Impact of MLB Managers: Vital Roles Beyond Tactics

In this day and age of Major League Baseball, how important are managers here? Because the way they hire them and the lack of investment, I mean, but honestly, I guess it changes from organization to organization, does experience still matter when it's all said and done? Oh, I fought with people constantly on this topic. So I personally don't think it makes that big of a difference, Joe. I think over the course of the season, the decisions that work and the decisions that don't are about 50-50. I think some of the best managers are probably plus two wins, maybe three. And some of the worst are probably minus a couple of losses, maybe three. And that's it. I mean, Joe, all you got to do is take a look at the best managers in the history of the game. And they're like, you know, they're above 500. But generally speaking, I mean, like, look at all of their records. Look at Jim Leland's record. He's the latest manager to get in the Hall of Fame. He's like a little bit, oh, but he had Pittsburgh and they were split. Look what he did with not that much. I got news for you. The record wasn't that great. He was above 500, barely. So I just, I don't think, it's the players, Joe, for me. It's the players. Now, can a good manager speak to the media better? Can he do a great job managing egos in the clubhouse? Egos, right? Yes, all those things are very true. You're dealing with billionaires and that's not easy to do. So I do think that that's a big part of it. But as far as the tactical aspect of that, it is not just a manager. There's a bench coach and a first base coach and a hitting coach and a pitching coach. And everyone is, and they meet before the games and say, hey, if we get to the seventh inning and we see Volpe, what are we going to throw him? Okay, let's do this. Like, they have this all mapped out. The manager, all he has to do is just hit the button. So I personally don't think it's a huge factor. There are better managers in the, like Kevin Cash is obviously a really good manager in Tampa Bay, right? Like we understand that. But beyond a handful of guys, I just don't think it makes that big of a difference. Yeah. Because ultimately it's about handling the locker room and keeping a bunch of grown men on the same page. Easier said than done.