Chip Hale on the hot seat with Arizona Diamondbacks

In the midst of a highly disappointing season, Arizona Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale is firmly on the hot seat.

The Arizona Diamondbacks lost their third straight game Friday night, their eighth loss in their last 10 games, to drop their record to 40-56. Sitting in last place in the National League West has put manager Chip Hale on the hot seat, and Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports has reported a managerial change is being considered.

After a surprising 79-83 finish in 2015, the Diamondbacks effectively went all-in during the offseason. Zack Greinke was signed to a huge contract, and Shelby Miller was acquired from the Atlanta Braves for two prospects and outfielder Ender Inciarte, to bolster their starting rotation. But Greinke started slowly and is currently on the disabled list with an oblique issue, while Miller has posted a 7.14 ERA over 14 starts and is currently toiling in Triple-A.

Rosenthal mentions Triple-A Reno Aces manager Phil Nevin, the No.1 overall pick in 1992, as the immediate replacement for Hale. Nevin has built a resume as a minor league manager since retiring as a player, leading Arizona’s top minor league affiliate to the best record in the Pacific Coast League (81-63) in his first season (2014) as manager and the team is 54-45 right now this season (2.5 games out of first place in their division). Nevin interviewed for the then-open managerial position with the Houston Astros after that first season managing Reno, and he’s clearly a future major league manager.

Hale vented about his “overhyped” team during spring training, and the Diamondbacks’ shortcomings on the field and subsequent results to this point have proved him right. But failure to meet big expectations usually falls into a coach or manager’s lap first and barring something unforeseen Hale should not have his job too much longer.

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