Joe Girardi, Yankees
Girardi's first season with the Yankees ended with the team failing to reach the postseason for the first time since 1993. Another such stumble will not be tolerated, but an in-season dismissal is difficult to envision; at worst, the Yankees should be very good, even without Alex Rodriguez for at least the first month. Girardi, who showed a better touch with the media in spring training, will need to maintain his cool under intense scrutiny. His veterans will be the first to know if he is cracking.Hotseat status: Extremely hot.
Jerry Manuel, Mets
The Mets signed him through 2010 at the end of last season, but fired their last two managers, Willie Randolph and Art Howe, before their contracts expired. While Manuel is entering only his first full season with the club, he can not escape the team's recent past: The pressure on him will mount if the Mets fail to reach the postseason for the third straight year, particularly if they again collapse in September. Manuel is looser, more cerebral and better with the media than Randolph, but none of that will help him if the Mets do not win.
Hotseat status: Very hot.
Cecil Cooper, Astros
Never mind that the Astros staged an improbable wild-card run in Cooper's first full season; they were outscored by 31 runs, indicating that their 86-75 record was a myth. The Astros' veterans do not hold Cooper in high regard, the starting rotation beyond Roy Oswalt is suspect and owner Drayton McLane is notoriously impatient — the team has employed three managers and three general managers since the start of the 2004 season. Hint: McLane did not extend Cooper's contract.
Hotseat status: Extremely hot.
Jim Leyland, Tigers
The Tigers' refusal to offer Leyland a contract extension last off-season spoke volumes. Their aggressive roster management in spring training — releasing designated hitter Gary Sheffield, promoting right-handed phenom Rick Porcello — left the manager with few excuses. The Tigers face extreme pressure to win in the depressed Detroit market. If the team sputters and attendance plummets, look out.
Hotseat status: Very hot.
Clint Hurdle, Rockies
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No one will hold Trembley responsible if the O's are again terrible; the team is more likely to show improvement in 2010 when their top pitching prospects begin to reach the majors. Trembley, upbeat yet stern, appears well-suited for a rebuilding club. The larger question is whether he will remain the right choice once the Orioles are ready to contend. Andy MacPhail, the team's president of baseball operations, is a patient, loyal sort who recognizes the value of stability.
Hotseat status: Lukewarm.
Tony La Russa, Cardinals
La Russa is not on the hotseat in a traditional sense; his job is secure. However, his future in St. Louis beyond this season is hardly assured. La Russa does not enjoy the same relationship with upper management that he did when Walt Jocketty was G.M., and a disappointing season could intensify his frustration. A reunion with Jocketty and former Cardinals executive Bob Castellini in Cincinnati would not necessarily be a given. The Reds appear to be improving, and manager Dusty Baker is signed through 2010.
Hotseat status: Not applicable.
Ozzie Guillen, White Sox
Ozzie seemingly operates without term limits, his contract running through 2012, but no list of managers on the hotseat is complete without him. "Security" is a relative term for Ozzie, whose mouth is a blowtorch that keeps his hotseat forever warm. He will threaten to quit, insult his players, rankle general manager Ken Williams — and talk himself into another extension. Over-under date for his first controversy of 2009: April 28.
Hotseat status: The pilot light is always on.
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