Looking back on it now, Riggleman quitting in his bizarre, prideful little snit is one of the best things that could have ever possibly happened to this team.

In the blink of an eye, we went from having one of the worst managers in the history of baseball to one of the best. Things like that almost never happen, especially to teams in this town.

In the blink of an eye, we went from having one of the worst managers in the history of baseball

Now now. They fired Manny Acta in 2009.

Good point; Acta has been pretty horrible. It's hard to believe he actually got Manager of the Year votes in '07!

Even if Riggleman hadn't walked off in mid season Davey would still be the manager this season.

good to see davey get some recognition

What does Davy do that makes him such a great manager? From my perspective, very little, all he does is win.

What does Davy do that makes him such a great manager? From my perspective, very little, all he does is win.

Clever.

Actually though, do RTFA because Boz spends a lot of time breaking down just how ridiculously great a job Johnson has done getting production off the bench this season. It's not just a question of the guys he's chosen for those roles, it's the way he's used them and the inarguable results. This is one of the few things that managers actually have a direct effect upon, both long-term (in terms of roster composition) and on a day-to-day basis, and Davey's nailed it.

He has the second-highest winning percentage of any living manager with more than six seasons’ experience, behind only Earl Weaver.

I find myself surprised every couple of years to find that Earl Weaver is still living. He seemed old when I was a kid in the 1970s, and he hasn't managed in 25 years. But there he is, 81 years old and still kicking.

The average Johnson team in his 16 years has gone 91-71. And he’s done it while taking over five different clubs, all of them mediocre to miserable when he got there. Counting the Nats, four became big winners.

Imagine if you could cycle Davey Johnson and Billy Martin--let them manage till they wore out their welcomes, then alternate.

Somebody needs to page Chris Jaffe to this thread.

Imagine if you could cycle Davey Johnson and Billy Martin--let them manage till they wore out their welcomes, then alternate.

The difference, it seems, is that Davey only seemed to wear out his welcome with management (it didn't help much his choice of employers). Billy wore his out with everyone.

The difference, it seems, is that Davey only seemed to wear out his welcome with management (it didn't help much his choice of employers). Billy wore his out with everyone.

Precisely. Let Davey show the players some love for a few years, then when they get soft, go to the whip.