LAS VEGAS, NV (The Spread) – Who will be the first manager fired during the 2014 MLB regular season? Let’s take a look at the odds.
According to oddsmakers from online sports book BetDSI, John Gibbons is currently “favored” at 2/1 odds to be the first skipper fired in the 2014 MLB regular season. Kirk Gibson of the Diamondbacks has the next-best odds at 5/2 while Royals’ manager Ned Yost and Mets’ skipper Terry Collins are both 5/1. Bo Porter of the Astros is 7/1, while Mike Scioscia of the Angels has the longest odds at 12/1 to be the first manager fired this season.
The Blue Jays were supposed to compete for the World Series a year ago when they acquired Jose Reyes, Mark Buehrle, R.A. Dickey and Melky Cabrera that winter. But Toronto limped to a 74-88 record and a last-place finish in an AL East Division that saw the Red Sox eventually win the World Series. If the talent doesn’t come together again this year, Gibbons is certainly susceptible to being canned.
It’s a little surprising to see Gibson’s odds as high as they are after he won NL Manager of the Year in 2011. Then again, Arizona finished with identical .500 records in back-to-back years in 2012 and 2013, so maybe oddsmakers are right in think that the Diamondbacks’ management will seek other options for this talented team. Still, one would think it’s a long shot for Gibbons to be fired.
As for the rest of the least, Yost could be let go if the Royals once again underachieve despite their young talent, while Collins and Porter are running to teams devoid of talent (especially Porter). Scioscia, who owns a World Series ring, is unlikely to be fired, even if the Angels once again underachieve with their high-priced talent.
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