Favorite MLB Managers, past and present (pitching, umpire, game, Orioles)

[Jonathan Ashbeck]

Who are your favorite managers, past and present
I like:
1. Clint Hurdle
2. Joe Maddon
3. Dusty Baker
4. Don Mattingly
5. Jim Leyland (don't really care for Ausmus though)
6. Terry Francona
7. Ron Washington
8. Fredi Gonzalez
9. Mike Scoscia
10. Mike Matheny
11. Ron Gardenhire
12. Jerry Manuel
As much as I like Bruce Bochy but last year he has not been making very good decisions. Bob Melvin and Buck Showalter are okay but I never liked John Farrell (and I still don't as a matter of fact), Tony La Russa, Terry Collins, Ron Roenicke, Ryne Sandberg, or Charlie Manuel. I never liked Counsell either for the first two seasons when the Brewers fired Roenicke but at least the Brewers offense is doing better but their pitching still needs work. Also, I'm not a huge fan of John Gibbons or Joe Girardi either. But again, my number one favorite manager is still Clint Hurdle. He's a good guy.

[Pub-911]

The likes of John McGraw and Joe McCarthy were far enough before my time that I couldn't honestly comment on them at all. But of the managers I have known and been able to observe over the years, I need just two words...Casey Stengel.

After that, names like Gil Hodges, Walter Alston, and Earl Weaver would come to mind. Out on the fringes somewhere would be Tony La Russa, Jim Leyland, Whitey Herzog, and maybe Bobby Cox and Sparky Anderson.

At least, that's how I see it.

[Bondurant]

Sparky Anderson, Jim Leyland and Billy Martin.

[AlmostSeniorinNJ]

Not necessarily in order:

Joe Torre
Earl Weaver
Tony La Russa
Bobby Cox
Terry Francona
Gene Mauch - never won much of anything, but was highly respected by players in his time.
Jim Leyland - added on edit
Don Zimmer
Lou Piniella
Joe Maddon
Sparky Anderson
Frank Robinson
Dusty Baker
Joe Girardi
Danny Murtaugh

[Hemlock140]

I have to go with Lou Piniella, not only did he manage well, but his antics at bad calls were unforgettable for both Cubs and Mariners fans. His post game interviews were often hilarious, forgetting players' names, or even berating the interviewer.

[sportzfn]

Maddon, Zimmer & Durocher as Cub managers.

[David A Stone]

Billy Martin

[AlmostSeniorinNJ]

Originally Posted by David A Stone

Billy Martin

I left out Billy Martin for some reason. I guess because I didn't like his drinking. But I am rethinking that now. He was a good baseball manager, and he stood up to Reggie Jackson in that game on national TV where Jackson was dogging it.

But Martin was respected by players, and I think that is most important.

[P47P47]

Originally Posted by David A Stone

Billy Martin

Originally Posted by AlmostSeniorinNJ

I left out Billy Martin for some reason. I guess because I didn't like his drinking. But I am rethinking that now. He was a good baseball manager, and he stood up to Reggie Jackson in that game on national TV where Jackson was dogging it.

But Martin was respected by players, and I think that is most important.

I'm an Orioles fan, so I have to give Weaver as my favorite, but I do want to say that I think that Martin was totally right in the "Pine Tar Incident" and that Lee MacPhail was completely wrong to over-rule the umpire's correct decision to call Brett out.

[David A Stone]

Originally Posted by P47P47

I'm an Orioles fan, so I have to give Weaver as my favorite, but I do want to say that I think that Martin was totally right in the "Pine Tar Incident" and that Lee MacPhail was completely wrong to over-rule the umpire's correct decision to call Brett out.

I went to a small high school and played high school football with one of the umpires in that "Pine Tar Incident "