First MLB manager fired odds: Reds' David Bell, Phillies' Joe Girardi clear betting favorites

Back in March, sportsbooks put out odds on the first MLB manager to be fired this season, and the Yankees' Aaron Boone, Angels' Joe Maddon and Phillies' Joe Girardi were the three betting favorites. Boone and Maddon are in no danger of losing their jobs with their teams off to great starts. Girardi's seat is very warm, but the favorite to be fired first via SportsLine oddsmakers is Cincinnati's David Bell.

Frankly, it's amazing that Bell hasn't been canned yet as the Reds are an embarrassment at 3-22, a winning percentage of .120. The worst winning percentage in MLB history belongs to the 1899 Cleveland Spiders, who finished 20-134 for a .130 mark. The modern-day MLB record for losses is 120 by the 1969 Mets. Cincinnati is on pace for about 142 losses.

The Mets scored seven runs in the ninth inning Thursday to rally past the Phillies; the Reds haven't scored seven runs in a game all season. It's a bad year to tank because the new draft lottery rules are in effect. Presuming Cincinnati finishes with the league's worst record, it would have only a 16.5 percent chance at the No. 1 overall pick in 2023.

Probably the only thing saving Bell for now is that ownership is so cheap – as we saw with the sell-off of several top players in the offseason – that it doesn't want to pay Bell not to work. Near the end of the 2021 season, back when the Reds were actually a decent team, the Cincinnati native got a two-year extension through 2023. He has tried to be a beacon of hope in a disastrous start.

"I'm impressed with every single guy in this clubhouse and the way they're handling it," he said this week. "It's not easy. It's a huge challenge that we have in front of us. They're handling it better than I would [as a player]. It's impressive to me."

Cincinnati's starting pitchers have an unbelievable ERA of 8.91, easily the highest through a team's first 25 games of a season since the NL started tracking earned runs in 1912. The team actually is only a short home dog today vs. Pittsburgh. 

While the Reds are essentially tanking this season, that was not the plan in Philadelphia as the Phillies have the fourth-highest payroll in baseball after adding Kyle Schwarber and Nick Castellanos this offseason yet are just 11-15 as of Friday.

Bullpen management has been a constant criticism of Girardi with the team – and that was on full display in Thursday's shocking 7-1 blown lead in the ninth inning and 8-7 home loss to the Mets. Girardi's contract expires at the end of the season, although there is a club option for 2023.

The Phillies have gone 10 seasons without reaching the playoffs, the longest drought in the National League. Philadelphia fans are tired of it, and Girardi may be the fall guy.

Via SportsLine oddsmakers: Who will be the first MLB manager fired?

• David Bell +200
• Joe Girardi +300
• Dave Martinez +700
• Brandon Hyde +800
• Mike Matheny +900
• Chris Woodward +1000
• Scott Servais +1500
• Terry Francona +1800

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