Is Mike Scioscia Overrated As a Manager?

by

Aug 18, 2010

Is Mike Scioscia Overrated As a Manager? If you need someone to stare incredulously at a home plate umpire, Mike Scioscia is the guy for you.

Likewise, if you want a manager who is annually considered among the best in baseball, Scioscia can fill that role for you. But is he really the best, or is he a bit overrated?

With his Angels eight games out of first place in the AL West heading into this week's series in Boston, it's not the best time to ask that question of the leader of the 60-60 team. Still, his impressive resume speaks for itself. He's managed more than 1,700 games for the Angels, finishing with a winning record in nine of 11 seasons, winning five AL West crowns, making the playoffs six times and, of course, winning the World Series in 2002.

He's highly regarded for his game management, and every time a TV camera catches him, he's giving signs to someone. His teams are consistently smart on the basepaths, solid defensively and smart at the plate.

Oh, and if you're an umpire making suspicious calls, you better look out. You do not want to feel the uncomfortable wrath of the Mike Scioscia Face.

Still, having not won it all in quite some time raises the question of whether the skipper is heaped with too much praise. After all, a .552 winning percentage isn't exactly worthy of induction to Cooperstown. The playoff struggles don't help either, with the Halos losing the ALDS three times, twice getting swept and winning just one game in 2008. From 2006-08, the Angels won 291 games and have nothing to show for it but a few division banners.

But it can't be the managers fault, right? This is a guy with 13 years as a player in the big leagues and another 11 in charge of the Angels. He knows what he's doing, but his teams aren't always winning in October. That begs the question of whether managers in general are overrated. After all, if you call a hit and run at the right time, but the guy at the plate can't hit and the guy at first can't run, it's hard to look like a great manager.

The inarguable point of all this is that Scioscia is a very good manager, one who's garnered the respect of players, fans and media. But is he among the best of the best?

Share your thoughts below.

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