Ozzie Guillen and the 5 MLB Managers Who Need to Retire

Running a MLB team takes it's toll. 

Constantly criticized in the local media and by fans for every insignificant move, the MLB manager is the person who's blamed for every minute move.

Regardless of what the general manager has given him to work with on the field, he's expected to win.  There are no right moves to fans, only wrong moves get noticed.

Old school managers are being replaced by a younger breed that players can relate to.  Manny Acta in Cleveland, Kirk Gibson in Arizona and Joe Girardi in New York represent a new managerial style where they're not the story.

The story is on the field for those teams.

There's a few guys left over with the old school managerial style that might be best to call it a career.  These are often well respected, highly successful managers (maybe even still so), but they might be getting passed by.

1. Ozzie Guillen

I actually love Ozzie Guillen.  His rants get more and more entertaining each season, and his introduction to Twitter was like an extra shot of craziness to his persona.

Still he's an everyday guy who happens to be coaching a major league baseball team.  But he's worn out his welcome in Chicago with both his mouth and his teams' performance.

The White Sox should be running away with the AL Central as the Cleveland Indians and Detroit Tigers have done nothing to put a stranglehold on the division.

Instead of winning, he's talking his way to the unemployment line, as it seems he can't go week without making the news. 

Maybe Guillen isn't crazy.  Perhaps his rants are ploy to keep the heat off his team for underperforming?

2. Tony LaRussa

This one pains me.  Another manager that I really like, but he too might be near the end.  However, I've got to believe that as long as LaRussa wants a job he will have one.

The Tony LaRussa I remember was stoic face of the Oakland A's that made it to three consecutive World Series in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Now LaRussa is clearly in the winding down phase of his career.  He's still managing competitive teams, but his behavior has been more erratic lately (i.e. regular media outbursts and a recent DUI), and his health is fading.

The last thing I'd want is to see is this legendary manager tarnish his career.  It might be time to make one last push for the playoffs and then pack it up.

3. Jim Leyland

I've supported Jim Leyland as long as I could.  Just when I believed I finally gave up on him as the answer, he was resigned by owner Mike Illitch.

As a long suffering Detroit Tiger fan, Leyland's managed an era that has brought respectability back to Detroit baseball...but little else.

Leyland's teams have time and time again fallen flat in the second half of the season, and you'd be hard pressed to find any loyal supporters of Leyland in Detroit. 

His lineups have been rightfully criticized, and his pitching staff has underperformed.  With the Cleveland Indians heating up and gaining on Detroit, Leyland has a month-and-a-half to prove he's learned from previous seasons' mistakes.

So far, not so good.

4. Jack McKeon

Jack McKeon has had a fine managerial career, including a World Championship under his belt.  But his age should push him toward retirement.

He was beckoned out of retirement this year to lead a collapsed Marlins team and until recently had done a fine job as a fill-in.  However, at 80 years old it's difficult to think his tenure is little more than a favor to the Marlins' owner Jeffery Loria.

It's amazing that McKeon is able to manage at the level he is, and it's a testament to his work ethic and abilities.

However, it's time for him to walk away as he needs to enjoy his retirement, and the Marlins need a total makeover.

5. Dusty Baker

Dusty Baker is another manager that will probably have a job until he no longer wants one.  He's been around long enough and has enough of a reputation that he keeps getting jobs.

He had a love/hate relationship with Chicago Cubs fans and is a sabermetric guru's worst enemy.

Baker has been progressively worst as his career has gone on. We saw it in San Francisco, Chicago, then Cincinnati.  His playoff runs have ended earlier and earlier in each locale.

Despite an NL Central crown last year, this year he's been unable to keep a good Reds team in contention in a winnable NL Central and should be held accountable.

He's been critiqued heavily for overusing pitchers and relying on one-dimensional role players, and it's probably time for Baker to move on.