LEADING OFF: Manic Monday often spells trouble for managers

A look at what’s happening around the majors on Monday:

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JOB JEOPARDY

Every year, the day after the regular season can be dicey for managers whose teams didn’t do so well. Might not be any different this time as a few clubs start looking at their future.

Padres manager Jayce Tingler’s team was considered a World Series contender on opening day and seemed to be in good shape at 67-49 in mid-August. San Diego was still 10 games over .500 in early September, but lost 18 of its last 22 and finished 79-83.

Mets manager Luis Rojas, like Tingler, was in his second season and looked good for much of the year. New York led the NL East for three months, but dropped back in mid-August and wound up 77-85.

Often times, too, pitching coaches and hitting coaches find themselves looking for new spots after Manic Monday.

MEMORIES

More than a few people are bound to look toward the Green Monster and reminisce as the Yankees and Red Sox work out in preparation for their AL wild-card matchup Tuesday night.

That was the spot at Fenway Park where Bucky Dent’s flyball sailed over the wall for the deciding drive in the famed 1978 one-game AL East playoff between the longtime rivals.

This time, New York ace Gerrit Cole (16-8, 3.23 ERA) will start against ex-Yankee Nathan Eovaldi (11-9, 3.75).

CHECK HIM

The Dodgers will see how first baseman Max Muncy is feeling, a day after he exited the season finale with an injured left elbow.

Manager Dave Roberts says it’s “very unlikely” the slugger will play in the NL wild-card game Wednesday night against St. Louis at Dodger Stadium. Tests were “unclear,” Roberts said, while adding, “I just don’t want to count Max out.”

Muncy hit 36 home runs with 94 RBIs for the 106-win Dodgers this year. He was...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/LEADING-OFF-Manic-Monday-often-spells-trouble-16506756.php