Seattle's McClendon positioned to win AL Manager of Year honors
Several lists of major-league managers on the hot seat are already out, and it seems quite possible that the Mets' Terry Collins or the Phillies' Ryne Sandberg could be unemployed by Memorial Day.
We'll look the other way, so to speak, and focus on candidates for American League Manager of the Year:
Lloyd McClendon, Seattle Mariners
He was ejected from Tuesday's Cactus League game against Cleveland after Indians starter Bruce Chen twice threw pitches that nearly hit Seattle second baseman Rickie Weeks .
The fire has always been there, even when McClendon was managing bad Pirates teams in Pittsburgh from 2001-05.
It was there again last season when he guided Seattle to its best record (87-75) in seven years, and the Mariners are expected to be even better in McClendon's second season in the dugout.
He was a solid major-league hitter and after being let go as manager by the Pirates after the 2005 season, McClendon coached with the Tigers under manager Jim Leyland for eight years.
This season's Mariners stack up as the best team McClendon has had, so look for an AL Manager of the Year honor to be waiting at the end of the year.
Terry Francona, Cleveland Indians
He's managed three different teams over 14 seasons, including two World Series champions in Boston.
But through the first dozen years, Francona was always passed over in best manager voting.
That changed in 2013, when he won the coveted honor after guiding Cleveland to a 92-70 record and trip to the playoffs as a wild-card team.
The Indians don't have the big payroll or stacked rosters like Francona had with the Red Sox or Phillies, but he has gone 177-147 in his first two years with Cleveland.
If the Indians figure out a way to win a challenging AL Central this season, Francona could be manager of the year again.
Kevin Cash, Tampa Bay Rays
Only 37 years old, Cash is the youngest manager or coach in any of the four major professional sports.
He has never managed at any level, and Cash is replacing the legendary Joe Maddon in the Tampa Bay dugout this year.
The past two seasons, he was Terry Francona's bullpen coach in Cleveland, and Cash paid close attention to all aspects of the game.
Being a backup major-league catcher for eight seasons tells you Cash knows the game, and if the Rays rise in the AL East this year, manager of the year honors could follow.
Honorable mentions
Ned Yost was on the hot seat last season before the Royals caught fire and took the Giants to Game 7 of the World Series.
Yost's willingness to give up outs with the sacrifice bunt is infuriating to many, but he sticks to his style and has the full support of his players.
If Kansas City makes it back to the playoffs, Yost would be a deserving candidate for top manager.
Bob Melvin has done nothing but win in his first three full seasons in Oakland, guiding the A's to the playoffs every year.
Oakland general manager Billy Beane launched key players like Yoenis Cespedes, Josh Donaldson, Jeff Samardzija and Brandon Moss over the winter and the A's no longer look like contenders.
If Melvin can keep this team competitive, it might be his best managing job since he arrived in Oakland.