6 MLB Managers Who Will Be on Hot Seat in 2012

Each year in Major League Baseball, expectations are high for all 30 teams as they embark on a new season. With those expectations comes the realization that if they aren’t met, then heads will inevitably roll. And it generally starts with the manager.

The manager is always the fall guy, whether it’s his fault or not. A general manager certainly can’t fire 25 players if they’re not performing up to expectations, so the manager is always the first to go.

In some cases, changes can produce immediate results. Jim Tracy took over for Clint Hurdle in May 2009  with the Rockies 10 games under .500 and led them to the postseason. In 2003, Jack McKeon replaced Jeff Torborg with the Marlins six games under .500 and promptly led them to a World Series championship. So changing managers mid-stream certainly can be effective.

However, history shows that it’s a rare occurrence. Since 1987, only six managers have led their team to a playoff berth after taking over at some point during the season. Can a change of skippers be a motivating factor for teams who are underperforming? Sure, but in many cases, the talent just isn’t there to begin with.

For the 2012 season, several managers will be on the hot seat for varying reasons. Some will be expected to show improvement over the prior year after bringing in upgrades, some will simply need to prove they have what it takes to instill a mindset of winning. Whatever the case, these managers in particular will be scrutinized and evaluated closely.

Doug Mead is a featured columnist with Bleacher Report. His work has been featured on the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, SF Gate, CBS Sports, the Los Angeles Times and the Houston Chronicle. Follow Doug on Twitter, @Sports_A_Holic.

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