Ranking AL Central managers

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Jim Leyland has injected new life into the Tigers since replacing Alan Trammell in 2006.

By PATRICK REUSSE, Star Tribune

Last update: March 29, 2008 - 2:58 PM

1. Jim Leyland, Tigers You get the impression he's hot-dogging it with all those trips to the mound, but people who know better say it's merely an example of his involvement in every moment of the game. Whatever demons caused him to implode as Colorado's manager in 1999 are gone, and at 63, Leyland has a chance to run his best team ever.

2. Ron Gardenhire, Twins This organization basically operates on the principles established by Tom Kelly in his 15 seasons as manager. Gardenhire has been an outstanding successor to Kelly. He's been excellent at running a bullpen since the get-go in 2002 and was much improved in the use of a running game -- even before the arrival of Carlos Gomez.

3. Eric Wedge, Indians He was terrible with a bullpen in his first couple of seasons, and his club played disgraceful baseball in the second half of 2006. Then came '07, when he seemed to be on top of most every situation, ran his bullpen well and had a team that was a threat to come back late in every game.

4. Ozzie Guillen, White Sox He's a favorite with visiting media because of his outrageous quotes, but the act seems to have worn a bit thin in the clubhouse. The fundamental, aggressive style he preached at the start of his tenure was nowhere in sight last season.

5. Trey Hillman, Royals First season. Might be another Wedge -- not much humor and obsessive about the job. He was successful in Japan. Then again, so was Bobby Valentine.

CAREER RECORDS

Ron Gardenhire, Twins, six seasons

Regular season: 534-437, .550 winning pct.; postseason: 6-15, .286.

Ozzie Guillen, White Sox, four seasons

Regular season: 344-304, .531; postseason: 11-1, .917.

Eric Wedge, Cleveland, five seasons

Regular season: 415-395, .512; postseason: 6-5, .546.

Jim Leyland, Detroit, 16 seasons

Regular season: 1,252-1,272, .496; postseason: 7-22, .551.

Notes: Leyland managed 11 seasons in Pittsburgh (1986-96), two in Florida ('97-98), one in Colorado ('99) and the past two in Detroit; he won a World Series in 1997. Guillen won a World Series with Chicago in 2005. Kansas City's Trey Hillman is a rookie major league manager after going 351-324-14 in five years in Japan.

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