1 major league manager never played professional baseball.

Does that seem odd? That all but one manager of the 32 major league teams never played professional baseball. It should.

Consider the fact that only eight NFL head coaches played NFL football.

I guess I first need to stipulate that I definitely believe that being exposed to high level baseball is a prerequisite to coaching high level baseball. You simply can't be expected to understand many of the nuances to the game without some high level exposure. But, does that necessarily mean that it must come from a former player?

Here's the thing. Professional baseball is most definitely the "good ole boys club." You know, you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours. Job assignments are simply not handed out on credibility. They're handed out on the concept of what "lifer" needs a job and what do we have to offer.

The cycle of pro baseball gets perpetuated like no other. Play the game in the minors, maybe advance to the majors, retire, accept a coaching position in the system, teach the same thing that you were taught. The cycle gets perpetuated.

No outside the box thinking involved.

No fresh and innovative ideas.

No outside influences ever get a crack and interjecting ideas into the cycle.

The NBA and the NFL have different cultures. They don't have a minor league system that they can cultivate talent. I think MLB would probably be the envy of both leagues in this regard. However, the NBA and the NFL also don't have this stale, squalid farm system that often times proves to be a holding ground for perpetuating old ideas.

Understand, that it doesn't mean that every coach that has come from the farm system is a poor coach. That's the farthest thing from the truth. What it does unequivocally mean though is that MLB does not guarantee itself that the best pool is used in selecting a manager.

I would suspect that never in the history of the game has a college coach ascended to the ranks of MLB manager in less than 3 years. There's simply too many people to jump in the stale farm system. There are intelligent baseball people that would be exceptional candidates to manage big league teams. However, if they haven't paid their dues in the good ole boys club- forget about it.

Needless to say- what a joke!