That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Guillotine for Managers is busy early this season

New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza could be on the hot seat unless the Mets start winning ball games as the Mets had a 12 game losing streak in April at one point (AP News photo)

The Guillotine for Managers is busy early this season.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

As April ended, it had already had two managerial casualties. Alex Cora was fired after managing the team for eight years and one World Series Title in 2018. He won 620 games during his tenure running the field for the Sox, one of their best managers in this legendary franchise, but their start of this season was pathetic, so he is gone, Adiós

Rob Thompson was also fired as manager of the Philadelphia Phillies, finishing with a 366-270 regular season record, the highest winning percentage for a Phillies manager since 1900. Thompson managed the Phillies from 2022 to 2026. He is gone, Adiós.

There are other managers in the hot seat as of May 1. The Mets’ Carlos Mendoza is trying to keep the ship afloat in Queens. This 2026 Mets are off to the third-worst start in franchise history, 10-21 through their first 21 games. Ranks only second behind the 1962 Mets of Casey Stengel.

The 2026 Mets are off to a 10-21 record through their first 31 games; this performance ranks only behind the notoriously poor starts of 1962 (9-22 or worse) and 1964 (9-22). As we begin May, this Mets team is already 11.5 games out of first place, totally unacceptable for a team with a payroll this year of $335 Million, the largest in the game.

Houston Astros Manager Joe Espada (Espada in Spanish means Sword), his Houston Astros lost their 31st pitcher to free agency, Framber Valdéz. They ended April with a 12-20 record in last place in a very close and competitive American League West behind the first-place Sacramento A’s; however, in last place just 4 games out of first. This month of May will be crucial for Espada’s Houston Astros.

I believe Mets manager Carlos Mendoza will get the next walking to the Guillotine, for obvious reasons. The Mets are a rich team in talent and payroll expected to win, and they are deep in a hole of 11.5 games in the cellar. Even though it is early, that record is below the Mendoza line.

On April 30, 2026, the Philadelphia Phillies became the first team in 22 years to win both games of a doubleheader via walk-off, sweeping the San Francisco Giants. The Phillies won the opener 3-2 on a Justin Crawford single and the second game 6-5 in 10 innings on an Alec Bohm sacrifice fly

The story with the Giants is totally different because their rookie manager, Tony Vitello, should still be given a chance; he has only managed a bunch of games, and the whole season is still ahead. I will not ‘stick a fork’ in this Giants team yet; however, in this NY West with the Dodgers, Padres, and even the Diamondbacks, the Giants better start winning soon, because the Guillotine is waiting and it has no mercy.

You cannot win a pennant in April, but you can surely lose it.

“Every day is a new opportunity. You can build on yesterday’s success or put its failures behind and start over again.” — Bullet Bob Feller.

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.

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MLB The Show podcast Jessica Kwong: Former Phils skipper Thompson says no ill will toward Philadelphia front office; Mets manager Mendoza walking on eggshells; plus more news

Former Philadelphia Phillies manager Rob Thompson says he has no ill will towards his former team or the Phillies front office over his firing (AP News photo)

MLB The Show podcast Jessica Kwong:

#1 Former Philadelphia Phillies manager Rob Thompson said he holds no animosty towards the Phllies organization as the Phils fired Thompson on Tuesday. The Phillies offered him another position in the organization. Thompson knows he was fired for the Phils 9-19 start.

#2 New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza showed up to the park knowing that the egg shells he walks on are the constant reporting regarding his job status, the Mets are 10-19. Aware of what happened to former Red Sox manager Alex Cora and former Phils manager Rob Thompson. The Mets have won three of their last ten games they picked up a big win on Tuesday against the Washington Nationals 8-0.

#3 Los Angeles Dodgers two way star Shohei Ohtani started on Tuesday night but was not hitting for the second time in 13 games. Ohtani wasn’t in the line up when he pitched in his last game.Manager Dave Roberts said that Ohtani’s goal is to make every start and there has to be some compromise.

#4 Los Angeles Angels pitcher Jose Soriano whose been lights out pitched six innings of shutout ball but Chicago White Sox catcher Drew Romo who bats both slugged two home runs in back to back at bats and the Sox handed Soriano his first loss of 2026 in a 5-2 win for the Halos. Soriano is now 5-1

 #5 Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Chad Patrick might have had vision problems in the second inning of the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks but after the Brewers trainers looked him over as Patrick stayed in the ball game and ended up getting the win. Patrick said he couldn’t see. He vomited between innings and Patrick said it felt like his eyeballs were on top of his head.

Jessica Kwong does the MLB The Show podcast everyother Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Headline Sports Jessica Kwong podcast: Cubs now 6.5 games in front of Brewers; Devers says he’ll play anywhere Giants ask; plus more news

Chicago Cubs designated hitter Seiya Suzuki runs the bases after hitting a three run home run in the bottom of the fifth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Wrigley Field in Chicago on Tue June 17, 2025 (AP News photo)

Headline Sports podcast Jessica Kwong:

#1 Jessica the Chicago Cubs are competing they are six and half games in front of the second place Milwaukee Brewers and have won six of their last ten games. The first four hitters in the Cubs line up all scored runs on Tuesday night and Wednesday night’s game was rained out.

#2 At the press conference for new San Francisco Giant Rafael Devers he said he was there to play wherever they want him to play. When Devers was at the Red Sox he said he wanted to play at third base when he was moved to DH for Alex Bregman. Devers unhappy wanted to leave Boston and now says he’s willing to play anywhere the Giants want him to. How do you see this working out.

#3 Jessica, the awkward thing about Devers coming to San Francisco is that his old team the Boston Red Sox are coming to Oracle Park on Friday night. It’s curious to see the greeting his old team will give him when he comes up to the plate against them.

#4 Philadelphia Phillie right fielder Nick Castellanos was scratched from Tuesday’s line up for  “an inappropriate comment” according to Phillies manager Rob Thomson. Castellanos was upset after being replaced moving Max Kepler to right and inserting Johan Rojas to center.

#5 What happened to the New York Yankees they have now lost five straight games and were shutout by the Los Angeles Angels at Anaheim Stadium on Tuesday night 4-0. The Yankees are hanging onto a 2.5 game lead over the Tampa Bay Rays.

Jessica Kwong does Headline Sports every other Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com