Patience runs thinner than dental floss in professional sports, which is why coaches and managers come and go like the wind.
It's not a breeze to run a team. It takes learning, knowledge, resource and communication skills.
Some coaches/managers have difficulty embracing change or developing players, which is why they find themselves in the unemployment line when deemed dispensable.
We're about two months into the 2013 season, so here's a list of MLB managers who are beginning to feel the heat under their seat:
NED YOST (Kansas City Royals) - How much losing can the Royals take? Baseball is a complicated sport, but it's not rocket science. Hit the ball, score runs, strike out batters. That's it, plain and simple. Well, it hasn't been that easy for a Royals franchise still playoff starved since winning the 1985 World Series. The Royals are hitting the ball with an average of .259 and have been reaching base, too (.312). The 203 runs scored and 29 total home runs, however, are near the basement. The pitching hasn't been that terrible, either, as the Royals sport a team ERA of 3.78. So what's the problem? That's anyone's guess. They say great athletes make great coaches and Yost has a few in Alex Gordon and Billy Butler. The glaring problem is that either the players have already tuned Yost out or it's pitching. All five starters except one in Jeremy Guthrie have a losing record and newcomer James Shields is still getting adjusted in his new digs. Which will occur first, Shields regaining his old groove or Yost finding a new job? It could be Yost after the club just named legend George Brett interim hitting coach.
BO PORTER (Houston Astros) - Porter's Astros are terrible, but he may get a pass since it's his first managerial gig in the big leagues. Porter was named manager back on Sept. 27, 2012, and the club has an American League-worst 17-37 record. Chris Carter has been one of the positive stories for the Astros with 10 homers and 28 RBI, but he can't do it alone even though he's desperately trying. Matt Dominguez, Jose Altuve and J.D. Martinez have been carrying their own weight. while Martinez is living proof that Porter is trying to build a strong rapport with his players. Martinez went 0-for-5 with five strikeouts on Monday and said Porter told him he would be right back in the lineup. Martinez went 8-for-13 the next three games and stood up to the challenge of Porter's faith. Pitching has been rough and is anchored by Bud Norris and Lucas Harrell. Each starter has four wins apiece. You're in trouble when the staff leader of the rotation has four W's to his name.
CHARLIE MANUEL (Philadelphia Phillies) - Manuel was a hitting coach and even has two assistants trying to teach the Phillies how to improve at the plate. So it's not understandable as to why the Phillies struggle to scrap hits and runs together in consistent fashion. Manuel is in charge of an aging team that has had its ups and downs with key injuries (Chase Utley, Carlos Ruiz, Roy Halladay), slumps (Ryan Howard, John Mayberry) and lack of production (Jimmy Rollins, Ben Revere). Manuel may have avoided this list had the offense given staff ace Cole Hamels more run support, but the left-hander is just 1-8 in what was supposed to be a promising season. The Phillies have teased fans by winning a few games, then dropping the next two or three. How can you stay on board with that? It's unclear how long Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro will put up the mediocrity, but then again, he deserves to take some responsibility by going with a pitching-first mentality. Manuel's job will most likely be safe through the end of his contract, and perhaps next in line is Ryne Sandberg.
DON MATTINGLY (Los Angeles Dodgers) - Mattingly's job is safe for now, according to Dodgers president Stan Kasten. With one of the highest payrolls in baseball, the Dodgers haven't put the money where their mouths are. Similar to the Phillies, Los Angeles has been hit by injuries to key components in Matt Kemp, Hanley Ramirez, A.J. Ellis, Josh Beckett and Chad Billingsley. Even with a healthy Kemp, the Dodgers' All-Star outfielder has been keeping the Dodgers restless to the tune of two homers, 17 RBI and a .251 batting average. Perhaps the NL West is too competitive with San Francisco, Arizona and Colorado jockeying for position in the division or the Dodgers are lacking chemistry. They haven't been to the playoffs since 2009 while an end to that drought doesn't appear to be in sight. There's still time for Mattingly's club to turn the corner. It'll just take a while.
Ron Roenicke (Milwaukee Brewers) - The Brewers were pegged to compete in the National League race once again this season. Turns out, it hasn't been close. With the second-worst record in the NL, the Brewers have been terrible on the road (7-16), starting pitcher Kyle Lohse has been well below average at best and supposed staff ace Yovani Gallardo is starting to struggle. Slugger Ryan Braun is dealing with a sore thumb, Aramis Ramirez has a bum knee and Corey Hart is still on the DL after knee surgery. Closer Jim Henderson also is on the DL due to a hamstring issue. The Brewers have scuffled to a 19-33 start and aren't climbing out of the NL Central basement in the near future. In fact, Roenicke met with general manager Doug Melvin last weekend to discuss the state of the team, and the skipper said the two talked "a little bit about everything." Roenicke added there are "no clear answers" and wondered if there is a way to get his players back to normal at a more rapid rate. He did note that some players are working hard and others "aren't playing to what we're used to seeing."
OTHER NOTABLE SKIPPERS FEELING HEAT: Terry Collins (New York Mets), Bud Black (San Diego Padres), Ron Gardenhire (Minnesota Twins), Mike Scioscia (Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim), Eric Wedge (Seattle Mariners).
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