an injury and things were looking up until disaster struck for Phil Nevin and his team. Tuesday, L.A. placed Giolito, Grichuk, Reynaldo Lopez, Matt Moore, and Hunter Renfroe on waivers and that’s not a good sign for Nevin.
Trout’s return didn’t last long and the Angels fell quickly out of Wild Card contention and now are playing out the string. What happens over the offseason with Ohtani will be fascinating, but you have to think that another season of no playoff baseball and a huge August collapse in one of the biggest last months of the franchise in a long time won’t sit well upstairs. Nevin is not to blame for everything, but he’s not clear of all the blame. Usually, that’s when the manager takes the fall.
There is a lot to watch for in September. Not only are the postseason races worth watching but so are these four teams who could be playing for their manager’s job. Not a position that you want to be in this time of year. Being a manager in the majors is not an easy job.
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