Which pitcher — not on your team — would you most like to hand the ball to with the season on the line?
If you were commissioner for a day, what is the one change you would make to MLB?
What was your biggest takeaway from this year’s thrilling MLB postseason?
Which opposing hitter would you least like to see up with the game on the line?
Who is the best manager in MLB right now, other than yourself?
Which slugger would your favorite team’s manager least like to face with the game on the line? Which ace would they most want to have on their side? And which manager do other managers respect the most?
With all 30 MLB skippers on hand at last week’s winter meetings in Orlando, Florida, we took the opportunity to find out the answers to those questions, plus get their thoughts on the state of the game, next year’s biggest rule change and more.
Craig Albernaz, Baltimore Orioles: That’s a great question. I wouldn’t make any change. I love the game the way it is.
Warren Schaeffer, Colorado Rockies: Every Monday off. Just like the minor leagues — every Monday off. In Coors, you can go six-man rotation. You have a whole day of prep for the next opponent. Every week, you get that rest, and maybe filter in off-days in between them.
Pat Murphy, Milwaukee Brewers: Shadows? Eliminate shadows. Can’t have shadows — dangerous for players. Or devices to communicate for outfielders, so they don’t run into each other.
Clayton McCullough, Miami Marlins: In spring training, they rolled it out a little bit … I think it brought a different level of engagement at different points of the game. Giving the players an opportunity to have some say, impactful moments in the game, I’m excited to see how it plays out.
And I’ll also say that the umpires who are back there, it’s a very difficult thing, 300 pitches a night with the type of stuff they’re seeing. They do an exceptional job. Now Major League Baseball has done a good job recently enacting some things that have enhanced our fan experience. And this is another one that has a chance to go over well.
Rob Thomson, Philadelphia Phillies: How competitive it was. Even our series where we got beat was really tight. Obviously, the World Series was fascinating the way it played out. The competition was really good.
Oliver Marmol, St. Louis Cardinals: It was one of the most exciting playoffs I’ve seen in a while. It was a vibrant, fun environment. You wanted to watch the games. There was an electricity to it.
Murphy: It’s not like the regular season. It’s that every pitch counts, all hands on deck. You know, the most important inning is this inning. It’s awesome. Couldn’t get enough. You’d better have the stamina. You better have the stamina. Wow.
Skip Schumaker, Texas Rangers: I’m going to say Freddie Freeman. Hits righties, hits lefties, stays inside the baseball, he’s a hitter, he uses the whole field, he swings at the right pitches, he’ll take his walk, so you’re not going to get him out swinging outside the zone. He knows where the zone is, doesn’t try to do too much, and he’s going to put it in play. Obviously Ohtani is the best hitter, but I don’t want to see Freddie.
Murphy: Freeman has dominated us for years with the game on the line. He’s done it many times, broken our hearts.
Torey Lovullo, Arizona Diamondbacks: Freddie’s going to be able to understand the pitcher, he’s going to adjust his approach, he’s going to put the ball in play. You need a double, he’s going to hit a double. You need a single, he’s going to find a way to get on base.
McCullough: Kyle Schwarber. He hammers velocity. He’s gotten so much better versus lefties. Every time he’s in the box, I feel like the field has just gotten too small. And he’s in our division. There’s [Aaron] Judge, but we just don’t see Judge a lot.
Stammen: One player, when I was a pitcher, that I always respected, that always put up a good at-bat and was a tough person to face was Mookie Betts. He’s a good hitter.
Stammen: I think right now, it’s probably Paul Skenes or Tarik Skubal. Those guys are probably the two best pitchers in baseball. I’d be fine handing those guys the ball. Fun to be their managers right now.
McCullough: Cristopher Sanchez was so tough. You forget how hard he throws. But the ease with which he does it, the length. The fastball-changeup combination. We tried different plans against him and there was just always a really — can’t get him off the ground. Tough guy to slug, and he doesn’t walk people.
Murphy: I mean, other than myself? I’m not even in the top 28. I’m not in the top 29. But I just know Craig Counsell better than anybody, and I know how great he is.
McCullough: I think Dave, his ability to relate with any type of people. He manages such a high-profile group year in and year out, and the expectations that come and how steady Dave is through any point in the season. Dave never wavers. There’s always a sense of urgency from those that are working for him. We all know what’s at stake and did — I say we; I’m not there anymore. But I think Dave just has like a real steady hand and understands how to get through a season and then postseason, certainly, he’s masterful with the bullpen moves.
Schumacher: I’d say Skubal. I think it’d be tough to not say Skubal.
Murphy: I like that dude from the Giants, Logan Webb. But I like a lot of pitchers, man.
Schaeffer: Shohei [Ohtani]. He seems pretty clutch.