# MLB: 2025 Postseason **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** baseball-mlb\ **Created:** [September 29, 2025, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478 "2025-09-29T12:49:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 35
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2025, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/681 "2025-10-22T06:47:33Z")
> [@Jas09](#): > > It will be interesting to see if, when he inevitably gets a managerial post, he can join the short list of “truly great players who were also good managers”. Is there a list at all? Frank Robinson was one of the greatest players of all time, but didn’t seem to do much as a manager. It’s hard to tell, though. You gotta have the talent on the field first, no matter how good you are. I’m not sure why Pujols _wants_ to manage. This is a guy who grossed $350+million as a player. Surely managing would be a radical step down in lifestyle. I’ve heard that Arod is hoping to manage one day. Same problem. ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2025, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/682 "2025-10-22T12:27:08Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > Is there a list at all? Yeah, that’s fair. Joe Torre, maybe? A 17-year playing career is nothing to scoff at. 2300 hits, 250 HRs. 120 OPS+ and an MVP. Not a Hall-of-Fame player, but pretty damn great. Can we mention Pete Rose? Apparently Walter Johnson was decently regarded as a manager, and had a pretty good record. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2025, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/683 "2025-10-22T12:38:57Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > Surely managing would be a radical step down in lifestyle. How so? It’s not like he can only spend what he earns in each year. More money is more money. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2025, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/684 "2025-10-22T12:47:08Z")
> [@Jas09](#): > > Joe Torre, maybe? A 17-year playing career is nothing to scoff at. 2300 hits, 250 HRs. 120 OPS+ and an MVP. Not a Hall-of-Fame player, but pretty damn great. Jeez. As a Yankees fan, I’m ashamed that I didn’t come up wth Torre. Sure, he qualifies. He had 14 seasons of not much before making it to the Bronx, but you can’t argue with what came next. I remember being annoyed when he was hired. Another retread, I grumbled, Most of that stemmed from me thinking that Showalter deserved another year or more after digging the Yankees out of a deep hole. I find it really hard to evaluate managers. Wins and losses don’t really tell a story if one team has a $300 million dollar payroll, while another has to make the most of a mere $80 million. I’ve always thought Keven Cash must be a very good manager considering the results he gets despite the low payroll and high turnover of talent. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2025, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/685 "2025-10-22T12:49:33Z")
Mostly because of the grind. The travel, the stress, the aggravation. It’s a tough job, with very limited power. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2025, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/686 "2025-10-22T12:56:14Z")
Gotcha. Presumably he loves that lifestyle or he wouldn’t seek it out. ---
**Author:** ![Hawkeyeop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/958977/32.png) [@Hawkeyeop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hawkeyeop)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2025, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/687 "2025-10-22T13:03:27Z")
Why would you blame managing stats here? Saving the closer is a pretty traditional move. The “spreadsheets” tend to be pro using your best pitcher in your highest leverage situation. I think sometimes people just want to blame sabermetrics for any decision they disagree with (while often siting stats as to why) I think I’d probably warmed up Munoz in the 7th once people got on, but I think it was defensible. There is a cost to Munoz early (tiring him out early on a day you want length from him, putting him a situation he isn’t used to) that it could have made sense to use another very good reliver. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2025, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/688 "2025-10-22T13:04:20Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > I find it really hard to evaluate managers. Wins and losses don’t really tell a story Very true. I’m looking at this Wiki [list](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Major_League_Baseball_managerial_wins_and_winning_percentage_leaders) of MLB managers with 1,000 or more wins. Bruce Bochy, who I consider a good manager, is 6th on the list with 2,252 wins (right behind Torre), but he has more losses (2,266) than wins. BTW, Bochy did have a 10-year career in the majors. But not exactly a great career: .239 BA, 26 HR, 93 RBI. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2025, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/689 "2025-10-22T14:25:40Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > I’m not sure why Pujols _wants_ to manage. This is a guy who grossed $350+million as a player. Surely managing would be a radical step down in lifestyle. He’s already managing baseball teams. > **[Pujols, Hunter no longer in mix to be next Angels manager (source)](https://www.mlb.com/amp/news/albert-pujols-will-not-be-angels-manager.html)** > > ANAHEIM -- The Angels are narrowing down their search for their next manager. They informed both Albert Pujols and Torii Hunter on Monday that they are no longer in the running for the position, a source told MLB.com's Mark Feinsand. > The club has not... > The 45-year-old Pujols has no Major League or Minor League managing or coaching experience, but he did lead Leones del Escogido to the Dominican Republic Professional Baseball League [(LIDOM) championship](https://www.mlb.com/news/junior-caminero-go-ahead-home-run-lidom-championship) and the [Caribbean Series title](https://www.mlb.com/news/dominican-republic-wins-2025-caribbean-series) last winter. He’s also slated to [manage his native Dominican Republic](https://www.mlb.com/news/albert-pujols-to-manage-dominican-republic-in-2026-world-baseball-classic) in next year’s [World Baseball Classic](https://www.mlb.com/world-baseball-classic). It would rather mean a step up in his career as a baseball manager. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2025, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/690 "2025-10-22T16:56:53Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > Very true. I’m looking at this Wiki [list](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Major_League_Baseball_managerial_wins_and_winning_percentage_leaders) of MLB managers with 1,000 or more wins. Bruce Bochy, who I consider a good manager, is 6th on the list with 2,252 wins (right behind Torre), but he has more losses (2,266) than wins. John McGraw was a great player, of course. Lou Boudreau. Frankie Frisch. Red Schoendienst. Some “pretty darned good” ones too like Felipe Alou, Jim Fregosi, or Mike Scioscia. No one like Pujols though. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2025, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/691 "2025-10-22T17:09:55Z")
What statistics best identify a great manager? As mentioned by @BlankSlate above, they should probably be handicapped somehow based on how much payroll they were swinging each year. Beyond that is it total wins? Win/loss ratio (after some minimum number of games as manager)? Total scoring? Total net scoring? Years in the saddle? etc. An interesting question IMO and, at least for me, one worthy of a bit more thought before I stick my oar in the water. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2025, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/692 "2025-10-22T17:38:41Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > What statistics best identify a great manager? As mentioned by @BlankSlate above, they should probably be handicapped somehow based on how much payroll they were swinging each year. > > Beyond that is it total wins? Win/loss ratio (after some minimum number of games as manager)? Total scoring? Total net scoring? Years in the saddle? etc. Historically, win-loss record, and pennants and championships won, have been the main metrics. The Manager of the Year award often goes to a guy whose team improves dramatically over the prior season and/or outperforms expectations (especially with a first-year skipper), so it’s probably not a great metric of ongoing success. But, as you note, over the last decades, with the ever-widening disparity in revenues and salary between the teams, that’d seem to be a factor. And, yet, on the gripping hand, there’s not a perfect correlation between team salary and success: if there were, Mike Scioscia would have more than one WS ring (and the Angels wouldn’t be in an 11-year playoff drought), Mattingly would have won pennants and rings with the Dodgers, etc. ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2025, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/693 "2025-10-22T17:46:45Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > > [@Railer13](#): > > > > Very true. I’m looking at this Wiki [list](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Major_League_Baseball_managerial_wins_and_winning_percentage_leaders) of MLB managers with 1,000 or more wins. Bruce Bochy, who I consider a good manager, is 6th on the list with 2,252 wins (right behind Torre), but he has more losses (2,266) than wins. > > John McGraw was a great player, of course. Lou Boudreau. Frankie Frisch. Red Schoendienst. Some “pretty darned good” ones too like Felipe Alou, Jim Fregosi, or Mike Scioscia. > > No one like Pujols though. There’s also Sweet Lou Piniella, who in addition to his achievements added to the entertainment when he would argue with the umpires. ---
**Author:** ![Zoobi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/13edae/32.png) [@Zoobi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoobi)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2025, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/694 "2025-10-22T20:10:24Z")
Dusty Baker was a very good player and manager. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2025, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/695 "2025-10-22T20:39:30Z")
Yogi Berra seems to have had a decent career as a manager, and a great career as a player. ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2025, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/696 "2025-10-22T21:24:11Z")
One possible way to measure manager performance would be taking team WAR and compare it to actual record. That could help balance for team quality. Of course that would mask any ability a manager might have to improve player performance.. The other approach I’ve seen used is comparing actual W-L record to pythagorean W-L. That could map to some tactical ability to squeak out more close wins than losses. Of course it also maps to having an amazing bullpen - perhaps it’s not too surprising that one study using that system has Joe Torre as #1. Having Mo Rivera as your closer can make any manager look amazing in close games. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2025, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/697 "2025-10-23T01:16:09Z")
The Giants have picked Tennessee coach [Tony Vitello as their new manager](https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/46685328/sources-tennessee-vitello-finalizing-deal-giants-manager), marking the first time a manager was hired directly from a college program without any experience as a professional coach. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2025, 9:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/698 "2025-10-23T09:43:38Z")
That makes more sense than hiring out of a broadcast booth. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2025, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/699 "2025-10-23T17:56:55Z")
Here is a fun fact. One person will get a World Series Ring no matter who wins. Minor Leaguer Bobby Kennedy who has been bouncing around all year played two games for the Blue Jays in August and later a week for the Dodgers (and the Phillies at some point) is entitled to a ring since he played in the bigs for the winning team. > **[This MLB player gets a World Series ring no matter who wins](https://sports.yahoo.com/article/mlb-player-gets-world-series-025320813.html)** > > As the Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays prepare to face off in the World Series, this player will earn a ring no matter who wins. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2025, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/700 "2025-10-23T18:06:41Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > Minor Leaguer Bobby Kennedy who has been bouncing around all year played two games for the Blue Jays in August and later a week for the Dodgers (and the Phillies at some point) is entitled to a ring since he played in the bigs for the winning team. Not really. > **[Who gets World Series rings? Fun facts on the MLB tradition](https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/46640021/world-series-rings-mlb-tradition-history-facts)** > > Since the 1920s, World Series rings have captured public attention with distinctive designs. Who gets them? How are they made? Learn more facts now. > Best practices for World Series rings vary by team. Owners make the final call on who gets rings. Save for rare exceptions, active roster players and coaches are guaranteed rings. Former players who participated in the bulk of the season but were traded/relocated may also receive rings, in addition to injured players. Front office staff members and executives often receive rings. Support staff such as trainers and groundskeepers may also take home rings, upon the owner’s discretion. It will be up to the team owner who gets a ring. There is no rule saying that if you played a couple of games, you’re entitled to a ring. The team gets to decide that. The best you can say is that he _could_ get a ring no matter who wins. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478.md?page=34) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478.md?page=36)