Here are the pitching and hitting polls.

Apologies to Gene Tenace and Mel Queen, who each briefly skippered the Jays but not long enough to make the list of 10 choices for this poll.

I voted for Bobby Cox, but it was really a default selection.  The Jays have had a couple of fine overall managers, including Cox, but no real master game tactician. 

I voted for Bobby Mattick because we  are both about the same age.

Well, one of Cito Gaston's clear strengths as a manager was running a bullpen - and if you're wondering how you could possibly screw up a bullpen that featured Tom Henke, Duane Ward, and David Wells, may I draw your attention to Jimy Williams, 1988-89. It can be done.

On the other hand, Gaston's attitude towards pinch-hitters was usually "Why? My nine best hitters are already in the lineup." But the Derek Bell-Ed Sprague tandem did work out nicely in the 1992 series...

I agree, Magpie, but using Jimy Williams as a standard for managers is like, I don't know, Toronto Life giving Susur or North 44 a good review on the basis that they are better restaurants than McDonalds.

What I liked most about Cito was his (usual) calm demeanour.  He conveyed confidence in his players, and was able to bring out the best in players who were good to begin with.  That was a quality he shared with Sparky Anderson. 

What makes this a tough call for me is that while Bobby Cox is a no-doubt Hall of Famer, and one of the all-time greats... no manager is perfect (with the possible exception of Joe McCarthy) and if Cox has had an Achilles heel over the years, it's been running a bullpen.

I voted for Bobby Cox, but that opinion might change by the end of this season if these Jays manage to win 90 games or more.  Gibby has really impressed me with his ability to keep the bench fresh, match players' strengths to the situations, and juggle an inconsistent bullpen.  Just the fact that he's willing to have Ryan get more than three outs for a save is a strong indication that Gibbons is not necessarily tied down by conventional wisdom.  Obviously there are many managerial decisions that are conventional because they are backed by years and years of success, but as we saw in the WBC, a mediocre manager can find a way to lose even with a roster as potent as the U.S. team had.  I think mediocrity is motivated by fear, and at least you can say that Gibbons is not afraid to try anything to win a ball game.

Now if he and Arnsberg can just figure out how to fix Josh Towers, we can add 'miracle-worker' to his resume.

Will there be a poll for choosing a pinch runner?

Sure thing, Geoff. Give me some names to start with. Dave Collins? Devon White? Otis Nixon? Alfredo Griffin? Rico Carty? (Just seeing if you're paying attention ...)

Let this poll gather up the 300 or so responses these seem to get, and we'll call for a pinch-runner.

I must go with Cito. He lead the Jays to 2 world championships, which I belleve is one more than Cox has won, even though he's been in the playoffs the last 14 years.

Cito easily.  He would sit on his hands all season, seeing what his players could do then mix and match as needed in the playoffs iirc.  Makes the playoffs 4 times, first time he was just overmatched by a powerhouse A's team, second time he was done in by a knuckballing ace who wouldn't throw his *#&! knuckleball, then 2 straight WS wins.  Still wish some team with underachiving vets would sign him already. 

I'd say throw in the top two guys from the pinch-hitter poll.