Fansided

Five MLB managers on the hot seat in 2016

By John Buhler

Aug 11, 2015; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez (33) looks on while calling the bullpen in the dugout at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 11, 2015; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez (33) looks on while calling the bullpen in the dugout at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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September 11, 2015; Anaheim, CA, USA; Los Angels Angels manager Mike Scioscia (14) watches game action during the first inning against the Houston Astros at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
September 11, 2015; Anaheim, CA, USA; Los Angeles Angels manager Mike Scioscia (14) watches game action during the first inning against the Houston Astros at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Mike Scioscia, Los Angeles Angels

Mike Scioscia has been the manager of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim since 2000, making him the longest active manager in MLB. Scioscia has been a World Series champion thrice in his big league career, twice with the Los Angeles Dodgers as a backup catcher in the 1980s (1981, 1988) and once as the skipper for the 2002 Anaheim Angels, the franchise’s only World Series to date.

While Scioscia is a two-time AL Manager of the Year (2002, 2009) and is the franchise’s all-time wins (1,416) and games managed (2,592), his Angels have largely fallen short of expectations as a contending team in the AL West since the 2002 World Series Championship.

Though the Angels have won the AL West six times since winning the World Series in 2002, Scioscia’s Angels have yet to get back to the World Series since defeating the San Francisco Giants in that Fall Classic, despite having one of the deepest payrolls in baseball.

Missing out on the AL Postseason last season after being the sure-fire favorite to win the AL West in 2015 was a major letdown. Even more depressing is that Los Angeles finished third behind the Texas Rangers and the Houston Astros, as both Texas clubs made the AL Postseason and played in the American League Division Series.

Los Angeles does not have a bountiful crop of talent coming up from the minors anytime soon and essentially the Angels aren’t getting any younger, having been in win-now mode for the last several seasons.

The Angels can certainly put together another championship-caliber team centered around 2014 AL MVP Mike Trout, but will Scioscia be the man to lead the Angels on a late October pennant push? Scioscia has three more years remaining on his 10-year deal he signed with Los Angeles back in 2008. He had the ability to opt out his contract this offseason, but elected not to. Would ownership be willing to eat the final three years of his deal should Scioscia’s Angels fail to make the postseason again in 2016?

Next: 4. Robin Ventura

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