Power Pros Forum

The current best coach currently coaching.


My top 3 list would probably be (in no particular order)

Joe Torre
Terry Francona
Mike Scioscia

Followed Closely by Ozzie Guillen and Charlie Manuel (very closely by Manuel, sorry Phils fans)

Torre beacause: Well where to start, arguably best coach of all time (maybe) 13 straight postseasons.

Francona: 2 WS titles in 3 years to start. Not to mention he broke the curse of the Bambino. Knows the game very well. Been to playoffs 4 times in 5 years. Down 3-1 or 3-2 and win the series. He's a great overall person.

Scioscia: He's done very well with the club, just (just) sqeaked by Manuel. They may always lose to the Sox in Postseason but regardless of being in an overall poor division, the Angels are still an amazing team. Here's alittle something something he's done with the Angels:

The Angels under Scioscia would go on to enjoy a period of on-field success never before seen in franchise history, winning four American League West division titles in five years (surpassing the number won by all previous Angels managers combined). Scioscia's Angels broke the franchise single-season win record with 99 wins in 2002, and again with 100 wins in 2008. However, they have yet to win another American League pennant or World Series since their memorable 2002 run.

Scioscia is currently the Angels' all-time leader in wins and games managed, surpassing original manager Bill Rigney's totals in both categories in 2007 and 2008, respectively. He is also currently the longest tenured manager in the American League, and third longest in MLB behind Tony La Russa and Bobby Cox.

Why Manuel DIDN'T get my top 3:

His first year he went something like 88-74 not bad, then the next two seasons, narrowly missed the playoffs, 4th year, swept away in NLDS, 5th year WS title. He's a good coach, don't get me wrong, but look at what Scioscia did with the Angels compared to their time without him.

Why Pinella DIDN'T get my top 3:

Great coach, will eventually lead the Cubs to a WS title, I know it. He didn't make it beacause he can't win in the postseason. I like how he doesn't hide his feelings. I know I'm going to get crap for not putting him there. He nearly beat out Tido, and he probably should considering he has a longer career and is 14th all time in wins for managers, if I was doing top 5, he would be 4.

Why Guillen DIDN'T get my top 3:

He also shows his feelings strongly, I just don't feel like I can put him in, he is a good coach. Not really sure why I shouldn't put him in, but he can be a little to much sometimes. I.E when he called Marriotti a f****** f**.

I'm glad you picked Torre, and he definetly is one of the best three now, but:
"Torre beacause: Well where to start, arguably best coach of all time (maybe) 13 straight postseasons."
Torre isn't even one of the best three Yankee coaches (well, in my opionion, the best three Yankee coaches are 3 of the best 4 of all time). Let me just show what I mean.
Casey Stengal, arguably the best coach of all time world series record:
*=winner
1949
Brooklyn Dodgers New York Yankees*
1950
Philadelphia Phillies New York Yankees*
1951
New York Giants New York Yankees*
1952
Brooklyn Dodgers New York Yankees*
1953
Brooklyn Dodgers New York Yankees*
1954
New York Giants Cleveland Indians*
1955
Brooklyn Dodgers* New York Yankees
1956
Brooklyn Dodgers New York Yankees*
1957
Milwaukee Braves* New York Yankees
1958
Milwaukee Braves New York Yankees*
1959
Los Angeles Dodgers Chicago White Sox
1960
Pittsburgh Pirates* New York Yankees
Amazing, eh? I don't feel like giving the others, but it would be Miller Huggins and Joe Mcarthy of the Yankees.

Now, I wouldn't put Francona or Scioza in there, neither are hall-of-famers yet, though maybe Francona. You forgot about Jim Leeland. He has consistently risen terrible teams to first place. He did it with the Pirates first in 1990-1992 and got them to the NCLS all three times, though lost all three. 1991 and 1992 were 7 games long and against the world series winning braves. (last winning seasons, got manager of the year in 1990 and 1992). He did it with the Marlins and got them their first world series his first year in 1997. They were the fastest team to win a world series since created (5 years, beat by D-Backs). Then he came back and miraculously did it with the Tigers (But he can't do anything with the great team they have now for two years in a row). He has 3 manager of the year awards.

You forgot a few others I'd put in front of Francona and Scioza. Tony Larussa, a hall of famer, and Bobby Cox, a manager for the Braves for 18 years. Larussa has clinched the pennant 8 times with the Cardinals since he started in 1996 (always with a team that didn't seem good enough to do it). Larussa led the A's to Three Consecutive World Series, and did a great job with the White Sox as well in which he won Manager of the year. He has won 4 of those so far.
Bobby Cox has won 4 managers of the year awards, 3 with the braves and one with the Blue Jays in which the Jays won the division. He has won a world series and lost 5, had an 11 year post-season streak, and made it to the nlcs 5 times. For 14 years, he has been the first in the NL East.

There is also Dusty Baker, a 3-time Manager of the year winner who I might put ahead of Francona, but I'm really not sure on him.

Francona is better then Scioza in my mind, but not as good as Cox, Torre, or Larrussa. Francona has never won a manager of the year award, but has won 2 world series. While his regular season record isn't so impressive (it's impressive, but not incredible like these other guys), his post-season record is fantastic. He only made the play-offs 3 times though. If he manages well enough and builds up a better resume, then maybe he'll be a hall-of-famer, but if he retired right now I don't see him even being on the ballot.

Now what would my top three be? I don't know. I'd probably put Torre in there, but I'm not even sure about him. You can argue any combination of those three. Leeland hasn't managed as much, but his ability to bring poor teams to the top is very impressive. But off the top of my head, I'd probably say Torre, La Russa, and Bobby Cox, but I'm really not sure.
(Torre is the only guy to win Manager of the Year and MVP as a player)

my top managers would probably include Torre, La Russa, and Scioscia, with Francona and Cox as Honorable Mentions. Personally, I don't think that the managers are as influential to a team's success as the General Manager. Managers are usually determined by how many wins they have. To win games, a team needs good players. Who has the power to put good players on the field? The General Manager.

No, Sciocia deserves to be there. Look at their stats before him and then after, he rose that team to the best it's EVER been.


I said arguably the best beacause his career isn't over.

I think by the time Francona's done he will be a Hall-Of-Famer.

I thought about LaRussa but then decided not to. Leeland has done that before, but that alone doesn't make you a good manager. It gives you certain qualities.

I don't TRY to be biased, i just am.
Charlie Manuel is a PLAYER'S manager. that's more valuable than any WS ring or champiosnhip title or record or whatever. The ability to get along woth other people and interact with thee is the sign a good manager.

Francona's a player manager, I think Torre was too. Interim Manager David Sveum was a players coach.