Skippers.
They are the unsung heroes of a team, often the ultimate difference between a playoff berth and the world championship. There are some incredible examples of a team’s twist of fate, for better or for worse, after a managerial change, but for the most recent example, just take a look at the hardwood sport of basketball, where the Golden State Warriors improved from a 51-31 team with a first-round playoff exit to a league-best 67-15 championship team. The main difference between the 2014 Warriors and the World Champions this year? Rookie coach Steve Kerr.
In baseball, our “coaches” – beyond pitching and hitting coaches – are called managers. Split-second game-time decisions are made by these leaders in the dugout, and the management of the 25-man roster on the field – and sometimes beyond 25 players – dictates the success of a franchise’s direction.
However, fans seem to ignore the importance of the managerial position. Just think to yourself – how many current MLB managers can you name, with their teams?
When a team’s talents seem to be at a maximum, yet the franchise continue to fail in its pursuit for baseball’s grandest prize, the blame inevitably falls upon the manager. At that point, it becomes a game of “can-you-say-sack-before-the-manager-gets-fired.” Just this season, there are 7 rookie managers at the helm of a team, simply because the front offices of these teams feel as if there are no viable options available on the market.
The skippers undoubtedly deserve some of the blame they receive; after all, they’re the ones putting together the lineups for each game. Without front office and owner support though, there is only so much a manager can do with his magic.
With that in mind, it is time to recognize the best managers of the 2015 season, and appreciate the miracles they have pulled off to turn their team’s fortune around. Of course, with a top managers’ list, a worst of the worst must follow. Below is a list of the top 3 and bottom 2 skippers of the year thus far.
- Paul Molitor, Minnesota Twins
Atop the leaderboard is one of the most prolific hitters in the game of baseball. A Hall of Famer for his outstanding playing career, Molitor was named the 13th manager for the Minnesota Twins on November 3rd, 2014. With the only significant off-season signing being 32-year-old Ervin Santana, the Twins appeared set to repeat last year’s 70-92 record, once again bringing up the rear in the AL Central division.
Amazingly, under the leadership of the rookie skipper, the Twins have raced ahead to a 50-42 record, good for second place in the division with a comfortable lead in the wild card race. They are en route to finishing with 88 wins for the first time since they won the division back in 2010, when Delmon Young had his breakout season of 112 RBIs.
What’s even more impressive about Molitor’s leadership this season is the fact that Minnesota ranks 8th in RBIs and batting average, and 12th in home runs, in the American League, meaning that the Twins have been mediocre at best at the plate. On the mound, the Twins have not fared much better, pitching to a 9th-best 3.85 ERA in the AL, surrendering a league-high .269 batting average.
Somehow, Molitor has mastered the craft of balancing offense and pitching in three short months. When the staff pitches poorly, the batters pick them up and outscore their opponents; when the bats are quiet, the hurlers flash gems and shut down the offense of opposition. His lineups have been phenomenal and consistent, and he has quickly gained the trust of every player he manages.
Young diamonds in the rough like Eddie Rosario and Miguel Sano didn’t hurt his chances either.
- A.J. Hinch, Houston Astros
Much like Molitor, the Astros are not supposed to be competitive in any fathomable way this season. However, their rebuilding plans have been accelerated as a result of new manager A.J. Hinch.
Nearly a carbon copy of the 2015 Twins, the Houston Astros are also on pace for 88 wins, the most since winning 89 games in 2005 in the NL Central division. However, the change has been much more dramatic than Minnesota’s improvement; after all, the Astros suffered 106, 107, and 111 losses between 2011 and 2013, respectively.
Molitor nudged Hinch aside for the top spot on this list simply because Hinch has more help than the Hall of Famer. Just look at the offensive numbers: 128 home runs (first in AL), 391 RBIs (third in AL), 70 stolen bases (first in AL), and a .729 OPS (sixth in AL).
60.5 feet away from home plate, the Astros have been dominating opponents as well. Led by legitimate Cy Young award contender Dallas Keuchel, Houston has tallied a 3.57 ERA (fourth in AL) and surrendered just a .239 batting average (third in AL). Their 1.19 WHIP is the lowest in the Junior Circuit as well.
The sudden improvement of the players as a whole is undoubtedly crucial to Houston’s 51-43 record thus far, but Hinch’s decisions with the lineup have been electric. The Astros are unexpectedly the favourites to win the division after over half the season, yet Hinch has managed his team under the spotlight to contend for glory in October.
- Joe Maddon, Chicago Cubs
After 830 wins, we have come to expect nothing short of a miracle from Joe Maddon. The future Hall of Famer has taken the helm of the Chicago Cubs and led the youngsters to a 49-41 record, on pace for 88 wins since winning the division back in 2008.
Starved for success, the Cubs have felt for years that 2015 would be the season to make a run for the championship. Supported by one of the best farm systems in recent memory, the Little Bears have grown fearsome, with successful promotions of breathtaking rookies Kris Bryant, Addison Russell, Jorge Soler, and Kyle Schwarber.
Their mission to fulfill the prediction of the Back to the Future franchise has led the best of baseball storylines this season, and the continuation of the legend of Joe Maddon has more than a supporting role in this plot. Cool and collected under pressure and the spotlight, Maddon has calmed the nerves of the young Cubs with his veteran experience.
If there is one season that can immortalize Maddon’s legacy, the success of the 2015 Cubs will be it.
And then there’s the bottom of the barrel.
- Ryne Sandberg, Philadelphia Phillies
It is hard to defend Ryne Sandberg in his skipper role with the Philadelphia Phillies. The Hall of Famer had a drastically different experience than his fellow Cooperstown manager atop this list. Although the Phillies have suffered recently, the fans have been spoiled with some of the best players in the league year after year. The franchise had not seen a season with fewer than 80 wins for 12 consecutive seasons before 2013, and even then, they only had back-to-back 73-89 records, a far cry from the worst in the league.
However, after a 26-48 record this season, Sandberg finally resigned. News is that the Phillies veterans, the likes of Cole Hamels and Jimmy Rollins, did not respect Sandberg, and clashes were frequently witnessed on and off the playing field. On the heels of such notorious incidents, Philadelphia fell from grace and tumbled to a franchise that will not regain its former glory for years to come.
Of course, not all of it is Sandberg’s fault, but as a manager, failing to gain the respect needed to command a team is unforgivable, regardless of what Ryno has accomplished as a player.
- John Gibbons, Toronto Blue Jays
Sympathizers of Gibby will come up with all sorts of arguments, but the fact of the matter is, he has failed to lead baseball’s best offense to a respectable record.
After the departure of John Farrell, who returned to the Red Sox to win a World Series that same year, Gibbons stepped up to take the reins of the Blue Jays. The players of Toronto have given their support of Gibbons over the years, even when the Jays appear to be disappointing early expectations year after year.
At last, this 2015 season, the chink in the armour has been found. Leading the league in runs scored – by 80 runs, no less – the Jays somehow find themselves flat-lining .500, and in fourth place in a weak AL East division this season.
Without clearly defined roles in the bullpen, hitters have gained a helpless feeling from losing games despite scoring 10 runs. The front office of Toronto needs to take a page from the top 3 teams on this list, and hire a new skipper, or risk losing it all – the season, the players, and ultimately, the fans.