It's never a good sign when successor lists are being created for a manager that hasn't been fired yet.
The Dodgers' Game 5 loss to the Mets in the NLDS may have sealed the fate of Los Angeles manager Don Mattingly, who has yet to lead his team to the World Series despite the franchise having the baseball's highest payroll the last three years.
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After the 3-2 loss to New York, Mattingly indeed was asked about his future with the Dodgers.
"You're seriously asking me that now?" Mattingly replied, according to the New York Post.
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No need to answer, Donnie Baseball. In fact, SI.com took the liberty of naming five replacements for the manager next season.
At the top of the list is a candidate that would be a shocker if he replaced Mattingly in L.A.: Bruce Bochy
"Make no mistake; going after (the) current San Francisco Giants manager is swinging for the fences for the Dodgers in just about every way imaginable," SI.com wrote. "However, the thing about swinging for the fences is that, if you make contact and get a hit, you're more often than not going to hit a home run. That remains true in this instance with the Dodgers and Bochy."
But that is the dichotomy that has been the Los Angeles franchise.
The Dodgers have the highest payroll in baseball; yet they refused to make a move for a big-name pitcher at the trade deadline. They have the highest payroll; yet it's assumed that Zack Greinke will leave Los Angeles to sign a nine-figure contract with another team.
The Dodgers have the highest payroll, but among their starters for Game 5 were rookies Joc Pederson and Corey Seager, second-year player Enrique Hernandez and veteran Justin Turner who made $2.5 million while serving as the team MVP in the NLDS.
Meanwhile, big names Yasiel Puig, Carl Crawford, Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley were on the bench.
Mattingly used catcher A.J. Ellis as a pinch hitter in the ninth inning Thursday, rather than Puig. He inserted Utley as a pinch-hitter for Pederson, who hit 26 home runs on the year and the Dodgers needing one run. CBS Sports not only questioned those moves but also speculated about Mattingly's disappearing job security.
"We should soon learn the fate of Mattingly and what's next for both him and the Dodgers, but as of right now, it doesn't look too good from here for Donnie Baseball to be back in L.A.," CBS Sports speculated.
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