Sports Illustrated correspondents in every major-league city interviewed 380 players in May for the poll, though many players declined to answer that question.

In that case, you could at least post the raw numbers for each manager.

The results of the poll don't back up the headline to the story.

Most MLB baseball players want to "play" for whomever will pay them the most. Sort of like I want to work for whomever will pay me the most. The rest of it be damned...... Most people live their life by shutting out their work environment. Why should MLB baseball players be any different just because baseball fans think they should be different?

The 4% who do not want to play for Torre either have standing reservations to go hunting in October, or are relief pitchers whose arms were slagged by Joe.

This might be the only time Eric Wedge is ever the fifth name mentioned alongside four World Series winning skippers.

I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that Milton Bradley and Brandon Phillips were surveyed.

Chicago continues to be the capitol of baseball excellence.

Of course, the fact that Pinella has managed five different teams may have something to do with it.

The 4% who do not want to play for Torre either have standing reservations to go hunting in October, or are relief pitchers whose arms were slagged by Joe.

Or, maybe they don't want to s*** on in his next tell all book when they can't win him a World Series.

So, E-X and I haven't tussled on the subject of Ozzie in a few weeks...

E, how do you respond to this?

May have something to do with the fact that Lou is a crusty old man who comes off with a personality that resembles a drunken bum.

I actually agree with Chicago sports talk radio--a first--I think that it's simply a reflection of outside perception having nothing to do with the reality of the clubhouse.

Since the players couldn't vote for or against their own manager, all it shows is that players who DON'T play for Ozzie don't like Ozzie. I don't see how that's remotely meaningful.

Of course, the fact that Pinella has managed five different teams may have something to do with it.

I don't think anyone from those late 80's Yankees teams got to vote, but looking over the NY rosters from when Piniella managed them for 2.5 years, there are a lot of players who have gone on to have reasonably successful careers in the game after their playing days, mostly as coaches.

Don Mattingly
Willie Randolph
Mike Pagliarulo
Joel Skinner
Bobby Meachem
Bob Geren
Alvaro Espinoza
Chris Chambliss
Neil Allen
Dave Righetti
Dave Eiland
Ron Guidry (this one shouldn't count – he had the pitching coach position handed to him with no real reason)
Joel Skinner
Brad Arnsberg
Jose Cruz
John Montefusco

There could be more, but that was just names i recognized. That seems like a lot of players to get into player development, coaching or scouting, though there's certainly no clear reason to give Piniella the credit.

Since the players couldn't vote for or against their own manager, all it shows is that players who DON'T play for Ozzie don't like Ozzie. I don't see how that's remotely meaningful.

Ah, so we're back where we left off last time. So, the opinions of the players who were there and then left don't matter/mean anything, nor (IIRC, I may be crediting someone else's opinion to you here) do the anonymous opinions of current players, nor do the opinions of the entire rest of the league. Ozzie's clubhouse is a positive atmosphere because the public and sourced opinions of current players (only while they're current, once they leave their opinions don't count) say so.

Yes, and the fact that his teams seem to do fine, he manages his pitchers well, and he cultivates young players--non-William Katt division.

I don't think anyone from those late 80's Yankees teams got to vote,

No, but as you point out, there are a lot of Lou's former players floating around. Almost every major leaguer has played with or for somebody who played for Pinella. Add the fact that Lou is crusty (as #10 points out), and there are likely a lot of people in MLB with a strong opinion about him.

Contrast that with Ron Gardenhire, who had a short career and has only managed a single, small-market team. How many NLers are going to have an opinion about him one way or another?

I think a lot of players prefer the kind of manager who sits at the end of the bench and leaves the players alone for the most part. This makes sense - nobody likes a boss that gets in your face.

I don't equate effectiveness with who the players like, though.

The 4% who do not want to play for Torre either have standing reservations to go hunting in October, or are relief pitchers whose arms were slagged by Joe.

Or they don't want to be the best hitter on the team and bat 7, 8, or 9. I bet Matt Kemp's really enjoying Torre's leadership this season. Torre started believing his press clippings about 5 years ago, and he's acted like a real ass since. He's the attraction, he's the star, and if you don't bow to him, he'll bat you low and write bad things about you.

non-William Katt division.

??