Dumbest Manager in Baseball - 2006

by user Christof

So who is the the Dumbest Manager in Baseball? My vote goes to none other than Charlie Manuel - manager for the Philadelphia Phillies. Last year, good ole Cholly admitted during his pre-game radio show that:

1. He forgets there is no DH in the National League.
2. He does not understand the concept of the double switch.

Ole Cholly also forgot to go to the pitcher to take him out of a game last year. He simply went to the Home plate umpire and walked back to the dugout. The relief pitcher came in, and the other just walked off the field.

This year, Ole Cholly has continued to bat Jimmy Rollins in the lead-off position, even though he has been in a month long slump. Also, he has never even thought of putting Bobby Abreu, who has over a .400 OBP, in the leadoff slot.

All of this leads to my conclusion: Charlie Manuel is the dumbest manager in baseball currently.

Date

Thu 06/01/06, 7:21 am EST

Alex HolowczakHall of Famer

1279 days ago

Score 2

Perhaps we should direct him to this site's Guide to Baseball, or Dictionary. It sounds like it could be of great assistance to the plonker. If he has admitted that, someone should have explained that to him by now, surely...

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XinophDraft Pick

1279 days ago

Score -1

Are we doing this based just on what they have done this year, or in the past? Because if we include the past, I think Grady Little still gets it for Game 7 2003.

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Patrickburke1980All-American

1279 days ago

Score 1

I disagree. Hindsight is 20/20 and he wanted his best pitcher in there for the big spot. Yes, Pedro had a history of crappiness after 100 pitches, but I don't think that was an all-time stupid move.

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DNLLegend

1279 days ago

Score -2

A lot of former AL managers/coaches don't get the double switch -- see Willie Randolph. It's kind of complicated, but you'd think for $25, they could hire a tutor.

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Alex HolowczakHall of Famer

1279 days ago

Score 3

It's not that complicated - I haven't been explained what it is - I was playing a baseball game on my PS2, (as NYY, in an interleague game), and I saw what happened. It confused me at first glance, but after I realised a minute later I could do it, I thought about it for a moment. I realised exactly what it was. Unless there are technicalities I don't know about, then I think the double switch is complicated. It's a rule you can use to your advantage, so they really ought to learn it.

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RoblefkoLegend

1279 days ago

Score 0

If Stephen A. Smith were a manager in baseball, he'd be the dumbest manager in baseball.

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ChristofMVP

1279 days ago

Score 0

Stephen A. knows B-ball and just about it. He also has the gift for gab. And ESPN and the Philly Inky need viewers / readers....

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PopjonesWaterboy

1279 days ago

Score 2

It's amazing how low a priority strategy seems to be when managers are hired. It's always more important to their bosses that they are great leaders or can run a clubhouse.

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XinophDraft Pick

1279 days ago

Score -1

Really, Patrick? How many times can you think that a manager's decision A) was known by probably 90% of the audience to be absolutely idiotic, and B) had a major impact on whether a team won the pennant? Now, I'm not saying Boston would have definitely won if Grady Little hadn't made one of the all-time stupid moves in the history of baseball, but it definitely would have been worlds easier. And just about everyone watching the game knew that.

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Bball3345Draft Pick

1279 days ago

Score 1

Dumbest managerial move would be bringing in one of your "mop-up duty" relievers to pitch the 9th inning of a tie ballgame while the closer sits in the bullpen. This happens way too much, because the manager wants to save the better relievers for extra innings. Why not try to win the game now rather than throw out a garbage reliever to blow the game before extra innings roll around?

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Anonymous Fanatic #1

1279 days ago

Score -1

bball... kinda like manuel did on saturday? tie game in the 8th vs the heart of the brewers lineup. he brings in ryan franklin, a homerun pitcher in a homerun ball park vs a homerun hitting bill hall and crew on the brewers. a pitcher who also has struggled all year - while arthur rhodes is in the bullpen - the setup man for tom gordon.

what does franklin do?

gives up 2 homeruns.

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MetsJetsDevilsDraft Pick

1279 days ago

Score -1

Abreu as a leadoff hitter? Never heard of such a thing.

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Bball3345Draft Pick

1279 days ago

Score 1

I like the idea of Abreu as the leadoff hitter. He has the best combo of on-base ability and speed on the team. I also wish they would move Howard into the cleanup spot for good, like they did yesterday.

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CoreyisarealboyMajor Leaguer

1279 days ago

Score -1

Is this open to debate? Cuz I'd vote Minnesota's Ron Gardenhire in a second. Although if a National League coach doesn't know what a double switch is I have to wonder why the hell he's a National League coach.

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ASwaffAll-American

1275 days ago

Score -1

My vote is for Phil Garner. The guy uses all of his bench players in a nine inning game, whether he needs to or not. That's one of the reasons why that playoff game against the Braves went so long last year, because he ran out of pinch hitters before the 11th inning. He makes defensive subs that make no sense, hurting his team if they go into extra innings. For example, he has a habit of pulling Taveras and/or Biggio in the 8th or 9th inning. Seriously, who pulls the leadoff or second hitter in a lineup that is not much of a defensive liability?

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I am a cpcpMajor Leaguer

1242 days ago

Score 0

This was karma's backhanded slap for stealing Thome. That and Thome being hurt all the time.

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AWeiner18Varsity

1240 days ago

Score 0

I would say Manuel but what about Buddy Bell? He just downright cannot win. But he has managed pretty lousy days.

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