Baseball fans are probably the most informed of all sports fans. Their knowledge of the game and their recognition and appreciation of talent are always in evidence. Most fans, however, would be unable to evaluate a manager fairly. Fans know when to remove a pitcher, and many know when and whom to pinch-hit. But not many think of the manager's contribution when they see the well-executed relay from the outfield, the successful pickoff, or the carefully engineered rundown on the base paths. The positioning of the men in the relay, the timing of the pickoff, and the teamwork in the rundown are all the handiwork of a manager who has drilled his players constantly and thoroughly for these eventualities.
It is universally agreed that no matter how skilled a manager is, he cannot win unless he has the talent on the ball club. It is also agreed that sometimes the most talented ball club does not win the pennant, and when this happens, the fault generally lies with the manager. So while a "good" manager cannot by himself win a pennant, a "bad" manager can lose a pennant.
Publication information: Book title: The Man in the Dugout:Fifteen Big League Managers Speak Their Minds. Contributors: Donald Honig - Author. Publisher: University of Nebraska Press. Place of publication: Lincoln, NE. Publication year: 1995. Page number: 3.