A must read for baseball fans. This book contains fantastic insight into what it means to be a baseball manager and the pressures faced by individuals holding these roles. The book falls a touch short on being a definitive explantation of why managers matter in today's game, it does get the conversation and thought processes started.

With the increased use of analytical data in baseball today, there has been talk that the importance and role of the manager of a major league baseball team has been reduced. This book by Scott Miller provides reams of excellent information on that leader, both in the perspective of “old school” and “new school.”

While reading this book, I came across with the sense that Miller was truly objective with his writing and opinions. He never came across as a grouchy old man that can’t accept the use of analytics to influence in-game decisions, but he also never was dismissive of the authoritarian era of the manager when skippers like Earl Weaver and Tommy Lasorda had total control over the players (on the field) and the decisions made affecting the games on the field.

That does leave a reader to wonder just how Miller feels about the current status of a manager, but to me, that’s a good thing. That means the reader will need to absorb all of the information, stories and records that Miller provides and come up with their own conclusion. Why Miller doesn’t share much in the way of opinion is known only to him, but while that may not appeal to some, for me it is one of the strengths of the book.

The range of stories is also fascinating plus Miller uses some actual game scenarios to illustrate how the role of the manager has changed. The best example of this to me is shown in his interviews with Tom Kelly and Kevin Cash in two of the more well-known pitching situations in World Series history. Kelly, considered to be one of the better “old school” managers, had to decide whether to remove Jack Morris in game 7 of the 1991 World Series after he had thrown nine shutout innings. Morris was not going to leave the game without a fight and told Kelly “I can pitch.” Kelly then replied “Oh, hell, it’s only a game.” Morris pitched a 1-2-3 tenth inning and then the Twins win in the bottom of the tenth.

Cash, on the other hand, is more known for a move that didn’t work. Following the plan that was developed between him and the baseball operations department (a department that never existed in Kelly’s time), Cash came out to remove starting pitcher Blake Snell with one out in the sixth inning. Snell at that point had only allowed two hits and struck out nine batters. But after a single by Austin Barnes of the Dodgers brought up Mookie Betts and the top of the batting order, Cash did not want Snell to face the Dodger lineup a third time. The bullpen couldn’t hold off the Dodgers offense as Los Angeles went on to win the game and the World Series.

The reason I highlight these two highlights is that they perfectly illustrate the range of time that this book covers, the types of managers highlighted (there’s great information on Terry Francona, Dusty Baker and Gabe Kapler as well, just to name a few) and the unique situations these leaders faced with their clubs.

Also, it should be noted that Miller had an excellent chapter on the lack of Black managers throughout the time covered and the difficulties encountered by those who had a job to find that next managerial position. The grace in which Baker and Gaston handled those situations makes for wonderful reading. After this chapter, while I already had great respect for Dusty Baker and his accomplishments, my respect for him grew even more as this revealed what kind of person he truly is.

I wish to thank Grand Central Publishing for providing a copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own.

An absolute must read for all die hard baseball fans.

The role of manager has changed a great deal over the years, and the way modern managers walk the line between the front office, operations, and ownership while still staying focused on success on the field is no small task. Add in the increased demands from a 24/7 sports media content cycle and the job of skipper is not our grandfather’s occupation.

What really makes Scott Miller’s Skipper standout is both his deep knowledge of the way this role functioned in the past and his ability to weave in the evolutions in a way that didn't feel like a game purist shaking their fist at change.

Miller’s access to the standout managers of this era, like Craig Counsell, Aaron Boone, Bruce Bochy, Terry Francona, and a host of other past and present stars of the game give Skipper a real insider feel. The stories are often told by the ones who were there to witness the moments first hand, or were the decision makers themselves. This is a deep dive into one piece of the baseball equation and also a historical text for the die hards.

I’d recommend this for anyone who loves the game of baseball or as a gift for a friend who does.
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Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for the Advanced Reader Copy. Expected publishing date: May 13, 2025

If you’re looking for a well written, interesting collection of accounts of baseball managers from recent history, this book will do the job. But as for the statement of “why managers still matter (and always will),” I’m not sure the book ever successfully makes that argument.

The chapters are organized by individual managers and each one lauds the gentleman in question, but I’m not sure any of them make the argument the title purports that the book will. The “and always will” piece of it feels particularly neglected, given that these are for the most part not current MLB managers. I work in sports media so I can certainly appreciate how difficult it is to get active MLB managers to talk much, but it’s also hard to argue that managers really matter based on the few active managers who are discussed, aside from Terry Francona.

I think it’s also important to know as a reader that there isn’t really anything new here in terms of information. Most of what is discussed is very familiar baseball lore and history that most dedicated fans will already know. Miller writes well and it certainly isn’t unpleasant to hear him rehash this stuff, but I do think it’s important to know that it is a rehashing.

To that end, this might be a good read for a newer or more casual fan, as there is a lot of recent baseball history here that is presented in a very well-organized and compelling manner. But while I would certainly never say managers don’t matter at all, I also can’t say I’m any more convinced of their importance than I was before reading this.

A bounty of insights into the life of a modern baseball manager and the evolution of the role over time. Definitely worth reading for any serious baseball fan.

The reflections of retired managers on their own careers and how they see the game when watching today is a valuable lens to understand the story. Likewise, managers’ experiences where the integration with the front office failed illustrate that the changes are rarely seamless and straightforward and furthers understanding of why it works when it does.

The sections that touch on the career of Terry Francona need a bit of rework as he’s come out of retirement to manage the Reds, replacing David Bell. I’m sure the author is aware and such developments are a hazard whenever the landscape changes between writing and publication.

A correction is needed to Chapter 1 where it references “the inception of the sport as a professional league in 1903.” That year marks the start of the World Series era, but the NL dates to 1876 and the AL to 1901.

A later section references “Moneyball” as the end of a run of 1980s and 1990s baseball movies, but the idea doesn’t really work. Its 2011 release date is considerably later than the other names films and new films continued to appear after it, such as “42”.

There are a few other assorted typos, date references off by a year, and similar minor corrections needed elsewhere.

Overall, a worthwhile read and informative about the modern game and where it may go next. Thank you for the opportunity to read it and I’ll be sharing it soon on Instagram; @reading.baseball.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for this complementary ARC in exchange for my honest review!

This is a great book for baseball fans - with a variety of sections focusing on different managers and different parts of what being a manager means. I really enjoyed how each section focused on an important part of managing and how it's changed over time. The managers interviewed seemed pretty open and there was an acknowledgement of how unusual and rare it is to have that job.

One of the best baseball books I've read lately!

This was a wonderful book. I enjoyed reading it immensely. I never knew that managers were there for anything other than to get mad at.