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Three reasons why a manager's role has changed so dramatically

What this hiring trend does mean is that priorities have shifted. Working well with the front office and gaining the trust of the players is more important

Tom Verducci

Three reasons why a manager's role has changed so dramatically
Three reasons why a manager's role has changed so dramatically /
Mike Matheny and John Farrell are just two of the managers hired recently without any previous experience in the job.
Mike Matheny and John Farrell are just two of the managers hired recently without any previous experience in the job :: Michael Ivins/Getty Images

What this hiring trend does mean is that priorities have shifted. Working well with the front office and gaining the trust of the players is more important than ever; actually running a baseball game is less important.

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Tom Verducci
TOM VERDUCCI

Tom Verducci is a senior writer for Sports Illustrated who has covered Major League Baseball since 1981. He also serves as an analyst for FOX Sports and the MLB Network; is a New York Times best-selling author; and cohosts The Book of Joe podcast with Joe Maddon. A five-time Emmy Award winner across three categories (studio analyst, reporter, short form writing) and nominated in a fourth (game analyst), he is a three-time National Sportswriter of the Year winner, two-time National Magazine Award finalist, and a Penn State Distinguished Alumnus Award recipient. Verducci is a member of the National Sports Media Hall of Fame, Baseball Writers Association of America (including past New York chapter chairman) and a Baseball Hall of Fame voter since 1993. He also is the only writer to be a game analyst for World Series telecasts. He lives in New Jersey with his wife, with whom he has two children.

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