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November 22, 2009

On the Beat

Weekend Update

by John Perrotto

Mike Scioscia is a testament to stability in an era when managers and coaches are being fired at a rapid rate in the major professional sports leagues. Scioscia has managed the Angels for the last 10 seasons, giving him the third-longest tenure among current major-league skippers. The Braves' Bobby Cox moved down for the general manager's office to replace manager Russ Nixon on June 22, 1990, and now has 19 full seasons of service with Atlanta. Tony La Russa completed his 14^th season with the Cardinals this season.

So what is secret for Scioscia's staying power? "Winning helps, it always helps," Scioscia said this past week after winning the American League Manager of the Year award for the second time in his career. Scioscia has won a lot in his decade at the helm, compiling a 900-720 record while capturing five AL West titles—all within the last six seasons—and the franchise's only World Series championship in 2002.

However, as anyone who wins a Manager of the Year Award will attest, it is impossible to be successful in the job alone. No manager influences enough games to stand far and above everyone else in his profession. Instead, it takes the backing of a good organization, and the Angels have built one of the best, even if they sometimes seem forgotten while playing in Orange County. "The key for us has been stability," Scioscia said. "When you look at our organization, there really hasn't been a lot of turnover during the past 10 years. Bill Stoneman retired as general manager and Tony Reagins was promoted (from assistant GM). Most of the people in our scouting and player development departments have been here a long time, and they consistently sign and draft good players then develop them so they're ready to go when they reach the major leagues.

"A big thing, too, has been that we haven't had much turnover in the coaching staff over the years. It's enabled us to really stay consistent and keep doing the things we feel are necessary to be successful on a regular basis."

When John Madden stepped away from coaching in the NFL at age 42 in 1978, leaving the Raiders after the 10 season to move onto broadcasting stardom, he said a head coach or manager should never stay in the same job for more than a decade because he risks getting stale. Scioscia just completed a decade on the job, and he disagrees with Madden's premise, saying managing is as much fun now as it was when the Angels hired him away from the Dodgers following the 1999 season,, where he was the manager of their Triple-A affiliate.