Chris Jaffe, author of "Evaluating Baseball Managers," appeared on MLB TV with Brian Kenny and Larry Bowa. They, along with MLB's "Shredder," were given the task of ranking the top 10 Managers in baseball, right now. Here is an Amazon description of Jaffe's book.

"This ambitious study of major league managers since the formation of the National League applies a sabermetric approach to gauging their performance and tendencies. Rather than focusing solely on in-game tactical decisions, it also analyzes broader, off-the-field management issues such as handling players, fans, and media, enforcing team rules, working with the front office, and balancing pressure versus performance."

Here is his list:

1. Mike Scioscia
2. Bruce Bochy
3. Davey Johnson
4. Joe Maddon
5. Ron Gardenhire
6. Joe Girardi
7. RON WASHINGTON
8. Buck Showalter
9. Freddi Gonzalez
10. Jim Leyland

The Shredder's list:

1. Bochy
2. Johnson
3. Dusty Baker
4. Bob Melvin
5. Showalter
6. Maddon
7. Gonzalez
8. WASH
9. Girardi
10. Leyland

Bowa's list:

1. Bochy
2. Leyland
3. Maddon
4. Scioscia
5. Showalter
6. Baker
7. Tito Francona
8. Johnson
9. Girardi
10. Charlie Manuel

First, I like Wash. I think he was a great fit for the 2010 club, in particular. But I get the feel that he is still learning on the job. His latest lesson? Never get attached to players 101 (esp. veterans). They are not "your guys." They're short term employees. I would not rank him in the lower third of all current managers. However, my list would more closely resemble Bowa's.

Also, the lists look like a "what have you done for me lately" roll call. Although Jaffe gives credit to Gardenhire (#5), who always seems to get more out of his clubs than their talent levels would seem to indicate.

Peace

there's no way wash is a better manager than jim leyland. come on, that's just silly.

That's what came to my mind. Like I said, I like Wash, but I can't put him on this list as of today.

Peace

Haters will hate!

The only issue I have with Wash is that he refuses to play young players. I believe Jon Daniels and Nolan Ryan have a lot more to do with this success. Nolan and JD wanted Wash to play Profar and Olt and he played 7 regulars over 150 games. That seems like a little bit of rebellion to me with arrogance of "I'm Ron Washington."

JD nor Nolan Ryan EVER said they wanted Profar and Olt to play last season. I read that on this site all the time, and I still don't understand where that comes from. You don't put two rookies in the middle of a pennant race when you have capable veterans who are better equipped for the job. There is no precedence. Wash doesn't play young players? Elvis Andrus in 2009 ring a bell? Neftali Feliz being his closer in 2010 as a rookie ring a bell? Justin Smoak in 2010. Mitch Moreland in 2010. Robbie Ross in 2012. Julio Borbon in 2010. C'mon man.

Champ you're an idiot. Fact is he does play younger players you idiot

WTF? should just STFU

Guest, WTF is the same troll we've been seeing for a while now under a different name. Just ignore him.

Hey romro-u still daying Joey?

*dating

Anyone can put a list together. Everyone can have an opinion, but the fact remains we don't have a title because of the manager. We choked down the stretch last year because of the manager. The GM had to completely get rid of a player that totally sucked all of last year, because of the fear the manager would play him again this year. The guy was a coke sniffer during the season (should have been fired immediately). It was his decision to pull Feliz in the last inning of the last World Series when Feliz could have blown away the last three players in the batting order. Instead he puts in Oliver who blows the game with his awful pitching. Ron Washinton got to where he is by pure talent on the team. He is a coke sniffin rodeo clown! Get rid of of the guy before he screws up all the young talent we got coming up!!! FIRE his AZZ!!!!!

Speak of the devil and he shall appear.

The truth hurts for those that are blind!

We don't have a World Series title because the cardinals woke up in the ninth inning of game 6 and played with their hair on fire and beat us, Hamilton's bomb should have knocked them back to earth but it only fueled their resolve. We got beat. We have a good manager, we are a good team. With Wash its what you see Is what you get, a baseball man coaching a baseball team that plays baseball games. Before you knock him, go get your self a job where their are only 29
Other jobs like it in the world and then criticize Wash. Until then give the man his credit.

And as far as last years collapse. If Colby and Feliz were healthy all season the division would have been clinched by Labor Day. Olt and profar don't pitch and neither did Michael young.

Romro:
Are you and Joey registered for your wedding gifts anywhere?

Make all the excuses you want, but Ron Washinton will not be the Manager when the Rangers finally win a World Series. The sooner we get rid of him and get a real manager, our odds will improve. I agree with most of Nolan Ryan's decisions, but the one in keeping Ron Washington after his coke sniffin incident is a bad one. I think Nolan knows it too, but is waiting on the right opportunity to get his guy in there. He has kept Washinton out of respect for JD and Michael Young in the past. Make no mistake about it, Ron Washinton is not Nolan Ryan's guy!

Do you guys seriously want to continue the Wash threads?

If your view of a good manager is someone who is a good caretaker of the roster, then Ron Washington is probably your guy. The team played just good enough in 2008 and 2009 for him to retain his job. Then we get Cliff Lee to take us to the World Series and poof, all of a sudden Washington is a great manager.

If your view of a good manager is someone who makes sound lineup decisions, someone who appropriately disperses his bullpen arms in the later innings, or someone who didn't make the bonehead choice to bat Colby Lewis in Game 6 of the World Series in 2011, then no, Ron Washington is probably not your guy. Let's face it. Jon Daniels has given him a lot of talent. Cliff Lee, Josh Hamilton, Elvis Andrus, Matt Harrison, Neftali Feliz, Derek Holland, Yu Darvish -- these are all products of Daniels (and the FO).

The amount of wins you collect is not a reflection of the manager. It's a reflection of the players.

Make no mistake-Gump is talkin out her ass.

@eric...so you ( and I say this with respect) have spent the hundreds if not thousands of hours that this author did and disagree? His book(s) are about MANAGERS and the associated functions, differences when players are brought from other teams and performance changes, clubhouse rapport, observations of players, nuances about their day and what kinds of mood they are in, and what his 40 YEARS of being a baseball player at all levels of baseball tell him? In addition to using sabermetrics???

Tell me about Johnny Oates. There are two BIG things that he did. You are in the early twenties...surely(other than wikipedia) you can tell me from having watched games he managed, what he did. Otherwise you do not have the PRIVILEDGE of watching a game and making a sure decision AFTER it has been made in a game-that is chickenshit-anyone can do it, even a caveman...better yet, have you ever acknowledged his good decisions; even recognized them? Name 10 in July....

@Hambone and WTF, you guys have no idea what you are talking about. 7 regulars shouldn't be playing 150 games if it's a pennant race or not. Profar and Olt had little scouting reports on them so teams didn't know how to pitch them but instead Wash plays Michael Young who should be called Michael Old last season. Everyone knew his bat speed was done and he kept batting the old man in the 5 and 6 hole all year. The kids needed to play in the pennant race to get that experience not once a week while Michael Old is hitting .260 with no power. Guys I loved Wash playing the kids in those years Hambone meantioned but that was a lot less pressure. Wash better days are behind him now and he must play the kids this season while still making it to October or his days in Arlington are over. Mike Maddox could be next in line or we could even maybe bring Clint Hurdle back.... either way I'm not saying get rid of Wash but if his veteran fetish takes control of this teams development this year then it's time for a change....

Why in God's name is Joe Girardi on anyone's list? You hand me superstars like ARod (when he was superstar), Texiera, Cano, Jeter, Posada, Matsui, etc... and I win a World Series. He's nothing more than a babysitter.

Also, will someone please tell me what Ron Gardnehire has accomplished in his career? I know he's a good manager but when is the last time the Twins were true contenders? I'm not just talking about winning the AL Central, I'm talking about legit WS contenders.

Scioscia, Leyland, Bochy, Baker, Maddon, and maybe Showalter and Wash I'm on board with but not the others...

Pablo you could make the same argument about Wash and the talent JD has brought in like Elvis, Beltre, Hamilton, Napoli's unbelievable year, Kinsler etc. IMO wash is nothing more than a baby sitter.

Girardi did something that Wash didnt have the balls to do. He benched a veteran player when they didnt produce. And it would be a lot harder to bench A-rod than bench a guy with .6 fWAR