Should The Los Angeles Dodgers Fire Don Mattingly?

Across the baseball spectrum, managers from all over are at risk of losing their jobs. None are more at risk than Dodgers manager Don Mattingly.

With a 19-26 record, the Los Angeles Dodgers are last in the National League West, trailing the Arizona Diamondbacks by 8 1/2 games. The Dodgers have struggled badly to begin the season and now all of Dodger Nation is calling for Mattingly's termination.

I understand that when a team isn't winning someone has to be held accountable. That person is usually the teams manager. The guy calling the shots, making the moves, and setting the lineups.

But as much as it is Mattingly's fault, you can't help but look at the fact the Dodgers have players landing on the DL every other day. The Dodgers have used the disabled list more than any other team in baseball.

Even with the injuries, Mattingly can't have an excuse for his team not winning. The Yankees are losing players left and right, yet their currently in first place when they were suppose to be in last.

Away from the injuries, the Dodgers biggest problem is they they don't score runs. The Dodgers land 29th in baseball in runs scored (156) in front of only the Marlins and rank 28th in team homeruns. This is a team that I expected to score a lot of runs.

Matt Kemp is struggling and just hit his 2nd homerun of the season on Tuesday. He had 14 dingers at that time last season. Kemp is an MVP type player that got off to a great start last season and couldn't do the same this year.

At some point, Mattingly needs to do something to get this team turned around if he wants to keep his job. And his comments to reporters on Wednesday may not have helped him.

“It’s not just all, ‘Let’s go put an All-Star team out there and play games, and the team with the All-Star team wins." Mattingly said. "All grit and no talent is not going to get you there, and all talent and no grit is not going to get you there. There’s got to be a mixture of both.”

Mattingly also criticized Andre Ethier in front of reporters saying he doesn't compete hard. But when asked about it, Mattingly said, "I don't really want to say that, but we've got to compete."

Regardless of the teams struggles and his recent comments about his players and payroll. Sources close to the club a have reported the Mattingly will still be the Dodgers manager when the team opens up at home against the Cardinals this Friday.

One things for sure, Mattingly played with the Yankees under George Steinbrenner for years. If there's one thing he would know best, it's a manager getting fired. He's seen it happen before. Now he's likely live it.

Follow @GavinEwbank2013 on Twitter.