Baseball Preview, part 2: Coaches on the Hot Seat

1. Eric Wedge - after blowing a 3-1 lead in the ALCS and with an improved Tigers team in their division, there should be a sense of urgency in Cleveland. Wedge's stubbornness in using the mediocre Joe Borowski at closer last year, and the way the team fell flat with high expectations in 2006, are signs he might not be up to the task.

2. Willie Randolph - this is pretty self-explanatory. The Mets' implosion last year was one for the ages. The Santana acquisition raised the stakes for a 2008 run. If they don't live up to expectations, someone will have to pay.

3. Bruce Bochy - an odd pick, because it's not as if the Giants have any expectations to live up to. But things could get so spectacularly ugly in San Francisco that Bochy could be a fall guy.

4. Charlie Manuel - yes, the Phillies finally broke through to the postseason last year, but let's not forget how combustible the situation was in Philadelphia before their unlikely run. It's not clear how much time the Phils' (short-lived) playoff appearance will buy Manuel if they're slow out of the gate.

5. Joe Girardi - Hank Steinbrenner seems at least as erratic as George was and Girardi, unlike Joe Torre, doesn't have four World Series titles to fall back on. Also, Girardi in his stint in Florida developed a repuation for overusing and damaging young arms - if he does this with Joba or Hughes, things could get ugly for him fast.