The question: Does not playing in the big leagues hurt Carlos Tosca as a manager?

Tom Candiotti

Many great instructors have never played their sport at a high level. It doesn't necessarily mean that they won't be great managers or coaches. It does help his credibility, however, if he has major-league playing experience. When he tries to make a point or if he chews out a player or offers advice, the player can easily discount what the manager is saying simply because he hasn't gone through it. A manager without big-league playing time really must have fantastic communication skills and must establish a great relationship with his players or he will suffer. With the modern player, credibility goes a long way.

Rob Dibble

No. As long the players trust and respect Tosca, it shouldn't matter. If Tosca shows them respect in return, they will do great things for him. Having managed in the minor leagues for nearly 20 years, Tosca has most likely either already managed or faced some of his current players. And with six first-place finishes in 17 seasons, his record speaks for itself. Before hiring a new manager, a good general manager will usually poll his players to see what they think of him. I would guess that Blue Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi did just that before hiring Tosca.

Joe Morgan

A lot of players today ask "What did you do?" when a manager wants them to go in a different direction. It would be very difficult for a guy to manage who hasn't played in the big leagues.

Rick Sutcliffe

Yes, in ways it does hurt Tosca. Having played at the big-league level, whether you were great or not, a manager needs it to gain some respect. It opens the door to a player's attention easier. That doesn't mean that Tosca can't do the job. It is just a little more difficult for someone with no big-league playing experience.

Dave Campbell

Only time will tell. Some of the best managers in baseball history never played in the major leagues. Jim Leyland never played in the majors, yet he won a World Series with the Marlins and was considered one of the best managers in the game. Tommy Lasorda pitched in four games as a big-leaguer. In Tosca's case, he never played in the minor leagues, either. Whether this hurts a manager depends on the makeup of a ballclub. Young players won't make waves with a manager -- and Toronto is trying to get younger -- while veterans might not give such a manager the same respect. But most observers believe Tosca is an interim manager and see the Blue Jays pursuing A's bench coach Ken Macha in the offseason.

Tony Gwynn

Eventually, it can be a problem. There are still things about the game that a manager who played the game will understand better and quicker than someone who didn't. I'm not saying Tosca isn't qualified to be a big-league manager. But you have a better sense of what needs to be done and how it needs to be done when you've played the game. In general, I think major-league players respect managers who have played the game and paid their dues, like Dusty Baker or Frank Robinson or Bob Boone or Joe Torre. That is the first thing the players will respect. However, sometimes managers who have been around the game for 20 years have learned the game as if they had played it.