[browna]

They have to give him 3 years or it doesn't look good for organizational support.

He's not likely paid much in the manger world so yes, not a hindrance. But lack of playoffs the next two years (and probably not getting out of the first round if they make it) is almost cause for dismissal and Atkins can't be too far behind in that case.

Not how I would've handled it, to me reminds me of the Geoff Ward thing here where the new guy gets a postive inseason bump but long haul it doesn't work because players get too comfortable. Or more directly, extending Montoya last offseason because he almost got to the playoffs.
Scheidner seems like a good guy and smart baseball man but trusting him during this team window seems like path of least resistance more than the objective view of what the clubhouse needs to take it up a couple levels.