AL Manager of the Year

Christ let's hope not.

 

The Yankees always get screwed.

 

If only they played in the middle of the country and got some attention from the liberal mainstream press.

 

I heard on the radio today that if the Tigers win the AL Central, it "clinches" Jim Leyland's ticket to the Hall of Fame.

: : :

 

That is, of course, ludicrous.

I thought at first Leyland's .496 career winning percentage would automatically exclude him, but that's not true. In fact, Bucky Harris (.493), Lou Boudreau (.487 -- although he's really in as a player) and the Tall Tactician himself, Connie Mack (.486) all lost more games than they won.

Oh, and if Leyland gets in, then Piniella has to be a shoo-in:

Leyland (18 yrs): 1398 W, 1421 L, 5 playoff appearances, 1 WS title, 2 pennants
Piniella (22 yrs): 1768 W, 1626 L, 7 playoff appearances, 1 WS title, 1 pennant

 

You can make a great case for either Washington or Scioscia. By the way, I should point out that the Rangers' only .300 hitter is on the shelf with a strained hammy, and they are still winning.

 

I would vote for Washington.
Somehow this team hasn't folded yet. Until McCarthy returned to the rotation earlier, Millwood was the only pitcher who was in the starting rotation who is still there.
You look at their batting average, and the 23 pitchers they've used, and there is no logical reason this team should still be in the hunt.

But if the Angels win it, Scioscia has just as strong of a case. As many injuries as this team had early, to even be in position to get into first place, let alone actually be there, says a lot.

If the Rangers get in, Wash. Otherwise Scios. They both have strong cases.

 

To be fair, it's not like the Rangers can't score. They are ninth in the majors with 654 runs. They are second only to the Yankees in home runs with 200 and slugging percentage at .455.

 

Some of the radio and beat-writer slappies routinely refer to Leyland as a "Hall of Famer in waiting."

It certainly might be nice if he would get his career record up to .500 before the coronation. : :

That said, he's done a pretty good job this year, although he's also been blessed with a ROY contender (Porcello), a relief ace having an out-of-nowhere career year (Rodney), which has helped make up for flameouts by Willis, Galarraga, Bonderman and Zumaya, and bizarrely inconsistent seasons out of Granderson, Ordonez and Inge.

 

It also helps playing in a dog-ass division.

 

Really, how much coaching/managing does a Yankee skipper do, aside from following the Joba Rules? Isn't that job more about handling egos and hiding A-Rod's purse collection?

 

It is true that Girardi ended the Yankees' playoff run last year (and Torre continued his with the Dodgers), and the Yankees, following a back-to-the-future pattern, have emerged as a power after buying the offseason's best starting pitcher and best position player (and they are having nice seasons) and a pricey No. 2 starter. I see Washington or Scioscia battling for the award and the playoffs. Leyland? Yikes. What a grump and a soul-selling skipper.