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Odds To Be The 1st MLB Manager Fired In 2016: Who Is On The Hotseat?
Hunter Stokes (MLB Reports Part Owner – Chief Writer) Follow @stokes_hunter21
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Every year there are certain managers that have a ton of pressure to win. This is always a tough process to think of who will be nixed first.
On one hand, many clubs that should be in contention for the playoffs will see an axe come to their tenure, however sometimes clubs are so bad record wise (even though they were projected to be) that the franchise will just slay the field general in the name of mercy.
As far as under the gun goes. guys like Brad Ausmus, John Farrell and John Gibbons. are tops on the list.
Ausmus doesn’t have a track record of any postseason series wins like the latter two here, so he is going to be the #1 favorite out of this group of skippers that could go fast with playoff aspirations if their team struggles out of the starting block.
Gibbons did a great job with Toronto in 2015, but a slow start would really put his name on the block. Say if they are 6 or 7 games behind the playoff bar near Memorial Day.
Farrell has put up back to back 5th place finishes in the AL East after winning the World Series Title in his 1st year of being the skipper in 2013.
Then there is a perennial bad losing club that have long tenured coaches like Walt Weiss and Robin Ventura. I am not sure they should not have been shown the door following last years campaigns.
Weiss has losing years for every year under his belt, and Ventura rode out 2013 with his late season collapse, but his club has underachieved in every other year.
Still the two most managers on the hot seat are Fredi Gonzalez of the Braves on top of the favorite list at +331, followed by Bryan Price at +441. But I hate putting money on either of these gentlemen with their clubs both being on track to challenge for the worst record in the Majors this year.
Heck, Gonzalez’s predecessor Bobby Cox was the well into his 3rd decade with the “Tomahawk” Choppers when he finally stepped down to a front office job. Gonzalez at least had the Braves in the playoffs in 2012.
Price can’t really be expected to do anything with this anemic Pitching Staff, and all veterans except for Votto may be available for trade at any point.
How John Hart Is Quickly Fixing The Braves

The Braves acting GM John Hart has traded the entire OF, shed payroll, and tried to stockpile the Minor Leagues with a boatload of prospects – that should coincide with the opening for the new ballpark in 2017. The transformation has been swift and just.
By Jordan Gluck (MLB Reports Writer/Part-Owner): Follow @jgluck777
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
How John Hart is quickly fixing the Braves
When you think of the Atlanta Braves you think of three things:
Their dominant pitching once composed of Hall of Fame trio Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, and John Smoltz.
Their former brash manager Bobby Cox.
The face of this franchise since Hank Aaron Chipper Jones.
They were perennially the best team in the NL for about 15 years and they are looking to get back to that especially once their new stadium opens in Cobb County in 2017. Read the rest of this entry
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – February 4, 2015
My first podcast from the state of Georgia as I record from Alpharetta.
Talking about the legacy of the Braves and the lessons learned by Ted Turner and George Steinbrenner on being hands off and hands on owners.
Plus I talk about a trip to Turner Field in 1998 that was one of the best regular season games I ever saw.
It is a whistling Dixie episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
B.J. Upton And Dan Uggla Were The Biggest Reasons Why Wren Was Shown The Door!

The Brothers Upton both were acquired in the 2012 offseason by the Atlanta Braves. This was a risk for the organization, and while Justin has played extremely well in condensed pockets, B.J.Upton, now 30, is quickly establishing himself as one of the worst Free Agent contracts ever signed in Major League Baseball. with a .197/.276/.310 – Braves 3 Slash Line – with 20 HRs and 60 RBI in 902 AB during his 1st 2 years as a Brave is simply abysmal. The club’s brass should send him to the Winter Leagues this off-year, to correct his problems. Justin Upton, 27, has fared much better in his 2 seasons, with an OPS of .822, 54 HRs and 162 RBI for his 1108 AB. The worst part about this is that the younger brother only has 1 more year left on his deal in 2015, making $14.5 MIL, while B.J. has 3 more years left on his deal, paying him a sum of over $46 MIL for the duration.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer): Follow @stokes_hunter21
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
I started writing for this website about a year ago. One of my first articles I put forth was one centered around the albatross contracts that were B.J. Upton and Dan Uggla.
True to prior blogs written here at the MLB Reports, the older Upton’s Free Agent contract of 5 YRs/$75 MIL will go down as one of the worst deals ever consummated on the open market.
You add the $15 AAV (Average Annual Value) to Uggla’s $11 MIL, and you are forking out over $26 MIL a year – for what are horrific numbers.
The genesis of my theory was simply the team would not recover financially, or be able to cover up any mistakes/injuries that may come to the club.
Atlanta has been one of the best franchises in the MLB for the last 24 years. Even after the organization claimed 14 straight NL East titles, they only took about 5 years to reload the troops for another wave of success.
Since the end of the 2012 year though, the franchise has seen Chipper Jones retire, longtime Catcher Brian McCann move on to New York, and former Brave great Tim Hudson move out to the San Francisco Giants. Read the rest of this entry
Which Manager’s Seat Is The Hottest In The MLB – 2014?
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer): Follow @stokes_hunter21
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
There are many expectations in 2014 for a lot of the MLB clubs.
Realistically, only the Houston Astros and the Minnesota Twins could be ousted from playoff contention before we even play in the American League.
The National League has several more teams with improbable chances to post a postseason berth in 2014.
The Mets, Marlins, Twins, Cubs and Padres are the longest shots on the board to nail down play in October as well.
Out of those teams, Chicago just hired Rich Renteria, and the other 5 teams would likely let the year play itself out before thinking of a skipper’s switch.
With those teams listed, I highly doubt the current bench bosses will remain in position by the time the clubs become good. Read the rest of this entry
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – December 9, 2013
After a long day (including a disgusting flight) it was time to talk baseball.
Tony LaRussa, Bobby Cox and Joe Torre are all Hall of Famers now. I have no problem with any of them in, even if I didn’t root for their teams.
That and more on today’s episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
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Red Sox Great Dwight Evans Falls Short Of 2013 Expansion Era Ballot For Hall Of Fame
By Patrick Languzzi (Cooperstown Correspondent) Follow @patricklanguzzi
Follow The MLB Reports On Twiter Follow @mlbreports
On November 4th the National Baseball Hall of Fame released the names of 12 candidates selected to the Expansion Era ballot of the Veterans Committee.
The Expansion Era is composed of players, executives and managers who made their greatest career contributions between 1973 – present.
Of the 12 selected, any candidate receiving 12 of 16 votes, (seventy-five percent) will gain election into The National Baseball Hall of Fame with a ceremonial induction scheduled for July of 2014.
Dwight Evans Cannon For An Arm
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – June 22, 2013
Today’s episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast is a celebration of June 22nds of the past!
The legacies of Tom Seaver, Grover Cleveland Alexander and Bobby Cox and the existence of the Minnesota Twins all had significant mile stones on this date over the years.
Paul Goldschmidt, Shane Victorino, and Stephen Strasburg all owned baseball on June 19, 2013.
To see the up to date tally of “Who Owns Baseball?,” click HERE.
Subscribe on iTunes HERE.
BBWAA Historical Overview Committee To Devise 2014 Expansion Era Ballot
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Follow @mlbreportsTuesday, February 19, 2013
By Patrick Languzzi (Cooperstown Correspondent): Follow @patricklanguzzi
From January 29th – 31st, the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA) Historical Overview Committee met in Cooperstown to screen potential candidates for the 2014 Expansion Era ballot (Veterans Committee). The 12-member ballot will be released in the fall and is scheduled to be voted on at the baseball winter meetings in December by a 16-member electorate.
The Expansion Era is comprised of players, executives and managers who made their greatest career contributions between 1973 – present. Eligible players must be retired for at least 21 years and have played at least 10 major league seasons. Managers and Umpires are eligible five years after retirement, with 10 years of service, or six months from the date of election after retirement, if they are 65 years or older.
All candidates receiving at least 12 of 16 votes (75 percent of the 16 ballots) will gain election into the National Baseball Hall of Fame for a July 2014 ceremonial induction.
Under the new rules, the Veterans Committee ballots run on a three-year rotation beginning in 2010 with the Expansion Era (1973 – present), Golden Era (1947 – 1972) and Pre-Integration Era (1871 – 1946).
Here’s a look at the selected nominees from 2010. Long retired players; Dave Concepcion, Steve Garvey, Vida Blue, Ron Guidry, Tommy John, Al Oliver, Rusty Staub and Ted Simmons. Manager Billy Martin and executives George Steinbrenner, Pat Gillick and Marvin Miller.
Pat Gillick HOF Induction Speech:
#29 Smoltz Jersey to be Retired: A Tribute to a Future Hall of Famer
Ryan Ritchey: On June 8th, 2012, John Smoltz’s number 29 jersey will be retired as an Atlanta Brave. This will be the 4th in 4 seasons for the Braves. Reality is that Smoltz was one of the most underrated pitchers ever to pitch in the majors. He is not a 300 game winner (a number that every starting pitcher shoots for), but he was one of the most consistent pitchers to ever toe the rubber. Winning 213 games throughout his 21 year career, he had to be consistent. Also as a reliever he also saved 155 games in 4 seasons. Impressive stats to say the least.
As a rookie at the age of 21, he had a rough start to his career going 2-7 with a 5.48 ERA. As a pitcher, he learned from his mistakes and became an all-star in only his second season in the bigs. He went 12-11 on the year, but had 5 complete games with a 2.94 ERA. Read the rest of this entry
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