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Lots of Oli threads and comments. Also a lot of Oli negativity. Almost every fanbase dislikes their manager. In your opinion, who are the best three managers in MLB (in order)?

1 ?
2 ?
3 ?

Talkin' Baseball wrote: ↑02 Mar 2026 06:58 am Lots of Oli threads and comments. Also a lot of Oli negativity. Almost every fanbase dislikes their manager. In your opinion, who are the best three managers in MLB (in order)?

1 ?
2 ?
3 ?

This will help. I know the names of maybe 2-4 managers. Many posters are in a similar boat. Which gets to a big point- many want the manager gone, but who by name are you gonna get. By name.

That’s the ticket.

Talkin' Baseball wrote: ↑02 Mar 2026 06:58 am Lots of Oli threads and comments. Also a lot of Oli negativity. Almost every fanbase dislikes their manager. In your opinion, who are the best three managers in MLB (in order)?

1 ?
2 ?
3 ?

It's a revolving door and changes so much . Ex. a few years ago all the media types raved how good Craig Counsell (Brewers manager ) was and how he was winning division championships with a team not loaded with stars. Then he became a 'free agent' and most thought he was going to the Mets working with his former POBO Stearns. Cubs shocked everyone and he signed for $8 M per year ..top $$ of any manager. He's been OK with the Cubs but the team hasn't been top dogs . You hear a lot less about Counsell now though he is a solid baseball guy.
Dave Roberts wins with Dodgers .. how much is it because of him or the Ohtanis, Freemans, Betts etc ? Managers coaches are hired to be fired they say .
I know some fans think the head guy is crucial to winning. i have always thought all these managers/ coaches know the sport well or they would not be at the top pro level. It's the talent that separates the team IMO not who the manager is . Pete Carrol guided Seahawsk to Super Bowl .. He did not win with the Raiders . Think the head coach is way overblown. IF you know the game and coach well but don't have the horses and lose , guess what you will be canned ! Plain and simple ! Fans today are impatient and want a NEW coach when the team has losing season. We have seen that in St. Louis lately. When Oli's team with Pujols, Goldy, etc won 93 games , fans were not calling for his head . Now that team has been under .500, many wanted him GONE ! Was he a great manager winning 93 but a poor manager winning 70+ lol

The best managers in the league are those with the best talent. I have yet to see a manager hit a 3 run homer in the ninth to win a game.

I could manage the Dodgers and win 90 games...and so could you.

My three:

1 Kevin Cash, Tampa

2 AJ Hinch, Detroit

3 Pat Murphy, Milwaukee

1 K. Cash
2 C. Counsell
3 AJ Hinch

Honorable Mention - T. Francona


2025 Manager Rankings:

28. Oli Marmol — St. Louis Cardinals

https://lists.thebiglead.com/sports/ran ... t-to-best/

Not sure how you answer this question without watching the guy everyday

Goldfan wrote: ↑02 Mar 2026 09:38 am Not sure how you answer this question without watching the guy everyday

Excellent point. There is no way we could evaluate any of them without seeing their day in, day out game decisions .

As another poster pointed out, the best chef in the world isn't making caviar out of salmon eggs.

I always hear Terry Francona mentioned. He won a whopping 83 games last year. He also went on a 4 year stint with the Phillies winning a high of 77 games during that stint. He also had several years with Cleveland winning 90+ games.
So yea, Francona is a good manager......when he has a good team. Does that make him bad when he has a bad team?
Fans seem to think that a good manager can make a bad roster good. Doesn't work that way.

RamFan08NY wrote: ↑02 Mar 2026 09:53 am

Goldfan wrote: ↑02 Mar 2026 09:38 am Not sure how you answer this question without watching the guy everyday

Excellent point. There is no way we could evaluate any of them without seeing their day in, day out game decisions .

As another poster pointed out, the best chef in the world isn't making caviar out of salmon eggs.

I always hear Terry Francona mentioned. He won a whopping 83 games last year. He also went on a 4 year stint with the Phillies winning a high of 77 games during that stint. He also had several years with Cleveland winning 90+ games.
So yea, Francona is a good manager......when he has a good team. Does that make him bad when he has a bad team?
Fans seem to think that a good manager can make a bad roster good. Doesn't work that way.

I guess this is the point I was trying to get to. Whether you like Marmol, or whether you don't, it's pointless to drone on day after day and post after post about the manager. Try to put together a better team.