The legacy of Jim Leyland

A couple days ago, Detroit Tiger manager Jim Leyland officially gave up his position. Having worked under one-year contracts for the last few years, there had been no guarantee issued from his bosses that he would be re-upped for yet another, though most thought such an offer was highly likely.

Leyland, having been involved in professional baseball in one capacity or another for about the last half-century, including the last 23 years as a major league manager, had his own reasons for doing so. The Marlboro Man said his fuel was running a little low. That's certainly understandable. Leyland's not an old geezer, but at 68, he's not exactly a spring chicken either.

I dare say most fans, whether in attendance at the ballpark or watching on TV, don't appreciate how much more is involved in major league baseball besides the games themselves. Yes, managers like Leyland make a pile of money, but it comes with its rigors as well. It's not just about filling out a line-up card, making pitching changes, occasionally screaming at umpires, and giving interviews to the press.

Besides other things like roster decisions, the travel itself has to be killer after a while. Not even counting "spring training" (which goes on during the middle of the winter -- go figure) in Florida, or the Tigers' annual Brother Love Travelling Salvation Show bus tour around Michigan to whip up interest before the regular season even starts -- there's the marathon of air-miles they endure once the season starts.

Given all the "road trips" necessitated by a major league schedule -- your truly knoweth not how many sky-miles they log over the course of almost 7 months, but it's probably several times around the world. A different motel every 4-5 days, only to jump on another plane for the next stop sounds exciting if one is 22 years old. Maybe even 40. But at 68, the jet-lag and overall wear and tear has to take its toll eventually. Leyland might still be iron-willed and hard-headed, but Father Time awaits with his veto power. And it's not as if Leyland is moving to Tahiti or something. He's going to take a position "elsewhere" in the Tigers' organization. Like most doctors, judges, and career politicians, Leyland seems to be the kind of guy that will never totally retire -- until Mother Nature and the aforementioned Father Time get together and send him off to the bullpen in the sky. That's all well and good -- and to each their own.

At that, there are those that think Jim Leyland is potentially Hall of Fame worthy as a manager. Is he? Let's take a look at his career stats.

Manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates for 11 years. A record of 851-863, for a winning percentage of .496.
Florida Marlins for 2 years. 146-178.  .451.
Colorado Rockies for 1 year. 72-90.  .444.

Though he came to the Tigers in 2006 amidst much fanfare, he had previously posted a career record of 1069 -1131.  .486.  Not so good.


Detroit Tigers for 8 years. 700-597.  .540.

Add it all up and Leyland's career mark stands at 1769 -1728. A winning percentage of .506 over 23 years of managing.

In other words, just about smack dab average.

And I'm sorry, but while there will be those -- especially in the Detroit area, some of his former players included -- that think Leyland should get a plaque in Cooperstown -- being just average for a long time isn't what the Hall of Fame is supposed to be about. It's reserved for the best of the best.

Longevity is a factor, but it has to be coupled with excellence over those many years to merit consideration for enshrinement.

And .506 isn't nearly good enough.

Not even close.