Rosenthal: Randolph tops list of managers on the hot seat

Real-world Robothals in the morning workforce!

John Gibbons, Blue Jays: This is it. The Jays must reach the postseason — or come awfully close — for Gibbons and possibly Ricciardi to return. The team is again good enough to make such a run, but only if healthy. Gibbons will need to show greater care with his starting pitchers and take whatever other measures are necessary to ensure that his best players remain on the field.

Again, leadership often must come from within the clubhouse, and the additions of third baseman Scott Rolen and shortstop David Eckstein will help create a sense of urgency that was missing in previous seasons. The successful return of closer B.J. Ryan from elbow-ligament transplant surgery would add another intensely competitive presence while making the Jays’ bullpen potentially one of the best in the league.

Even amid disappointment, the Jays did not lack for positive developments last season — Aaron Hill and Alex Rios matured into stars, a number of young pitchers emerged as valued contributors and the team’s defense was the most efficient in the majors. Gibbons, like any manager, deserves credit for the good as well as the bad.