By Douglas Benton In a game that is predicated on moves and countermoves, it is essential that you have the right manager if you want to win in this league. Here are the top ten in the business, and it isn?t all about wins and losses. 10- Lou Piniella Tampa Bay Devil Rays: Now don?t laugh at first because Piniella has proven for many years that he knows a little something about baseball. He has won a World Series in Cincinnati, made Seattle a power in the American League, and would be having moderate success in Tampa Bay if his owners took their tip money and put it back into the franchise. 9- Bruce Bochy San Diego Padres: While Bochy hasn?t always won the big games in San Diego, he always has his team ready to play hard and smart every day. Bochy also conducts himself in a professional manner, which is refreshing in an age of managers who want to blame everyone but themselves when their teams underperform. 8- Ron Gardenhire Minnesota Twins: Gardenhire has successfully done something that most people can?t do. He took over for a legend in Tom Kelly and didn?t let the Twins skip a beat. Now, the Twins won?t make the playoffs this season, but it won?t diminish his reputation for dealing with younger players and allowing them to succeed with their limited resources. 7- Ozzie Guillen Chicago White Sox: Even though he is controversial, Guillen gets it done on the field, where it counts. I don?t think Guillen is a good fit for every team, but if there is a team in need of a swift kick, Guillen is the right man. He also shows a great knack for knowing his players and going to bat for them, which scores him points in the clubhouse. 6- Buck Showalter Texas Rangers: Whatever your feelings are toward Showalter, there is no doubting that he can flat out manage. Success with the Yankees, Diamondbacks, and some good steps with the Rangers don?t lie. He can wear thin on his players, which is why he can?t stay in one spot for long, but he is tactically sound and his teams? never beat themselves. 5- Felipe Alou San Francisco Giants: I think Alou is one of the most underrated managers in the game for the simple reason that he has never had the players to compete. Just when his team in Montreal was ready to break out, the strike hit and they were never the same. Now he is with the Giants and is showing this year more than ever that he maximizes the talent given to him. He is t he best in the game at taking a team that is deficient in talent and make them winners. 4- Tony La Russa St. Louis Cardinals: He will go down as one of the best managers in the history of the game in a wins discussion. However, he has not always used the vast talent given to him, but he does a great job of managing the personalities of these superstars, which isn?t as easy as it looks. 3- Dusty Baker Chicago Cubs: I know that the fans in Chicago are ready to take Baker to the stake, but he just doesn?t deserve it. Baker is in the upper echelon of managers in baseball, but has fallen victim to his early success in Chicago. After their improbable run in 2003, fans everywhere began to think this team had to win the World Series or the season would be a bust and that just wasn?t realistic. Baker might just need to leave Chicago, so he can once again show his abilities to a more positive fan base. 2- Joe Torre New York Yankees: Torre never gets the credit he deserves because the Yankees always have the most talent, but this could be Torre?s biggest obstacle. How would you like to run this clubhouse or tell Bernie Williams thanks for the good years, but why don?t you come and sit by me? Now his job doesn?t seem so easy and he still has to deal with an owner that doesn?t believe in a losing streak. 1- Bobby Cox Atlanta Braves: While this top billing doesn?t come hands down, but you can?t argue with the results. The Braves have won 13 straight division titles and are working on their 14th as we speak. Even in recent years, he has done this with a diminished payroll, as well as younger, unproven players. Now everyone will point to his postseason failures, but you don?t have a shot if you don?t get in, and Bobby Cox has given the Braves a shot for more than a decade.