watches from the dugout against the San Francisco Giants at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Ranking the managers in the NL East is a tough task because only one team really stood out – and by that I mean only one team finished above .500. The Washington Nationals sport the manager of the year, but did his questionable decisions in the NLDS hurt his ranking? And really, how much credit can you give a manager that fields a lineup with so much talent?
The other teams in the NL East do not boast as much talent, but some are better lead then others. Mike Redmond is overseeing an up and coming Miami team with a returning ace and some budding young talent. He also finished a respectable fifth in the NL manager of the year voting after only his second season with the Marlins.
The Philadelphia Phillies and Atlanta Braves had an everything must go sale during this off season, so their managers, Ryne Sandberg and Fredi Gonzalez respectively, do not have much to work with. But does lack of production on the field equate to poor management? How much should we hold a manager accountable for the talent level on the field?
The ever floundering New York Mets seem to have a bit more talent, but are not punching at their weight. Is that due to the inept managerial skill of Terry Collins?
What I hoped to do in this ranking is give bonus points for working with what you have talent wise. I also factored in clubhouse management and overall decision making process in my rankings. Having a unified clubhouse and being a good leader is probably the best mark of a good manager, but one that is very hard to measure accurately!
So without further adieu…number five on the list of NL East managers is…
Next: BEGIN SLIDESHOW
Apr 22, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies manager
before the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
5. Ryne Sandberg (Philadelphia Phillies)
This hurts me deep down in my soul to put Ryne Sandberg last on this list of NL East managers.
I grew up a Cubs fan (yes, I know) and Ryne Sandberg was one of my favorite players. But being a great player doesn’t always translate into being a great manager and Sandberg is a perfect example of that maxim.
Ryno started his managerial career in the Chicago Cubs farm system in December of 2006, working his way up from the Class-A Peoria Chiefs to the Triple-A Iowa Cubs. He even earned Pacific Coast League’s Manager of the Year Award in 2010. In November of 2010, Ryno started his managerial career with the Phillies Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs. In 2011, Baseball America named him the Minor League Manager of the Year.
Sandberg got his call up the following season, when he was the third base coach and infield instructor for the Philadelphia Phillies. He would later be promoted to manager after the Phillies fired Charlie Manuel. Sandberg was named full manager and given a three-year contract shortly thereafter.
Unfortunately, it seems the major league level may be a bit too much for Ryno, or perhaps his team is just that bad.
His record from 2013 on is a not so respectable 93-111 and he is probably not going to fare too well next season with the firesale Phillies emptying their veteran roster in exchange for a brighter future.
He came into Philly and attempted to change the culture by instilling discipline and attention to detail in day-to-day operations. His style conflicted with the veteran leadership on the team, which lead to some heartache with the likes of Jimmy Rollins to say the least. He seems to bungle the lineup on occasion, mismanage his relievers, and push his starters to the breaking point.
The combination of little club talent, manager with an abrasive, erratic approach, and a win-now mentality spells disaster for Ryno and earns him last place on our list.
Next: NL East Manager: Number 4
Sep 23, 2014; Washington, DC, USA; New York Mets manager
(10) walks through the dugout during the fifth inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
4. Terry Collins (New York Mets)
The New York Mets are a classic example of a team that just can’t seem to get it right.
They should be a decent team hovering just above .500, but each year they seem to under perform. Again, the common question for each NL East manager, or at least for this particular ranking, is how much responsibility do we give a manager for a team’s failure when the talent level is not where it should be?
Terry Collins is the manager for the NY Mets and guided the club to a 79-83 record last year. He has an overall 304-344 record with the team. His managing career spans four decades and started in 1981 with the Dodgers and the Pirates minor league affiliates. He started his major league career 1993 with the Houston Astros. Collins then went on to manage the Anaheim Angels in 1997 before joining the Mets in 2011.
Injuries to star players Matt Harvey and David Wright provided a few bumps in the road for Terry Collins. But, with the acquisition of Michael Cuddyer from the Colorado Rockies and a healthy lineup, the Mets are expected to finish second in the NL East and possibly compete for a wild card slot.
The question now is whether or not Terry Collins has the chops to lead them with his managerial style.
The Mets often played without discipline and Collins’ erratic decision making did not render any relief. There is a growing Mets’ contingent calling for his head and it is no secret the Mets have not extended Collins contract into 2016 yet. If there was ever a definition of hot seat, this would be it.
Terry Collins leads a Mets squad that is expected to win now and if he doesn’t produce, he will be left out in the cold.
His unproven record with this club, more talent than most without accompanying production, and his very warm seat puts Terry Collins at number four on our list.
Next: NL East Manager: Number 3
Sep 25, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves manager
(33) sits in the dugout in the seventh inning of their game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Turner Field. The Pirates won 10-1. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
3. Fredi Gonzalez (Atlanta Braves)
Now is where it gets tricky.
I put the Phillies and Mets managers lower on the list because while they don’t have much talent, they don’t seem to be maximizing it. Plus, they are noted for questionable decisions and a fractured clubhouse. To me, having a unified clubhouse and making sound decisions make you a better manager. That being said, I still can’t reward too much incompetence.
Fortunately for this ranking, everyone – outside of the Nats, of course – had a down year. Therefore, my rankings can be based more on how they handle the team without letting team record be the deciding factor.
The Atlanta Braves, led by Fredi Gonzalez, were supposed to contend for a playoff spot last year until they fell apart down the stretch, prompting the team to enter full on rebuilding mode. The Braves traded Justin Upton to the Padres and Evan Gattis to the Astros for a slew of prospects. Next year is not looking good for the fifth year manager, but at least he has the comfort of one more season to prove his worth as he earned a contract extension through the 2015 season.
What is more telling to me is the public backing of Bobby Cox and the seeming lack of problems in the clubhouse. Fredi Gonzalez is a relatively young manager who got his start in the big leagues managing the then Florida Marlins in 2007 and has been at the helm of the Braves since 2011. As Bobby Cox’s hand picked replacement, he has guided the Braves to a .552 winning percentage, and, as all Nats fans are long to forget, the NL East pennant in 2013.
In Fredi Gonzalez’s case, his success stems partly from talent and from maximizing that talent through managerial skill.
It is hard to find fault in a manager’s record when the front office decides to enter full on rebuild mode, However, that rebuild could include Fredi Gonzalez’s job, which earns him third place on our list of NL East managers.
Next: NL East Manager: Number 2
Oct 4, 2014; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals manager
(9) argues with umpire Vic Carapazza (19) in the 10th inning against the San Francisco Giants in game two of the 2014 NLDS playoff baseball game at Nationals Park. Williams and Washington Nationals second baseman
I know, I know! This is a Washington Nationals website. Matt Williams won NL East Manager of the Year last year. How could I rank him second!?
Simple. I watched the Nats playoff run and observed some very, very questionable decisions.
I think this is the perfect example a manager guiding a great team to great heights, but not needing to make many tough decisions along the way. Now, this is not to say I think Matt Williams is a bad manager. There is something to be said for a hands-off approach and I think the art of letting players play is not to be scoffed at. A National League leading 96-66 record with a NL East championship is nothing to be ashamed of either.
But that is not a very big sample size with an awfully talented team to judge the managerial skill of one Matt Williams.
Live Feed class=inline-text id=inline-text-12SF Giants: Matt Williams out as Kia Tigers manager /
In addition, Bruce Bochy completely outmanaged Williams in the NLDS with his masterful use of a thin bullpen (minus the complete and utter disregard for Bryce Harper‘s dominance over Hunter Strickland).
To me, taking out Jordan Zimmermann in the 9th inning after a very questionable called walk showed a bit of panic. In addition, inserting an untested Aaron Barrett in the bottom of the 7th during a high leverage situation in Game 4 resulted in the expected disaster. Managing becomes more important in the microscope of the playoffs and Matt Williams showed signs that he needs more experience to raise his game to the next level and earn that top spot.
If Matt Williams is not number one in our NL East manager rankings, that would leave just one lucky candidate.
Next: NL East Manager: Number 1!!!
Jun 4, 2014; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Miami Marlins manager
(11) against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
1. Mike Redmond
The Miami Marlins are by no means as stacked as the Washington Nationals, but they are headed in the right direction and that includes their young manager Mike Redmond.
At 43, Redmond is only a few years removed from his playing career and started managing in 2011 for the Toronto Blue Jays’ Class-A affiliate in Lansing. In his first minor league year, he took those Lansing Lugnuts to their best record in team history and was named the Midwest League manager of the year. He then spent a year with the Blue Jays’ Class A-Advanced Affiliate in Dunedin before signing a three-year deal in 2012 with the Miami Marlins. As a show of the club’s faith in Mike Redmond’s abilities, the Marlins signed him to a three year extension at the end of last season before the end of his original contract.
I know what many of you are thinking: the Marlins have not performed on the field and his overall record of 139-185 at Miami reflects this poor showing. What gives?
I believe this is a case of a manager getting the most out of his less than talented club despite the below average record.
He seems to inspire confidence in his players. The club has few, if any, outward clubhouse issues, he has the full backing of the front office, and he finished fifth in the NL Manager of the Year voting. Come on, how can you not pick a guy that is willing to hit the batting cages nude to help his slumping team?
I bet many of you have opinions on our list. Please leave the comments below and let’s get the conversation started!
