Over the last few weeks, ranking Minor League prospects, a team’s chances to win the division or World Series, or the worst and best offseason moves has been en vogue.
That’s generally been met with a positive outlook for the Los Angeles Dodgers as their farm system houses three premier names, and the Major-League team is expected to compete for another National League West division title and first World Series berth since 1988. Adding to the various rankings that have already been released is the Boston Globe’s Nick Cafardo.
Cafardo ranked all MLB managers heading into the 2015 season using the following criteria:
For the past few years leading into spring training we’ve attempted managerial rankings. They are based on my opinions and the opinions of the many people around baseball I speak with during the course of the week.
The rankings factor in recent performance and track record. Obviously, a manager’s performance is tied into the talent on his roster and his ability to push that talent to positive results.
As such, Cafardo has Dodgers manager Don Mattingly No. 17, crediting him for keeping order in the clubhouse:
17. Don Mattingly, Dodgers — Kudos for being able to handle such a complicated roster. Mattingly had to deal with Matt Kemp, Hanley Ramirez, Adrian Gonzalez, Andre Ethier, Yasiel Puig, etc. Mattingly had smoke coming out of his head at times, but he survived. He now has a team with fewer headaches, but one that perhaps isn’t as talented. New management stuck with him.
Since succeeding Joe Torre as manager in 2011, Mattingly has guided the Dodgers to consecutive trips to the postseason by way of winning the NL West division. He’s a career 354-293 and finished in second place for NL Manager of the Year in 2013.
While Mattingly undeniably has succeeded in keeping a clubhouse with large personalities in order, he’s also come under fire for his in-game management. Following the 2013 season, his bench coach and close friend Trey Hillman was fired. Tim Wallach replaced Hillman last season and will hold the same role in 2015 as the entire coaching staff was retained.
Amid the roster and front office turnover, Mattingly has been one constant in the dugout. However, if he’s unable to guide the Dodgers to more than a trip to the NL Division Series, his tenure with the team may come to an end.
Included below is Cafardo’s complete ranking of Major League managers:
| Manager | Team | |
|---|---|---|
| No. 1 | Bruce Bochy | San Francisco Giants |
| No. 2 | Buck Showalter | Baltimore Orioles |
| No. 3 | Joe Maddon | Chicago Cubs |
| No. 4 | Terry Francona | Cleveland Indians |
| No. 5 | Bob Melvin | Oakland Athletics |
| No. 6 | Clint Hurdle | Pittsburgh Pirates |
| No. 7 | Mike Scioscia | Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim |
| No. 8 | Joe Giradai | New York Yankees |
| No. 9 | Mike Matheny | St. Louis Cardinals |
| No. 10 | John Farrell | Boston Red Sox |
| No. 11 | Bud Black | San Diego Padres |
| No. 12 | Lloyd McClendon | Seattle Mariners |
| No. 13 | Mike Redmond | Miami Marlins |
| No. 14 | Ned Yost | Kansas City Royals |
| No. 15 | Brad Ausmus | Detroit Tigers |
| No. 16 | John Gibbons | Toronto Blue Jays |
| No. 17 | Don Mattingly | Los Angeles Dodgers |
| No. 18 | Ron Roenicke | Milwaukee Brewers |
| No. 19 | Terry Collins | New York Mets |
| No. 20 | Robin Ventura | Chicago White Sox |
| No. 21 | Bryan Price | Cincinnati Reds |
| No. 22 | Fredi Gonzalez | Atlanta Braves |
| No. 23 | Matt Williams | Washington Nationals |
| No. 24 | Ryne Sandberg | Philadelphia Phillies |
| No. 25 | Walt Weiss | Colorado Rockies |
| No. 26 | A.J. Hinch | Houston Astros |
| No. 27 | Kevin Cash | Tampa Bay Rays |
| No. 28 | Jeff Banister | Texas Rangers |
| No. 29 | Chip Hale | Arizona Diamondbacks |
| No. 30 | Paul Molitor | Minnesota Twins |
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