National League Managers

[metirish]

Jerry gets a lot of stick for not being the brightest with in game moves and general team moves.

It got me curious though as to what current NL manager you would consider to be a great in-game manager, who would you wnat calling the shots in the Mets dugout?

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I guess you gotta go with Bobby Cox for all his success.

Interesting after that. Cholly maybe? He's run that team without a lot of the drama that's spoiled so many promising Philly teams.

[metirish]

I have always liked Bochy , but it's not an overly inspiring list. I see a whole lot of guys like the one we have, for better or worse.

[Gwreck]

It pains me to say it but I think it's LaRussa. This is his 15th season in StL and he's had a winning record in 11 of his 14 years. 7 division titles plus a wildcard, 2 pennants, 1 championship.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

This really is more interesting than I would have guessed. Jim Tracy's been hired by three different teams, he must interview really well.

I don't think mgr's are hired at all for their game skill; they have to have people skills and media skills above all.

[TransMonk]

Gwreck wrote: It pains me to say it but I think it's LaRussa. This is his 15th season in StL and he's had a winning record in 11 of his 14 years. 7 division titles plus a wildcard, 2 pennants, 1 championship.

Ding, ding!

[Guest Edgy DC]

I don't think mgr's are hired at all for their game skill; they have to have people skills and media skills above all.

Completely agree there, and guys who have been fine tacticians --- Larry Bowa for instance --- have lost good jobs by lacking those skills.

Bobby Valentine, of course, was all three.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

I'd go LaRussa and Cox as 1 and 2... but I'm not sure if that's respectively. Both do a good job of talent optimization-- LaRussa squeezes a lot out of platoons (mostly not-quite-straight) and Cox has squeezed a ridiculous amount of career years out of the men who staff his pitching staffs.

I do think it's telling that both have recognized and strained to keep prime talent at key coaching slots-- especially at pitching coach.

Queerly, the two are polar opposites in "who would you like to play for" polls; if it's talent that wins, you might be interested in having the guy who repels potential FAs least, no?

[Frayed Knot]

Edgy DC wrote: I don't think mgr's are hired at all for their game skill; they have to have people skills and media skills above all. Completely agree there, and guys who have been fine tacticians --- Larry Bowa for instance --- have lost good jobs by lacking those skills. Bobby Valentine, of course, was all three.

The answer to whether Bobby has people and organizational skills depends on to whom you are directing those questions.
He'd get answers at both extremes.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Admit it -- You too looked at this list and said "Who the fuck is A.J. Hinch?!?"

[metirish]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Admit it -- You too looked at this list and said "Who the fuck is A.J. Hinch?!?"

I had to look up who the Arizona's manager was and still had no idea who he is.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I think I would have done terribly in a name-the-managers quiz.

I've never heard of Hinch. And I couldn't have named the managers in Houston, Pittsburgh, Washington, and a few other cities either.

And I didn't even remember that Dusty Baker was managing the Reds.

[Guest metsguyinmichigan]

I am loyal to my team and will scoff at all the doubters in October!

[A Boy Named Seo]

I didn't know who the hell Finch or Mills were. I know I wouldn't want Dusty for sure. Not hot on Riggleman or Tracy either.

Dudes seem to love playing for Torre and he wins lots of games, so I think you could do way worse than him. Yankee schmankee whogivesashit, win the baseball games.

[Farmer Ted]

Can't figure out how Dusty Baker is employed as a manager.

[Valadius]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Admit it -- You too looked at this list and said "Who the fuck is A.J. Hinch?!?"

I remember Hinch from his playing days. I have no fucking clue who Brad Mills is, though.