Toughest MLB Managers of All Time

Baltimore Orioles manager Earl Weaver is famous for “flipping his lid.” AP Photo

If you’re not a big fan of the Human Element, the automated umpire can’t get here soon enough. Yet a part of us will miss the human side of calling games.

Because as boring as baseball can be sometimes, imagine what will it be without the eye-popping, vein-bulging, chaw-spitting, cap-turning, venom-spewing, finger-wagging brouhahas to liven it up between those slow walks from the bullpen? The thought of a bewildered manager with his fist raised at some electronic gizmo upstairs doesn’t exactly send a thrill up our leg.

There’s a method to the madness, of course. Some managers can’t seem to get the hang of it. Others can turn the slightest of slights into a Pepto-Bismol moment. So before they go the way of 2 1/2-hour games, let’s flip our lids to some of the best communicators/connivers/spit disturbers ever.

Warning: Beef with any of these, buster, and you’re outta here!

25. Bobby Valentine

Texas Rangers manager Bobby Valentine, left, argues with home plate umpire Don Denkinger in 1986. Mark Duncan / AP Photo

Career: 1985-92, 1996-2002, 2012 (16 seasons)

Teams: Texas Rangers (1985-92), New York Mets (1996-2002), Boston Red Sox (2012)

Record: 1,186-1,165 (.504)

World Series championships: None

Ejections/162: 3.0

Bottom Line for Bobby Valentine

Boston Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine, left, argues a call with first base umpire Dan Bellino in 2012. Steven Senne / AP Photo

Bobby V. argued so many ball-strike calls that he finally became a vocal proponent of the techno ump. “It’s almost impossible to do what they do, so why do we ask them to do the impossible?” he argued.

While the guy was as snarky as they came, he also had a sense of humor about him. After an ejection in the 2000 season, he famously put on a disguise in the clubhouse and returned to the dugout.

So amused were league officials, he was socked with a $5,000 fine and a two-game suspension.

24. Lloyd McClendon

Pittsburgh Pirates manager Lloyd McClendon yanks first base off its mooring in 2001. Gene J. Puskar / AP Photo

Career: 2001-05, 2014-15 (7 seasons)

Teams: Pittsburgh Pirates (2001-05), Seattle Mariners (2014-15)

Record: 499-607 (.451)

World Series championships: None

Ejections/162: 4.1

Bottom Line for Lloyd McClendon

Seattle Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon, left, talks with umpire Mike Estabrook in 2014. Elaine Thompson / AP Photo

For best theatrical performance, we nominate Lloyd McClendon’s piece of work in the 2001 season.

The irate Pirate threw his hat at second base, then stormed to first, where he uprooted the base while Rick Reed turned to stone, lugged it to the opposite dugout and flung it into the clubhouse tunnel to the delight of Buccos fans everywhere. Wait, there’s more. His team rallied to win without him.

Yeah, we know what his record says, but the Jim Leyland protege deserves to be here for that marvelous meltdown alone.