2 years ago
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How would you rank [[Jim Leyland], Ron Gardenhire and Tony LaRussa as managers and who do you think is the best?
In many circles, managers Jim Leyland, Ron Gardenhire and Tony LaRussa are considered some of the best in professional baseball. Who do you think is the best and why? My personal ranking has Gardenhire first, followed then by LaRussa and finally Leyland. Gardenhire in 9 years has a .549 winning percentage as a manager. His teams have won 728 games while losing 598. All 9 years have been spent with the Minnesota Twins. Six times his teams have finished first in their division. LaRussa has managed 32 years for 3 different teams. He has a winning percentage of .536 with 13 first place finishes, 5 pennants and 2 World Series wins. Leyland has a .496 winning percentage with 2 pennants and 1 World Series win in 11 years. He had 3 first place finishes with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
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M$2 Answers
Of the three, Tony Larussa, Ron Gardenhire and Jim Leyland, I think I would have to put Gardenhire first. He seems to make the most of limited resources, and there are many people in baseball who feel that the Minnesota Twins are run the right way.
I’ve never really been a fan of Larussa. Maybe it’s because he’s been a manager of the St. Louis Cardinals for so long, and I simply do not like that team, since I’m a Cubs fan. Maybe it’s the fact that for most of his managing career in St. Louis he’s been given very talented squads and was a major beneficiary of Walt Jockety being a very good general manager. I just don’t think that Larussa is that great of a manager. I would rank Larussa 3rd on this list with Leyland coming in second. I think he has managed to build some pretty good teams, but I’ve never been able to get a read on whether he is a good manager, or has been handed good talent.
I’ve never really been a fan of Larussa. Maybe it’s because he’s been a manager of the St. Louis Cardinals for so long, and I simply do not like that team, since I’m a Cubs fan. Maybe it’s the fact that for most of his managing career in St. Louis he’s been given very talented squads and was a major beneficiary of Walt Jockety being a very good general manager. I just don’t think that Larussa is that great of a manager. I would rank Larussa 3rd on this list with Leyland coming in second. I think he has managed to build some pretty good teams, but I’ve never been able to get a read on whether he is a good manager, or has been handed good talent.
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M$
I'm surprised that Joe Torre was not mentioned in the conversation. Torre certainly has to rank up there as one of the top managers in the game today. Now in his 30th season, Torre has won 2,268 games, lost 1,932 for a .540 winning percentage. He won 4 World Series over a 5 year span with the New York Yankees and 6 American League pennants over an 8 year period. He lead the Los Angeles Dodgers to back to back NL Championship Series appearances in 2008 and 2009.
Another name worth mentioning is Bobby Cox of the Atlanta Braves. Cox is retiring at the end of the season and he's had a great managerial career. He has won 2,432 games, lost 1,950 for a .555 winning percentage. He won 5 National League pennants and 1 World Series and finished in first place in his division 15 times.
I see your arguments for Jim Leyland, Tony LaRussa and Ron Gardenhire. I think Gardenhire, although impressive so far, doesn't have enough years under his belt to be put in the ranks of the other men mentioned. Longevity does count for something. Leyland has won a World Series, but his overall winning percentage of a little under .500 doesn't qualify him in my opinion as the top manager in the league. LaRussa and Torre are the top managers and until LaRussa passes Torre in World Championships, I put Torre at number one.
http://silentarchimedes.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/joe-torre-small.jpg
Another name worth mentioning is Bobby Cox of the Atlanta Braves. Cox is retiring at the end of the season and he's had a great managerial career. He has won 2,432 games, lost 1,950 for a .555 winning percentage. He won 5 National League pennants and 1 World Series and finished in first place in his division 15 times.
I see your arguments for Jim Leyland, Tony LaRussa and Ron Gardenhire. I think Gardenhire, although impressive so far, doesn't have enough years under his belt to be put in the ranks of the other men mentioned. Longevity does count for something. Leyland has won a World Series, but his overall winning percentage of a little under .500 doesn't qualify him in my opinion as the top manager in the league. LaRussa and Torre are the top managers and until LaRussa passes Torre in World Championships, I put Torre at number one.
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M$
Jim Leyland is the best manager and it has nothing to do with being handed good talent since that has not always been the case. He knows how to bring out the best in his players and sincerely cares about every one of them!