How hot is Torey Lovullo’s seat as the manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks?
It’s getting warmer, according to several MLB writers.
The Diamondbacks are currently 54-63 on the season, four games ahead of the Colorado Rockies for last place in the NL West.
Arizona is 27.5 games behind the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers in the division.
USA TODAY Sports’ Bob Nightengale recently included Lovullo on a list of MLB managers “who might be the next to go.”
Of the Diamondbacks manager, he wrote: “The front office recommended to ownership two months ago that Lovullo be given an extension, but ownership decided to wait. The D-backs have since struggled, and Lovullo is without a contract in 2023.”
Out of playoff contention, Lovullo’s future will be a key story line for the Diamondbacks over the rest of the season.
Will Arizona, which does have some young talent, keep him as manager?
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The Arizona Republic’s Nick Piecoro wrote this about Lovullo’s future with the team last month.
“For a second year in a row, the Diamondbacks enter the second half with manager Torey Lovullo’s contractual situation up in the air. Because Lovullo survived last season, it is hard to anticipate how things will play out this time around; not many managers are given another year after presiding over a 110-loss campaign. If the organization is satisfied with the progress of its young players, perhaps it sticks with Lovullo. But with as many games as the Diamondbacks have lost lately — they lead the majors with 197 losses since the start of 2020 — it wouldn’t be a surprise were they to go in a different direction. Lovullo was given a one-year extension in September with a team option for 2023.”
Lovullo has been included on some recent “MLB managers on the hot seat” lists.
Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller wrote: “These past two-plus seasons have been rough, though, leaving Lovullo and Seattle’s Scott Servais as the only managers who have both been in their current positions since at least 2018 and missed each of the past four postseasons. And up until storming into the All-Star break with a 22-3 record in his last 25 games, Servais was neck and neck with Tony LaRussa for the ignominious title of ‘Hottest Seat in Baseball.’ Barring a similar 22-3 type of stretch at some point in the next two months, it’s unlikely Lovullo will be back with the Diamondbacks in 2023. It’s just a question of whether that decision will be made before the end of the regular season.”
Sports Teller wrote: “Manager for Arizona Since 2017. Has Not Made the Postseason Since 2017. Came in Last Place in the NL West in 2021. Lost 100 or More Games in 2021
How secure is Torey Lovullo’s job with the Diamondbacks?
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Reach Jeremy Cluff at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.
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