Piniella voted least popular manager in player survey

[LeftCoastCubFan]

In a poll of 380 players, conducted in May, Piniella received 26 percent of the vote, followed closely by White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen at 21 percent. St. Louis' Tony La Russa finished third at 10 percent, followed by the Dodgers' Joe Torre (4 percent) and Cleveland's Eric Wedge (4 percent).

 

Players could not vote for managers from their own team, and the poll was anonymous, so no one knows who voted for whom. (Full disclosure: As an SI correspondent, I polled Cubs players for the survey).

 

http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports_hardball/2009/06/piniella-voted-least-popular-manager-in-player-survey-.html

[Roast]

Huh.

[laurens]

So they couldn't vote for their own managers? That kind of takes the purpose away from the poll, doesn't it?

[jersey cubs fan]

So they couldn't vote for their own managers? That kind of takes the purpose away from the poll, doesn't it?

 

It would indicate which managers are more likely to be listed as "guy I don't want to play for" among free agents.

[laurens]

So they couldn't vote for their own managers? That kind of takes the purpose away from the poll, doesn't it?

 

It would indicate which managers are more likely to be listed as "guy I don't want to play for" among free agents.

 

Ah, didn't think of that.

[Banedon]

So they couldn't vote for their own managers? That kind of takes the purpose away from the poll, doesn't it?

 

It would indicate which managers are more likely to be listed as "guy I don't want to play for" among free agents.

 

Free agents can sign with the same team though.

[jersey cubs fan]

So they couldn't vote for their own managers? That kind of takes the purpose away from the poll, doesn't it?

 

It would indicate which managers are more likely to be listed as "guy I don't want to play for" among free agents.

 

Free agents can sign with the same team though.

 

What does that mean?

[Banedon]

So they couldn't vote for their own managers? That kind of takes the purpose away from the poll, doesn't it?

 

It would indicate which managers are more likely to be listed as "guy I don't want to play for" among free agents.

 

Free agents can sign with the same team though.

 

What does that mean?

 

I just mean that when Milton Bradley, for example, becomes a free agent, he can say Piniella is a "guy I don't want to play for. I'll sign with anyone but the Cubs"... But for the purposes of this poll, he wasn't allowed to say Piniella.

[jersey cubs fan]

So they couldn't vote for their own managers? That kind of takes the purpose away from the poll, doesn't it?

 

It would indicate which managers are more likely to be listed as "guy I don't want to play for" among free agents.

 

Free agents can sign with the same team though.

 

What does that mean?

 

I just mean that when Milton Bradley, for example, becomes a free agent, he can say Piniella is a "guy I don't want to play for. I'll sign with anyone but the Cubs"... But for the purposes of this poll, he wasn't allowed to say Piniella.

 

Okay, yes I realize that Milton couldn't say Lou. I'm talking about the general sentiment among all players, who at one point in time will become free agents in one way shape or form. I'm not talking about Milton.

[Guest]

It seems like a weird poll. If they haven't played for the manager how do they know they don't like him? I guess word of mouth.

 

I bet Mike Barrett and Matt Murton are big fans.

[Soul]

I didn't realize Lou would be lowly-regarded among players.

 

How does Torre make the top 5? Seems like he would be a pretty good manager to play for.

[Clem Fandango]

I didn't realize Lou would be lowly-regarded among players.

 

How does Torre make the top 5? Seems like he would be a pretty good manager to play for.

 

It's like a Who's Who of managers. I bet a majority of these guys picked people like Piniella and the such because they probably don't know who the hell is managing the Nats or the A's.

[laurens]

I didn't realize Lou would be lowly-regarded among players.

 

How does Torre make the top 5? Seems like he would be a pretty good manager to play for.

 

It's like a Who's Who of managers. I bet a majority of these guys picked people like Piniella and the such because they probably don't know who the hell is managing the Nats or the A's.

 

I don't even think the Nats management knows who's managing the Nats these days.

[Banedon]

I didn't realize Lou would be lowly-regarded among players.

 

How does Torre make the top 5? Seems like he would be a pretty good manager to play for.

 

It's like a Who's Who of managers. I bet a majority of these guys picked people like Piniella and the such because they probably don't know who the hell is managing the Nats or the A's.

 

Interesting point. I wonder if they went and asked the same guys what teams they would least like to play for if it would different results.

[Tyrant]

I'm surprised Joe Girardi isn't tops on the list, given his reputation.

[cubweiser03]

I didn't realize Lou would be lowly-regarded among players.

 

How does Torre make the top 5? Seems like he would be a pretty good manager to play for.

 

Torre was voted 2nd most popular to play for behind Bobby Cox so he at least had that as a counter to his 'unpopularity'.

[jersey cubs fan]

It seems like a weird poll. If they haven't played for the manager how do they know they don't like him? I guess word of mouth.

 

I bet Mike Barrett and Matt Murton are big fans.

 

MB, Murton, Eyre, Wuertz, Gaudin, maybe Pie and Cedeno. DeRosa says the reports of him feuding with Lou are unfounded, but maybe they weren't. It says you couldn't list your manager, not necessarily any manager you've played for. And with all the time these guys have to BS with each other, I'm sure word gets around. That and he has a longstanding reputation, and a team full of guys in Tampa where things didn't exactly end well.

 

Torre doesn't surprise mere. There was always talk of friction with players, especially relievers. Plus, Torre got an insane amount of the credit for the success.

[Cubbie Swagger]

I love how Torre is voted one of the top managers in both categories. How does that make sense?

[Backtobanks]

So they couldn't vote for their own managers? That kind of takes the purpose away from the poll, doesn't it?

 

It would indicate which managers are more likely to be listed as "guy I don't want to play for" among free agents.

 

The bottom line is that free agents can deal with any manager as long as their GM pays them the most money. Girardi is probably considered "a guy I don't want to play for", but that didn't stop Sabathia, Texiera, and Burnett.

[Soul]

I love how Torre is voted one of the top managers in both categories. How does that make sense?

 

I guess you either love him or you hate him.

[Geech]

Players could not vote for managers from their own team, and the poll was anonymous, so no one knows who voted for whom.

 

:-k

[jiml60]

Ozzie comes in second to Lou again, HA!

[rynefan]

Makes me wonder why Ozzie is behind Lou. I don't know either Lou or Ozzie personally, and while I am a Cubs fan, I can be objective and I couldn't see choosing Ozzie over Lou if it came to that as a choice. I just can't stand what I've seen of Ozzie in the media .... sure makes me want to hear the backstory from the guys that voted for Lou on this one.

[Careless]

I didn't realize Lou would be lowly-regarded among players.

 

How does Torre make the top 5? Seems like he would be a pretty good manager to play for.

Torre makes it because with the top 3 getting 57% of the vote and everyone else at 4% or less, a really tiny number of votes above average will put you in the top 5. At that point, any manager who's been around for awhile will have pissed off enough people to be near the top

[Little Slide Rooter]

LaRussa and Torre are also 2 of the winningest and most successful active managers, and Ozzie and Wedge have had their share of success, as has Lou, so these guys are obviously doing something right.