Jim Leyland,Best MLB Manager?

Leyland is great... although I still think his accomplishments with the early 90's Pittsburgh teams deserve just as much praise as his Marlins WS championship, and his Tigers reclamation project.

The guy knows how to handle a bullpen... plain and simple. He doesn't go all out like Larussa or Jimy Williams and define distinct roles for each guy (lefty specialist, 6th inning guy, 7th inning guy, 8th inning guy, closer)... i've noticed that he has them all ready to pitch no matter when.

I also like it that the guy with the "best stuff" isn't his closer... the closer is the one who throws strikes (Jones), whereas Zumaya is there to blow away the best hitters whenever they come up in a 1 run game in the 7th or 8th.

 

Sounds like the opposite of Phil Garner.

 

However, Garner's a lot more like Leyland than he is like LaRussa or Jimy Williams.... just look at the way he's managed our "bullpen" games that were "must-win" in 04 and 06.

Leyland also makes a ton of "gut/instinct" decisions that would have many stats freaks/"manage by the book" gurus riled up.

 

I've never been a big Leyland fan. He career record is under 0.500, even after Detroit won 95 games this year. Not surprisingly, when he's had good players, he's won and when he hasn't had good players, he hasn't won.

I admit he's done a great job turning the Tigers around, but he has quit on the last two franchises that he's managed.

 

Show me a manager who has consistently won without good players?!?

His ability to turn around a Tigers team that has a lot of guys who were around when they were awful should be a testament to how he either gets underacheivers to reach their potential, or average players to overachieve.